About
Shine a Light Campaign: The need for research
Research offers hope, whether for a cure or for an improvement in quality of life. Lung cancer has a devastating impact on the lives of many Australians, yet it receives less than 5% of government cancer research funding.
Thanks to the money raised through the generosity of our community, we are inspiring hope by providing seed funds for research projects that support discoveries towards the prevention, management and treatments for lung cancer.
That’s why each year we empower our community to get behind our Shine a Light on Lung Cancer Campaign. Through this campaign we have funded six of the brightest researchers to gain a better understanding of the disease and work towards a future free from lung cancer.
Our Awards Program
Lung Foundation Australia is dedicated to funding cutting-edge research through a competitive, peer-reviewed awards and grants program.
The Shine a Light on Lung Cancer Research Awards in this program allow researchers to pursue projects that pave the way towards a better understanding of lung cancer, improved treatment options and ultimately hope for a cure.
Current research
| Awards | Co-funded | Recipient | Research title | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 Shine a Light on Lung Cancer Grant in Aid: $10,000 over one year | Dr Tan Ngyen | Inhibition of RNAutophagy as a novel therapeutic strategy in lung cancer | This Grant-in Aid builds on the research from my PhD which discovered that a protein called SIDT2 is important during viral infection in order for the body to initiate an antiviral response. We have now discovered that SIDT2 may play an important role in the development of cancers including lung cancer. We have found that genetic loss of SIDT2 leads to decreased tumour burden in pre-clinical models suggesting that inhibition of SIDT2 could represent a new therapeutic strategy for patients with lung cancer. | |
| 2018-2020 Shine a Light on Lung Cancer PhD Scholarship: $120,000 over three years | The Sydney Catalyst Translational Cancer Research Centre | Jennifer Lim | Predicting platinum sensitivity in lung cancer | The majority of patients with lung cancer will receive platinum-based chemotherapy during the course of their management however only half will see benefit. This project aims to test four immunohistochemical markers that may select for patients who are most likely to benefit from platinum chemotherapy. This will improve the response rates and reduce the number of people exposed to treatment who are unlikely to benefit. |
| 2019-2021 Shine a Light on Lung Cancer PhD Scholarship: $120,000 over three years | Melbourne Health/ Royal Melbourne Hospital | Dr Kanishka Rangamuwa | Bronchoscopic ablation and ablative immunotherapy in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer. | To confirm immunostimulatory effect of cryoablation and to identify component immune responses and to confirm feasibility of bronchoscopic BTVA for ablation of peripheral lung cancer and to confirm histological evidence of ablation using a tetrazolium based tissue viability stain. |
| 2019-2020 Shine a Light on Lung Cancer Early Career Nurse Fellowship | Queensland University of Technology (QUT) | Vanessa Brunelli | Expectations, Standards and Performance Framework to evidence the role and practices of the Australian Specialist Lung Cancer Nurse (SLCN) | This study proposes the implementation and evaluation of an innovative Expectations, Standards and Performance Framework, to understand the SLCN role and core supportive care components of practice in the Australian lung cancer community. |
| 2019 Shine a Light on Lung Cancer Grant in Aid: $10,000 over one year | Dr Surein Arulananda | Targeting the apoptosis pathway in a patient derived xenograft mesothelioma model | It builds on a strong body of in vitro data demonstrating significant efficacy of BH3-mimetics on Malignant Mesothelioma (MM) cell lines. Our preliminary data has already strongly implicated the two pro-survival proteins in MM, hence, it will be critical to rapidly translate these findings into animal models to provide preclinical evidence for initiation of clinical trials. If we can establish efficacy and safety in an in vivo PDX model which is thought to be the most reliable preclinical model at predicting drug responses, this data will help us complete our pre-clinical dataset with a view to providing a basis for Phase I/II clinical trial for MM patients. |
Lung Foundation Australia: What We Do
Almost one in three Australians has a lung disease, be it lung cancer, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, or Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis. In fact, there are over 30 different types of lung disease.
We are inspired by hope. The hope of our community of patients, health professionals, colleagues and the millions of people affected by lung disease, who are fighting to change the lung health space for the better.
As Australia’s leading lung health charity, we fund life-changing research and programs to reduce the prevalence of lung disease and cancer, and improve support and care for all Australians.
Our mission is to ensure lung health is a priority for all – from promoting lung health and early diagnosis, to supporting people with lung disease. We champion equitable access to treatment and care, and support health professionals through education and resources.
We stand for compassion, respect and collaboration, and we are fuelled by courage and driven by hope for change.
Lung cancer in Australia: The Facts
Anyone can get lung cancer. It affects men, women, children, all who are equally worthy of care and support.