Lung Cancer Alliance Gratified That Federal Funding For Lung Cancer Research Maintained In The FY2013 Continuing Resolution

$10.5 million funding for Department of Defense Lung Cancer Research Program Included Despite Threats of Sequestration 

WASHINGTON, March  21, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Today, Lung Cancer Alliance (LCA) commends the US Congress on the passage of a Continuing Resolution for the remainder of FY2013 that includes $10.5 million in funding for the Department of Defense (DOD) Lung Cancer Research Program. This would bring the total funding so far for this program, which was established in 2009, to nearly $70 million.

Through the efforts of Lung Cancer Alliance, the Lung Cancer Research Program (LCRP) was established within the Department of Defense (DOD) Congressionally Directed Medical Research Program (CDMRP) and allocated an initial $20 million to fund early detection research targeting at-risk military.

"With the specter of sequestration hanging over so many important programs, continued funding for the lung cancer screening program and all other programs within the CDMRP is deeply gratifying," stated Lung Cancer Alliance President and CEO, Laurie Fenton Ambrose. 

"Securing increased federal research funding for all aspects of lung cancer has been, and will continue to be, a core priority of our organization," Fenton Ambrose added. "And we remain grateful to congressional leaders for their continued backing of this specific and important program."

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death among men and women and every ethnic group and takes more lives each year than breast, prostate, colon and pancreatic cancers combined.

Without screening, the majority of lung cancers are diagnosed at such a late stage that the five year survival rate is only 15%—virtually unchanged since the 1971 declaration of "War on Cancer."

Lung Cancer Alliance (LCA), www.lungcanceralliance.org, is committed to ending injustice and saving lives through an alliance of advocacy, education, and support. LCA provides live, professional support, referral and information services for patients, their loved ones and those at risk for lung cancer; advocates for multiple millions in public health dollars for lung cancer research; and conducts national awareness campaigns.

Follow Lung Cancer Alliance on Facebook: www.facebook.com/lungcanceralliance. Follow us on Twitter: @LCAorg.

CONTACT
Kay Cofrancesco
202-742-1422
[email protected]

SOURCE Lung Cancer Alliance