The Lung Cancer Research Foundation (LCRF) has announced a major expansion of its research funding portfolio for 2025, offering $3.75 million in new grant opportunities through direct donor support and strategic collaborations. In addition to its annual request for proposals (RFP) cycle launched in January, the organization opened submissions in June for two new Team Science Awards and an Early Career Investigator Award. These funding mechanisms aim to accelerate advancements in lung cancer research and provide vital support for innovative scientific work.
A new $1.5 million Team Science Award, focused on developing therapies to cure EGFR-mutated Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC), has been made possible by a private donation from Benay and Steven Taub. This three-year grant is specifically designed to support collaborative research targeting novel treatment options for EGFR-driven lung cancers.
Additionally, LCRF has partnered with Boehringer Ingelheim to launch two new awards totaling $2.25 million. One of them, the LCRF|Boehringer Ingelheim Team Science Award on HER2-Driven Lung Cancer, will provide $1.5 million over three years to fund research into HER2 mutations and therapeutic strategies to address them. The second initiative, the LCRF|Boehringer Ingelheim Early Career Investigator Award, will offer three two-year grants to support emerging researchers investigating HER2-mutant lung cancers.
These new awards reflect LCRF’s ongoing commitment to filling critical funding gaps in lung cancer research. With public and institutional funding becoming increasingly uncertain, the foundation emphasizes the growing importance of private and collaborative funding sources to sustain innovation and progress in the field. LCRF’s Executive Director, Aubrey Rhodes, highlighted the essential role of donors and partners in bringing transformative research to life and advancing treatment options for patients.
Boehringer Ingelheim’s U.S. Vice President of Clinical Development and Medical Affairs, Bjoern Rueter, reinforced the company’s belief in the power of collaboration and scientific curiosity, expressing enthusiasm for their joint efforts with LCRF to propel research in HER2-driven lung cancer.
Kathryn O’Donnell, PhD, Chair of LCRF’s Scientific Advisory Board, emphasized that partnerships across the research community are key to addressing unmet needs and ensuring that innovative ideas receive the support necessary to evolve into impactful treatments. She underscored the significance of these efforts in making long-term breakthroughs possible.
These announcements mark a significant milestone for LCRF as it celebrates 20 years of supporting lung cancer research. The foundation’s expanded funding programs are expected to foster collaboration, nurture early-career scientists, and support bold approaches aimed at curing complex lung cancer subtypes such as EGFR and HER2-mutant NSCLC.
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