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Lung Ambition Awards: A New Canadian Research Awards Program

Toronto, Ontario, December 6, 2022 – Today marks the launch of the first annual Lung Ambition Awards, a new Canadian-based lung cancer research awards program designed to help improve the lives of people living with lung cancer. A joint initiative between Lung Cancer Canada, The Lung Ambition Alliance and AstraZeneca Canada, the awards program will have annual grant funding of $100,000 CAD and is open to all Canadian clinicians and researchers from across the multi-disciplinary spectrum of those working in the lung cancer space. It is the largest research awards program of its kind in Lung Cancer Canada’s 20-year history.
The Lung Ambition Awards are designed to support research that will help address key gaps in lung cancer care and drive meaningful improvements to the patient care 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 eligible under 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
 
“To launch the Lung Ambition Awards on our 20th anniversary is a true testament to how much the lung cancer space has evolved over the past two decades,” said Shem Singh, Executive Director of Lung Cancer Canada, the only national Canadian organization focused solely on lung cancer. “However, there remains a critical need to further improve the experiences and outcomes of lung cancer patients, a group that receives a fraction of research dollars compared to other cancers, despite the devastating effects of the disease.”
 
In Canada, lung cancer is the most diagnosed type of cancer (excluding non-melanoma skin cancers) and the leading cause of death from cancer.[i]  Roughly two-thirds of lung cancers are diagnosed in stage III or IV where the disease has spread locally or metastasized.[ii] In Canada, the 5-year survival rate for lung cancer is only 22% – significantly lower than prostate (91%), breast (89%) and colorectal (67%) cancers.[iii]
 
“Along with the Lung Ambition Alliance, we’ve set the bold ambition to one day eliminate lung cancer as a cause of death,” said Mark Sims, Head of Oncology at AstraZeneca Canada. “We know that’s a goal that can only be achieved through impactful collaborations and are proud to support research that will not only improve health outcomes for people with lung cancer, but also contribute to strengthening healthcare capabilities and capacity in the areas of screening, early diagnosis and supportive care."
 
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 the next three years.
 
Submissions for the Lung Ambition Awards will be accepted from December 6, 2022 to February 28, 2023. 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 2023.
 
More information about the Lung Ambition Awards and application guidelines can be found at https://www.lccresearch.ca/.
 
About the Lung Ambition Awards Partners
  • 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. www.lungcancercanada.ca
  • 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 and diagnosis; delivering innovative medicine; and enhancing the quality of care for lung cancer patients. www.lungambitionalliance.com
  • 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.
 
For more information about the Lung Ambition Awards, please contact Winky Yau, Coordinator of Medical Affairs at Lung Cancer Canada at [email protected].
 
[i] Lung Cancer Canada, 2022 Hard facts infographic, available online at: https://www.lungcancercanada.ca/en-CA/Resources/The-Hard-Facts-Poster.aspx
[iii] Lung Cancer Canada, 2022 Hard facts infographic, available online at: https://www.lungcancercanada.ca/en-CA/Resources/The-Hard-Facts-Poster.aspx