LCRF and IASLC Announced First Team Science Award Grant for Lung Cancer Research
The Lung Cancer Research Foundation (LCRF) and the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer (IASLC) have launched their first-ever IASLC–LCRF Team Science Research Grant.
It is awarding $2.5 million over four years to a groundbreaking research project aimed at advancing the treatment of oncogene-driven lung cancers.
The team, led by David Barbie of Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, will explore new strategies to eliminate drug-tolerant persister (DTP) cells that contribute to lung cancer progression and resistance to current therapies.
Lung cancer remains the leading cause of cancer-related deaths globally, with approximately 130,180 deaths annually in the U.S. alone. While targeted therapies like tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) have shown promise in treating non-small cell lung carcinoma, many patients eventually develop resistance to these drugs.
Dr. Barbie’s team will focus on identifying and targeting the mechanisms that allow these DTP cells to survive treatment, with the goal of improving responses to immunotherapy.
Dr. Barbie’s research has identified a key immune pathway regulator in DTP cells that, when inhibited, could enhance the immune system’s ability to target and destroy these resistant cells. The project will also investigate the use of CAR-T cells—engineered immune cells that can recognize and attack cancer cells—combined with immune-modulating agents as a potential therapy for patients with oncogene-driven lung cancers.
“This award will help us make significant strides toward a cure, We are hopeful that our findings could lead to clinical trials that will benefit patients with lung cancer.” – David Barbie
David Barbie is the Director of the Lowe Center for Thoracic Oncology at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and an Associate Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School. He is also Associate Director of the Belfer Center for Applied Cancer Science, as well as an Associate Member of the Broad Institute.
LCRF’s Chief Scientific Officer, Antoinette Wozniak, emphasized the transformative potential of the project: “Stopping resistance before it starts would be a game-changer for both oncologists and patients.”
Dr. Jennifer C. King of IASLC also highlighted the importance of collaborative international research efforts: “We are excited to support this innovative project, and hope it brings us closer to the goal of curing oncogene-driven lung cancer.”
This partnership marks a significant step in the fight against lung cancer, with the goal of bringing new, life-saving treatments to patients in need.
For more posts like this, visit oncodaily.com
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