In keeping with our mission, the LCRF grant program provides funding for research into the prevention, diagnosis, treatment and cure of lung cancer. Our funding mechanisms are designed to fund innovative projects across a variety of diverse topics and to support the careers of talented scientists. 

LCRF Leading Edge Research Grant Program

Lung cancer continues to be the number one cause of cancer deaths worldwide, accounting for an estimated 130,180 deaths annually in the United States alone. Despite being the most common cancer killer of both men and women, lung cancer research remains critically underfunded. To help close this gap and improve outcomes, the goal of the LCRF Leading Edge Research Grant Program is to fund innovative projects across the full spectrum of basic, translational, clinical, epidemiological, health services, early detection, disparities, and social determinants of health research. 2023 LCRF Leading Edge Research Grants will provide $150,000 over a period of two years. Letters of Intent will be accepted through March 10, 2023.

LCRF Minority Career Development Award (CDA) in Lung Cancer

National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding is considered a prerequisite for establishing independence, academic promotion, recognition as an expert, serving on grant review panels, and leadership roles. Minority applicants are less likely to receive grants, to have the R phases of K01 or K99 awards activated, need more submissions to obtain funding, and often will not resubmit proposals. As minority applicants must overcome systemic and structural barriers due to race, ethnicity, country of origin, socioeconomic status, and/or language, many leave academia which further exacerbates the lack of diversity in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) and medical fields. To provide protected time and mentoring to these trainees, we continue to offer the LCRF Minority Career Development Award (CDA) for Lung Cancer for minority postdoctoral/clinical fellows and assistant professors within 10 years of completing their MD and/or PhD degrees to submit proposals. The LCRF Minority Career Development Award (CDA) in Lung Cancer RFP applications will be accepted through May 31, 2023.

LCRF Research Grant on Early Detection and Pre-Neoplasia in Lung Cancer

Given the significance and need for early detection of lung cancer and advancements in molecular screening, LCRF continues to offer a funding mechanism to support research projects that facilitate or advance the understanding and characterization of pre-neoplasia or approaches for early detection of lung cancer. Work supported through this mechanism addresses important questions in non-small cell and small cell lung cancer. Letters of Intent will be accepted through March 10, 2023.

LCRF Research Grants on Understanding Resistance in Lung Cancer

In 2023, in partnership with leading patient advocacy organizations, this grant mechanism focuses on understanding development, prevention, and therapy of resistance by supporting research projects that are identifying, characterizing, treating, or preventing resistance to therapies in lung tumor cells, tissues, mouse models, and/or patients. Work supported through this mechanism will address important mechanistic questions and developmental therapeutics across histological subtypes of lung cancer (including lung adenocarcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma and small cell lung cancer) and across the care continuum including newly designed targeted therapies and immunotherapies. These studies will enhance the momentum of improving lung cancer outcomes and have the potential to increase survivorship. Letters of Intent will be accepted through March 10, 2023.