Lung Cancer Research Fellowships & Awards

Funded by A Breath of Hope Lung Foundation

A Breath of Hope Lung Foundation Research Program

RFP UPDATES: The 2022 Research Award request for letters of intent is now closed. View most recent RFP.

Lung cancer claims more lives each year than breast and colon cancers combined, yet lung cancer receives disproportionately less funding per cancer death than other types of cancer. This means that private funding for research focused on lung cancer is vital to saving lives.

A Breath of Hope Lung Foundation (ABOH) raises funds to promote lung cancer awareness, support patients and families, and fund critical U.S. lung cancer research studies. The primary focus of the ABOH Research Program is to retain promising young researchers in the field through competitive $150,000 awards, however, some awards are offered to all investigators, including the 2022 award. The 2022 RFP, which is now closed, did not restrict applicants based on years in the field, but young investigators were encouraged to apply.

Retaining talent in the field of lung cancer research is critical to changing outcomes, but so is funding experienced candidates with well-developed ideas. Annual RFP’s are announced here – stay tuned.

Thank you to our local ABOH Research Committee for their time and dedication to advancing lung cancer research. 

Named Research Awards: ABOH offers major donors a “named” research grant option. “Named Research Grants” enable donors to fund part or all of a research fellowship in their name or in memory or honor of a loved one. To learn more, email Executive Director, Nancy Torrison at .

Lung Cancer Research Facts

  • Approximately 60% of new cases are nonsmokers, either never-smokers or former smokers, many of whom quit decades ago. One in five women and one in twelve men diagnosed with lung cancer have never smoked.
  • Approximately 150,000 Americans die annually from lung cancer, including more than 2,000 Minnesotans. More than 200,000 people are diagnosed with lung and bronchus cancer in the U.S. each year; 74% are diagnosed in stage 3 or 4.
  • Lung cancer kills nearly twice as many women as breast cancer. In recent years, the National Cancer Institute estimated that our government spent over $14,000 per breast cancer death for research, and $1,700 per lung cancer death.
  • Lack of funding drives talented young researchers away from lung cancer, despite their interest and commitment.
  • Per cancer death and its burden on society, lung cancer receives fewer research dollars than other common cancers.

Past Awards

2021 A Breath of Hope Research Award Recipient:
DR. KIPP WEISKOPF from the Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research in Cambridge, Massachusetts received the Peg Fisher-Jullie Fight for Life Award of $150,000.

2020 A Breath of Hope Fellow:
DR. ESRA AKBAY of The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center received the Katherine Bensen Hope Award of $150,000.

2018 A Breath of Hope Fellow:
DR. STEFANI SPRANGER, (MIT), received a $150,000 A Breath of Hope Lung Foundation research award.

2017 Women & Lung Cancer Research Award Recipients:
DRS. LAURA STABILE AND TIMOTHY BURNS, (University of Pittsburgh), received the Tona Vives Women and Lung Cancer Award of $150,000.

2016 A Breath of Hope Fellow:
DR. JUN-CHIEH (JAMES) TSAY, (NYU), received the Larry Benjamin Early Detection Award of $150,000.

2014 A Breath of Hope Fellow:
DR. KAMESH BIKKAVILLI
University of Illinois.
Award of $150,000.

2014 A Breath of Hope Fellow:
DR. MANISH PATEL
University of Minnesota
Award of $150,000.