The research you fund through LCRF is making meaningful progress in the fight against lung cancer. We are pleased to share our 2023 grantees’ one-year updates in this series.
Lloyd Bod, PhD
Massachusetts General Hospital 2023 LCRF Minority Career Development Award (CDA) in Lung Cancer
What he’s doing: Dr. Bod is harnessing the power of immune cells to fight lung cancer, specifically by targeting B cells and a molecule called Tim-1.
How it’s going: Tim-1 plays a critical role in suppressing immune responses, and by inhibiting this checkpoint, Dr. Bod is enhancing the body’s ability to fight cancer. In animal models, combining Tim-1 inhibitors with PD-L1 inhibitors—a key component of current immunotherapies—has shown promising results in improving anti-cancer effects.
What it could mean for patients: This research is still in its early stages, but the potential for this combination therapy to boost immunotherapy effectiveness could offer new hope for lung cancer patients, especially those whose cancers are resistant to current treatments.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved larotrectinib (Vitrakvi) for adult and pediatric patients with NTRK gene fusion-positive solid tumors.
Why it’s important
Neurotrophic tyrosine receptor kinase (NTRK) gene fusions are implicated as drivers of cancer (oncogenic) development in various cancers including lung cancer. The prevalence of NTRK fusions is 0.1 to 0.3% in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).
Larotrectinib is an oral TRK inhibitor that has received FDA approval based on the results of 3 clinical studies. LOXO-TRK-14001 (NCT02122913), SCOUT (NCT02637687), and NAVIGATE (NCT02576431) trials included 339 pediatric and adult patients with an NTRK gene fusion cancer whose disease either progressed on standard treatment or they could not receive surgery for locally advanced disease.
The response rate for treatment with larotrectinib was 60% (complete response 24%) and control of cancer lasted for a median of more than 43 months. In 30 previously treated lung cancer patients, the response was 74%. The median progression-free survival (PFS) or time the cancer was controlled was 33 months. Larotrectinib had very good activity in the brain with many brain metastases responding to treatment. The most common side effects were rash, muscle pain, nausea, vomiting, fever, dizziness, weight gain, diarrhea, constipation, cough, fatigue, and abnormal laboratory tests.
What it means for patients
Larotrectinib is an effective treatment for NTRK fusion positive NSCLC. It is important to note that NTRK fusions are present in many tumors other than lung cancer – including thyroid, gastrointestinal, central nervous system, and salivary gland cancers as well as sarcomas and pediatric cancers. Although NTRK fusions are relatively uncommon, larotrectinib represents effective treatment for patients whose cancers contain this molecular abnormality. This supports the importance of doing biomarker (molecular, genomic) testing to evaluate newly diagnosed lung cancer patients and in patients whose cancer has not been previously tested for NTRK fusions.
What to look for
NTRK fusions represent another actionable target for cancer treatment. Look for more research attempting to identify novel targets to direct effective, personalized cancer therapy.
The research you fund through LCRF is making meaningful progress in the fight against lung cancer. We are pleased to share our 2023 grantees’ one-year updates in this series.
Ann Pendergast, PhD
Duke University School of Medicine 2023 LCRF Research Grant on Understanding Resistance in Lung Cancer
What she’s doing: Dr. Pendergast is conducting groundbreaking work to uncover new ways to treat therapy-resistant small cell lung cancer (SCLC). Her research focuses on understanding how cancer cells communicate at the molecular level, specifically through RNA messages.
How it’s going: Dr. Pendergast’s team has identified ABL, a proto-oncogene that supports cancer growth, as a key target. By inhibiting ABL, they’ve found that cancer cells experience increased DNA damage, which can slow or stop tumor growth. Even more promising, when combined with ATR inhibitors—a protein that protects cells from DNA damage—this approach significantly reduced metastatic tumors and prolonged survival in tumor-bearing mice.
What it could mean for patients: While this research is still in its early stages, discoveries like these lay the foundation for smarter, more effective therapies for patients with SCLC.
Foundation honors contributions of Raymond E. Chalmé and Dr. Joan H. Schiller
NEW YORK, NY (April 22, 2025) – The Lung Cancer Research Foundation (LCRF) is pleased to announce Raymond E. Chalmé as its honoree for the 4th annual Evening of Innovation gala, Joan H. Schiller, MD as the recipient of the Founders Award, and AstraZeneca as the evening’s Corporate Honoree. The gala will be held on September 17, 2025, at Cipriani 25 Broadway in Manhattan. Members of LCRF’s Board of Directors and Gala Committee are committed to showcasing LCRF’s impact through recognition of an individual whose support of the organization and the field of lung cancer research is unparalleled, and someone who exemplifies the spirit of LCRF to improve patient outcomes through research.
Raymond E. Chalmé, a long-time member of LCRF’s board of directors, has had an enormous impact on lung cancer research, the research community, and countless people affected by lung cancer for nearly two decades. He and his family founded Elliot’s Legacy Kites for a Cure, an event that raises significant funds for research and is named for his late father, Elliot Chalmé A’H, who passed away from lung cancer at the age of 56. The support and commitment shown by the Chalmé family has been transformative, fueling critical advances in lung cancer research. In 18 years, this family-centered event has raised more than $8 million, which in turn fuels another nearly $50 million in follow-on research funding.
“Ray’s commitment to lung cancer research is immeasurable,” remarked Aubrey Rhodes, Executive Director of LCRF. “He has inspired so many to share in the vision of one day curing lung cancer through research. It is only fitting that we honor him, and the life-changing impact of the support he and his family have given this community.”
“Being honored at this event means the world to me,” said Mr. Chalmé. “It’s amazing to see how far lung cancer research has come since we lost our dad. Knowing that we’ve played a role in helping people live longer and pushing research forward is incredibly rewarding. When we started Elliot’s Legacy, there was no surviving lung cancer. Now, survival rates are up, and some of my fellow LCRF board members are living proof of that. That’s all because of research. But there’s still so much more to do, and my family and I are dedicated to keeping this fight going. I’m truly honored to be part of LCRF’s mission.”
The foundation will also bestow its Founders Award at the Evening of Innovation gala on Joan H. Schiller, MD, in recognition of her lifetime contributions to the field of lung cancer research and her dedication to her patients and their families. As founder and president of Free to Breathe, Dr. Schiller instigated a movement of support for lung cancer research – the first such organization to represent the needs of lung cancer patients. She is widely published and internationally recognized for her work in lung cancer clinical research and has served as a member of the LCRF Board of Directors and its legacy organizations for more than two decades. In addition to her service as a board member for LCRF, she serves in an advisory capacity to LCRF’s Education and Engagement Committee. Currently, Dr. Schiller chairs Oncology Advocates United for Health – International (OUCH-I), an organization she founded to focus on the intersection of climate change and lung health, lung cancer treatment, and overall outcomes.
Mary Ann Tighe, LCRF Board Member, founder of LCRF’s legacy organization Joan’s Legacy, and CEO of NY Tri-State Region at CBRE, shares her admiration: “I’ve had the privilege of knowing Ray Chalmé for many years as a fellow board member and passionate advocate for lung cancer research. His unwavering commitment to advancing this cause is undeniable, making him truly deserving to be honored at the Evening of Innovation gala. Joan Schiller also holds a special place in our community. She was a trailblazer in recognizing the need for organized, private funding for lung cancer research, and her own research and clinical work reflects her deep dedication to improving patients’ lives. Her leadership has been instrumental in shaping LCRF’s top-tier research program. She is more than deserving of this Founders Award.”
“I am truly honored to receive the Founders Award,” says Dr. Schiller. “Placing patients first has always been part of who I am, both as a clinician and a researcher. Bringing Free to Breathe together with LCRF and serving with my wonderful colleagues on the board, as well as the staff of LCRF, to advance lung cancer research has been a great privilege.”
Nabil Chebab, US Medical Franchise Head, Lung Cancer, AstraZeneca, said: “AstraZeneca is proud to receive the Corporate Honoree recognition from LCRF. We’re honored to stand alongside tireless heroes of lung cancer research and advocacy, like Ray Chalmé and Dr. Schiller, who embody the very best in the oncology community. We believe that our combined efforts – in research, advocacy and industry – will help patients facing lung cancer to live longer and live better. Every scientific discovery represents a critical step for the patients we serve, as we work to eliminate lung cancer as a cause of death.”
The 2025 Evening of Innovation gala is scheduled to take place at 6 pm on Wednesday, September 17, 2025, at Cipriani 25 Broadway in New York City. Attendees will hear from the many people whose lives were influenced by the generosity and vision of Raymond E. Chalmé and his family, and the care and forward-thinking of Dr. Joan Schiller, and provide attendees with opportunities to make their own impact on lung cancer research. More details can be found at LCRF.org/gala.
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About the Lung Cancer Research Foundation (LCRF) The Lung Cancer Research Foundation® (LCRF) is the leading nonprofit organization focused on funding innovative, high-reward research with the potential to extend survival and improve quality of life for people with lung cancer. LCRF’s mission is to improve lung cancer outcomes by funding research for the prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and cure of lung cancer. To date, LCRF has funded 429 research grants, totaling nearly $48 million, the highest amount provided by a nonprofit organization dedicated to funding lung cancer research. For more information, visit LCRF.org.
Drs. Eric Singhi and Isabel Preeshagul talked about the challenges faced by young people with the lung cancer diagnosis during our April 2025 livestream. They were joined by Caroline and Lauren, who shared their stories.
Watch the recording below. Register for our next livestream event.
The research you fund through LCRF is making meaningful progress in the fight against lung cancer. We are pleased to share our 2023 grantees’ one-year updates in this series.
Carl Gay, MD, PhD
MD Anderson Cancer Center 2023 LCRF–Daiichi Sankyo–AstraZeneca Research Grant on Antibody Drug Conjugates
What he’s doing: Dr. Gay is evaluating targeted therapies for small cell lung carcinoma (SCLC) and large cell neuroendocrine lung cancer—both of which remain difficult to treat. His research focuses on two biomarkers, HER2 and TROP2, which are expressed in these aggressive cancers. Dr. Gay’s team is evaluating antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs), a promising treatment approach that uses antibodies to deliver chemotherapy directly to cancer cells.
What it could mean for patients: ADCs targeting HER2 and TROP2 are already in use for other cancers, and Dr. Gay is testing whether these existing therapies could offer a much-needed new option for patients with high-grade neuroendocrine lung cancers.
The research you fund through LCRF is making meaningful progress in the fight against lung cancer. We are pleased to share our 2023 grantees’ one-year updates in this series.
Luis Prieto, PhD
Mayo Clinic 2023 LCRF Minority Career Development Award (CDA) in Lung Cancer
What he’s doing: Dr. Prieto is exploring how aging tissue influences cancer development and metastasis by weakening the immune response and promoting cancer cell survival.
How it’s going: Through studies in mice of various ages, Dr. Prieto’s team has observed that aged lung tissue creates an environment that supports tumor growth. Preliminary findings suggest a promising approach: drugs that eliminate older, or “senescent,” cells appear to reduce tumor burden, slow tumor spread and extend survival in aged mice with cancer.
What it could mean for patients: Since the median age of lung cancer patients is 70, these discoveries could pave the way for innovative strategies in cancer prevention and treatment, offering new hope for the aging population most affected by this disease.
A rainy day in Tarrytown, NY didn’t dampen the enthusiasm of those gathered April 5 to hear about the latest in lung cancer research and meet others in the LCRF second family.
LCRF Together NY featured a lively discussion between Brendon Stiles, MD, and Balazs Halmos, MD, MS, from Montefiore Einstein Comprehensive Cancer Center, and Isabel Preeshagul, DO, MBS, from Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. Dr. Stiles is vice chair of LCRF Board of Directors and Scientific Advisory Board, Dr. Preeshagul is chair of the LCRF Education and Engagement Committee, and Dr. Halmos is a previously funded LCRF researcher.
Game-changers in research
Patient-focused research was a hot topic, particularly the COCOON study which focuses on adverse affects and quality of life issues. Antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) are another area drawing attention – over 300 are in development. ADCs function as a modern-day Trojan horse, explained Dr. Preeshagul. They deliver potent agents directly into cancer cells while sparing healthy tissue.
“Understanding the importance of getting the right stage and diagnosis before jumping straight to a treatment” has also led to changes, Dr. Stiles said. While needle biopsies were once standard, bronchoscopic biopsies are now being used even for early-stage patients to check lymph nodes and improve staging accuracy.
Another game changer for many patients is immunotherapy, Dr. Halmos pointed out. “Patients with advanced stage cancer without an oncogenic driver have seen significant improvement and outcomes.”
However, treating small cell lung cancer has continued to be challenging. “We need to come together and fund more research for small cell.”
The experts also discussed screening guidelines, which have been revised to cover a wider, more diverse population. Dr. Stiles foresees a move away from the sweeping recommendations of the past to a more tailored set of guidelines that could help get more eligible people the screening they need.
Increased survivorship rates mean that lung cancer no longer kills more people than breast, prostate, and colon cancers combined. The number of lung cancer deaths per year is now about equal to the other three combined. The progress we’ve made is a direct result of research, the panel pointed out. Cutting research funding from the Department of Defense budget is a big loss for our community, and private funding from organizations like LCRF is more important than ever, they agreed.
An essential opportunity
Dr. Preeshagul shared her gratitude for the opportunity to dialog with the group gathered for the event. “Gatherings like this one are so essential for the lung cancer community, not only because it is an opportunity to learn from experts in this space. More importantly, it’s a chance for us to hear from patients, caregivers, and advocates about their true needs and the areas where we can be most impactful.”
The research you fund through LCRF is making meaningful progress in the fight against lung cancer. We are pleased to share our 2023 grantees’ one-year updates in this series.
Benjamin Morris, MD
MD Anderson Cancer Center 2023 LCRF Leading Edge Research Grant Program
What he’s doing: Dr. Morris is leading critical research to better understand how small cell lung cancer (SCLC) responds to treatment by analyzing patient tumor samples before, during, and after therapy—particularly when the cancer progresses. His team is also comparing the genetic makeup of tumors in patients who respond well to treatment versus those whose cancer proves resistant.
What it could mean for patients: By uncovering the genetic changes that occur throughout treatment, Dr. Morris hopes to identify patterns that could guide the development of more effective therapies for SCLC. Since this type of lung cancer has historically been difficult to treat, understanding its biology is essential to finding new and improved treatment strategies.
The research you fund through LCRF is making meaningful progress in the fight against lung cancer. We are pleased to share our 2023 grantees’ one-year updates in this series.
Trever Bivona, MD, PhD
University of California, San Francisco 2023 LCRF Research Grant on Understanding Resistance in Lung Cancer
What he’s doing: Dr. Bivona’s overall goal in his research is to create an entirely new approach to treat lung cancer by developing a suite of precision therapies that are distinct in their mechanism of action against the tumor ecosystem.
How it’s going: Dr. Bivona’s team is making significant strides in understanding how lung cancer tumors resist treatment. Their research has confirmed initial treatment targets produced by cells in the tumor microenvironment.
What it could mean for patients: By inhibiting the interaction between these targets and cancer cells, there is potential to enhance tumor sensitivity to immunotherapy—offering new hope for patients with notoriously resistant forms of lung cancer, such as EGFR+ and other oncogene-driven lung cancers. Even more promising, this work could lay the foundation for a future clinical trial, bringing us closer to more effective treatment options for patients facing limited choices today.
