LUNGevity Advances Its Strategic Focus On The Funding Of Early Detection Research

WASHINGTON, Sept. 15, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- LUNGevity Foundation has announced a new collaboration with Stand Up To Cancer and the American Lung Association through its LUNG FORCE initiative, the SU2C-LUNGevity-American Lung Association Lung Cancer Interception Dream Team,  building on the Foundation's more than six years of strategic investment in early detection research. The new collaboration was recognized at Stand Up To Cancer's fifth biennial live telecast on September 9. The Dream Team will be formed through a competitive process and will be the first of its kind to focus research on lung cancer interception.  

"Today, only 16% of people with lung cancer are diagnosed in the earliest stage, when the disease is most treatable. LUNGevity's long-term strategic focus on early detection and our new collaboration with Stand Up To Cancer and the American Lung Association will maximize our ongoing direct investment in critical research that can change this statistic and the outcomes of those affected by the disease," said Andrea Ferris, President of LUNGevity Foundation. "As in many cancers, early detection has a significant impact on patient outcomes. Our Foundation believes that funding a Dream Team to tackle cancer interception is the one of the most effective means of supporting early detection research and our mission to create a world where no one has to die of lung cancer."

Delving into the newly emerging field of lung cancer interception, the team will embark on a research project to investigate early molecular or other changes that lead to cancer development. Early detection and interception are key elements for determining effective treatment options for patients and preventing the spread of cancer to other parts of the body, ultimately resulting in increased survival. 

"LUNGevity is honored to support this new Dream Team with Stand Up To Cancer and the American Lung Association, to lead the way in the study of lung cancer interception," Ferris said. "We applaud SU2C for their continued leadership in bringing celebrities from the Hollywood community, together with health industry leaders, patient advocates, and scientists to accomplish astounding advancements in cancer research in compressed time. It is extraordinary to see so many people stepping forward to contribute their time and talents in support of this critically important quest."

In the coming months, SU2C, with support from its Scientific Partner, the American Association for Cancer Research, will issue a Call for Ideas, seeking interdisciplinary and multi-institutional teams of researchers to offer innovative approaches to cancer interception for lung cancer with the greatest promise for patient benefits faster. LUNGevity Foundation and the American Lung Association LUNG FORCE initiative will participate with SU2C in the evaluation and SU2C-LUNGevity- American Lung Association Lung Cancer Interception Dream Team selection.

"Stand Up To Cancer is so appreciative of the support of LUNGevity and the American Lung Association LUNG FORCE initiative as we pursue this newest approach to cancer prevention and treatment," stated SU2C President and CEO Sung Poblete, PhD, RN.  "Cancer advocates such as LUNGevity are essential in our collaborations to innovate and accelerate cancer research."

Since launching in 2008, Stand Up To Cancer has pioneered a new collaborative model for cancer research by uniting global leaders from across disciplines, institutions, and specialties into Dream Teams, pooling their expertise to accelerate innovative cancer research. During Friday's telecast, members of the Hollywood community united to raise funds to further SU2C's mission to accelerate the pace of research to get new therapies to patients quickly and save lives now.  

For more information on LUNGevity, please visit www.LUNGevity.org.

About Lung Cancer in the U.S.

• About 1 in 15 Americans will be diagnosed with lung cancer in their lifetime
• More than 224,000 people in the U.S. will be diagnosed with lung cancer this year
• About 60%-65% of all new lung cancer diagnoses are among people who have never smoked or are former smokers
• Lung cancer takes more lives than the next four leading cancers (colorectal, pancreatic, breast, and prostate) combined
• Only 18% of all people diagnosed with lung cancer will survive 5 years or more, BUT if it's caught before it spreads, the chance for 5-year survival improves dramatically

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SOURCE LUNGevity Foundation