The Lung Cancer Research Foundation and Pfizer Announce Collaboration in Lung Cancer Research

NEW YORK, April 30, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- The Lung Cancer Research Foundation (LCRF) and Pfizer Global Medical Grants today announced a collaboration to fund over $1 million in research grants through a Competitive Research Grant Program. The research grant opportunity is focused on understanding ways to improve clinical practices for side effect management for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients receiving targeted therapies. This is the first collaboration of its kind in lung cancer and could have an impact on patient care.

Lung cancer is currently the number one cause of cancer death both in the U.S. and globally among both men and women. An estimated 625 new cases are diagnosed in the U.S. every day. As research funding grows, new treatments become available and survival rates improve. For some lung cancer patients, one promising treatment option is the rapidly growing field of targeted therapies, which employs drugs that interfere with specific molecules involved in the growth, progression, and spread of cancer. Currently, targeted therapies are used to treat NSCLC that has metastasized. Among patients with adenocarcinoma, the most common form of NSCLC, up to 30% have a known oncogenic driver mutation that could ultimately be treated with targeted therapies. 

Oncology drugs, including targeted therapies, cause toxicity and there is a significant clinical need for effective identification, diagnosis and treatment of therapy side effects. This grant is aimed at improving the management of these side effects in patients receiving targeted therapies and will provide support for health services research in this area, with the hope that it will improve duration of treatment and therefore clinical outcomes as well as patient satisfaction with therapy. Through this collaboration, LCRF and Pfizer ultimately seek to increase lung cancer survival and improve outcomes for lung cancer patients.

"LCRF is honored to continue its nearly two-decade legacy of identifying and supporting over 300 impactful lung cancer research projects by partnering with Pfizer who continues to be a generous supporter of our mission," said James B. Dougherty, MD, Chair, LCRF Scientific Advisory Board. "The specific focus of this grant program is to study targeted lung cancer therapy side effects, which is very timely and important to the many patients and their caregivers receiving such drugs."

Through this funding mechanism, LCRF and Pfizer will support up to three innovative health services research projects focused on the improved management of treatment toxicities from targeted therapies in lung cancer patients. The three grants of up to $350,000 will support a research period of two years to investigators at US-based institutions. LCRF will announce the awardees in November 2019 at its annual Lung Cancer Awareness Luncheon.

"Pfizer is proud to partner with LCRF to further research in non-small cell lung cancer," said Julia Perkins-Smith, Vice President, North America Medical, Pfizer Oncology. "Our hope is that these grants will fund research that may improve the experience of those living with lung cancer who are receiving targeted therapies, and provide new guidance to the doctors who are treating them."

LCRF is the largest lung cancer focused foundation in the U.S. supporting lung cancer research. 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 362 research grants totaling $33 million, the highest amount provided by a nonprofit organization dedicated to funding lung cancer research.  Pfizer Global Medical Grants (GMG) supports the global healthcare community's independent initiatives to improve patient outcomes.

To learn more about LCRF visit www.lcrf.org
To learn more about Pfizer visit https://www.pfizer.com/

To review the request for proposals (RFP), visit http://lcrf.org/funding-opportunities or http://lcrf.org/pfizerrfp  

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 provided $33 million in research grants to investigators around the world. In addition to funding lung cancer research, the organization focuses on lung cancer awareness and educational programs. The Foundation also hosts community events nationwide through its Free to Breathe Events Program.

About Pfizer Oncology

At Pfizer Oncology, we are committed to advancing medicines wherever we believe we can make a meaningful difference on the lives of patients. Today, Pfizer Oncology has an industry-leading portfolio of 18 approved innovative cancer medicines and biosimilars across more than 20 indications, including breast, prostate, kidney, lung and hematology. Pfizer Oncology is striving to change the trajectory of cancer.

Contact:
Emily Krimbel  |  Lung Cancer Research Foundation
[email protected]  |  212.588.0873

SOURCE Lung Cancer Research Foundation

Related Links

http://www.lcrf.org