$100,000 CAD available in research grants to help address key gaps in lung cancer care
TORONTO, Nov. 1, 2023 /CNW/ - To celebrate Lung Cancer Awareness Month, the Lung Ambition Awards – a Canadian-based lung cancer research award program – is back for its second year with $100,000 to be granted to research teams working to improve the lives of people with lung cancer. All Canadian clinicians and researchers working in the lung cancer space (across the multi-disciplinary spectrum) are encouraged to apply.
"Research – and especially research with the potential to improve patient outcomes – is a priority for the Canadian lung cancer community of patients, families and caregivers," said Shem Singh, Executive Director, Lung Cancer Canada. "Lung cancer is one of the most diagnosed cancers, one of the deadliest cancers and one of the most underfunded cancers in Canada. We need all hands on deck to change that reality and research is the path forward."
A joint initiative between Lung Cancer Canada, The Lung Ambition Alliance and AstraZeneca Canada, the Lung Ambition Awards are designed to support research that addresses key gaps in lung cancer care and improves the patient pathway. Awards will be granted in any of the following key areas:
- Enhancing early detection – including research into methodologies like screening, incidental pulmonary nodules and blood-based testing, particularly for those individuals not meeting current screening criteria.
- Improving the timeliness and/or coordination of care – including ways in which institutions or healthcare systems can improve care along the patient pathway.
- Addressing disparities to improve equity – including identification of systemic barriers and ways to overcome them.
In 2023, two Lung Ambition Awards of $50,000 each were granted to Canadian research teams that are striving to improve patients' experiences and outcomes.
- Dr. Anna McGuire of Vancouver General Hospital won a 2023 Lung Ambition Award for her team's research to advance lung cancer screening.
- Dr. Alison Wallace of Dalhousie University won a 2023 Lung Ambition Award for her team's research to improve female patients' quality of life when undergoing lung cancer surgery.
"These research projects are examining very tangible ways to improve lung cancer detection and treatment – two important areas that can have an important impact on patients' experiences and outcomes," said Marc Zarenda, Therapeutic Area Lead, Lung Cancer, AstraZeneca Canada. "This research – accelerated through the collaboration of like-minded partners – moves us closer towards our bold ambition of eliminating lung cancer as a cause of death."
As the program secretariate, Lung Cancer Canada will manage and administer the granting of the awards. AstraZeneca Canada has committed $100,000 CAD per year for three years. This is the second year of the program.
Submissions for the Lung Ambition Awards will be accepted from November 1, 2023 to February 29, 2024. The review of submissions and selection of winners will be adjudicated solely by Lung Cancer Canada's Research Committee, and 2–3 winners (maximum award of $50,000 CAD each) will be chosen based on scientific merit, feasibility, and relevance to the Canadian lung cancer community. The Lung Ambition Award winners will be announced in April 2024.
Complete information about the Lung Ambition Awards and application guidelines can be found at www.lccresearch.ca.
Lung cancer remains the most diagnosed cancer in Canada (excluding non-melanoma skin cancers) and is the leading cause of death from cancer in this country.i In Canada, roughly two-thirds (70%) of lung cancer cases are diagnosed in stages III or IV where the disease has already spread locally or metastasizedii, resulting in poorer survival outcomes and the treatment goal is no longer curative (REF=1 Figure 11).iii
In Canada, the five-year survival rate for lung cancer is only 22% - significantly lower than prostate (91%), breast (89%) and colorectal (67%) cancers.iv Despite its devastating impact, on average lung cancer receives a small fraction of the research dollars of other cancers, in part due to stigma that compromises fundraising efforts.v
- Lung Cancer Canada is a registered national charity that serves as Canada's leading resource for lung cancer education, patient support, research and advocacy. Based in Toronto, Ontario, Lung Cancer Canada has a wide reach that includes both regional and pan-Canadian initiatives. Lung Cancer Canada is a member of the Global Lung Cancer Coalition and is the only national organization in Canada focused exclusively on lung cancer.
- AstraZeneca is a global, innovation-driven biopharmaceutical business with a focus on the discovery, development, and commercialization of medicines that transform lives. AstraZeneca's core areas of scientific focus are Cardiovascular, Renal and Metabolic (CVRM) disease; Oncology; Rare Disease; Respiratory & Immunology; and Vaccine & Immune Therapies.
- The Lung Ambition Alliance is a global coalition, with cross-discipline partners in more than 50 countries dedicated to accelerating innovation and driving meaningful improvements for people with lung cancer. With the bold ambition to one day eliminate cancer as a cause of death, the Alliance is focused on three core areas: increasing screening & diagnosis; delivering innovative medicine; and enhancing the quality of care for lung cancer patients.
SOURCE Lung Cancer Canada
About the Lung Ambition Awards, please contact Winky Yau at [email protected]
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