4 New York City Researchers Receive Funding from American Lung Association to Study Lung Cancer

In an effort to save lives by improving lung health and preventing lung disease, the American Lung Association invests in promising lung health research. The organization recently announced an investment in 98 promising lung health research awards , including for 4 New York City based researchers who each won a Lung Cancer Discovery Award. 

“More than 36 million Americans are living with lung disease, placing them at increased risk for the most severe impacts of COVID-19. The American Lung Association recognizes that now is a crucial time to champion lung health, and is investing in promising lung health research, including with our 4 researchers here in New York City,” said American Lung Association Interim Executive Director for metro New York Erica Masin. “We’re proud to support promising scientists to help us realize our vision of a world free of lung disease.” 

The 5 Lung Cancer Discovery awards went to:

• Simon Cheng, M.D., Ph.D, Columbia University in the City of New York, to examine if blocking Bmi1 Protein will improve lung cancer immunotherapy
• Tuomas Tammela, M.D., Ph.D, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, to investigate the role of enzymes in cancer gene amplification in lung cancer
• Moon-Shong Tang, Ph.D., New York University School of Medicine, to research if whether e-cigarettes lead to lung cancer
• Haiying Cheng, M.D, Ph.D., Albert Einstein College of Medicine, to study potential new immune evasion pathways and molecular targets in lung cancer

Research projects funded by the Lung Association are carefully selected through rigorous scientific review and represent the investigation of a wide range of complex issues to help improve the lives of those living with a lung disease. 

For more information about the American Lung Association research award recipients and projects, visit Lung.org/research-team. For media seeking an interview with a COVID-19 researcher or lung health expert, contact Jennifer Solomon at [email protected] or 516-680-8927