Donor-Driven Lung Cancer Research: Rocket Fuel for Increased Survival Rates

Every donation made to LCFA impacts people living with lung cancer. In other words, the benefits that you, as an LCFA donor, have made in lung cancer research and education by supporting LCFA are significant and meaningful. Hear from Dr. Triparna Sen, a dedicated researcher in the field of lung cancer who demonstrates LCFA’s commitment to advancing the understanding and treatment of lung cancer. According to Dr. Sen, “With the progress of research, we are seeing a lot of more effective drugs entering the clinic. We have some really long-term survivors. We have five years, 10 years out survivors, who are doing an outstanding job advocating for research, advocating for what research can really do, how they can shift the needle. Guests: Dr. Triparna Sen is an Associate Professor at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York City. James Hiter, LCFA Speaker’s Bureau member and the founder of a non-profit called Streak For a Cure. Show Notes | Transcript | View the video Why Donor-Driven Lung Cancer Research Matter James Hiter shares his personal experience with lung cancer and his tireless advocacy work that has made him a powerful voice for the lung cancer community. Through his involvement with LCFA and Streak For a Cure, he has helped to raise critical funds for lung cancer research. He’s dedicated to spreading awareness about the need for improved treatment options and support for patients and their families. James recognizes that he is the benefactor of people who had been there and done stuff before him. So it’s important to him to make sure that part of his legacy as a lung cancer survivor is that there will be advances that he may not even live to see that will benefit others that are diagnosed five or 10 years from now. As a patient consumer reviewer for the Congressionally Directed Medical Research Program administered by the Department of Defense, James learned just how critical it is for young, smart scientists to get seed funding to open up doors that may otherwise stay shut. “Young investigator awards are so critical because it helps these people who have great ideas but are developing that track record that then ultimately will help them get the really big awards down the road that will help them take somethin' all the way to clinical trial. But you don't just jump right into a clinical trial, you've gotta build your accomplishment list to be able to get into that space, and it's one of the cool things I love about funding the Young Investigators.” James also learned that despite research mainly being government-funded or pharmaceutical company-funded, philanthropic funding is the rocket fuel for lung cancer research. It's one of the other reasons that James is very passionate about trying to raise money for lung cancer research. Young Investigators Make A Difference in Lung Cancer Research As Dr. Sen says so well, “If you want to make meaningful progress in the treatment landscape for lung cancer, we cannot do without research. And research cannot be done without your generous donations.” It's donor-driven lung cancer research agencies like Lung Cancer Foundation of America, who are not only changing the life of Young Investigators, they're actually pushing the needle forward for research. Donate to fund more Young Investigators