In 2019, the GO2 Foundation for Lung Cancer was born from the merger of the Bonnie J. Addario Lung Cancer Foundation and the Lung Cancer Alliance. The marriage of two lung cancer advocacy groups raises the profile of each group’s work and combines considerable resources to combat lung cancer.
The group’s new name reflects its ambition to be the “go-to” resource for people living with or at risk from lung cancer. GO2’s focus is on embracing new obstacles while pursuing new opportunities in progress against lung cancer.
“We are looking to source the best science to help the greatest number of people,” said Amy Moore, PhD, GO2’s Director of Science and Research. The foundation is passionate about funding early-career oncology researchers studying lung cancer and supports a Young Investigator Award (YIA) through Conquer Cancer, the ASCO Foundation.
“You can’t underestimate the importance of these investments in young investigators. They are truly the ones who are going to pave the way for new innovations leading to new treatments and new and improved outcomes for our patients,” she said.
Dr. Moore cited the impact early funding had on research conducted by Geoffrey R. Oxnard, MD, a previous YIA (2010) and Career Development Award (2012) recipient, who has since been the principal investigator on several high-profile lung cancer studies. Dr. Oxnard has “just flourished,” said Dr. Moore, calling him “a thought leader in the field.”
GO2’s leaders are strategizing ways to tackle emerging challenges to the lung cancer community, including COVID-19. Doubling survival rates for patients with lung cancer over the next 5 years remains a core goal, along with a concerted push to increase early detection, as well as driving advances in and improving access to comprehensive biomarker testing. On the advocacy front, GO2’s priorities include fighting for increased research funding through the Congressionally Directed Medical Research Program.
Despite its national reach, the organization maintains close ties in local communities and among its network of patients, caregivers, activists, and volunteers. Since most cancer care is delivered locally and traveling can be a burden for patients with lung cancer, providing services where they are needed and increasing access to care are key components of GO2’s patient-first model.
“The first year has been a lot of hard work and sleeves rolled up to make that happen as seamlessly as possible,” said Dr. Moore “We’re just thrilled at how the lung cancer community has embraced us.”
Learn more about the GO2 Foundation at go2foundation.org.
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