STRONGER TOGETHER: The Latest From ALK Positive, Inc.

ALK Positive, Inc. became a registered 501c3 (nonprofit) organization in March 2021.

Both the ALK Positive Board of Directors and the ALK Positive Committees are comprised of volunteer members from the ALK Positive Support Group, all ALK-positive patients or caregivers themselves.

The Board and Committees are all working together to improve the life expectancy and quality of life of ALK-positive cancer patients worldwide.

Here are a few of the latest highlights of what our nonprofit has been up to since the last update:

•       A big, heartfelt thank you to everyone who has donated or fundraised for ALK Positive, Inc. in 2021. Our Lung Cancer Awareness Month and End-of-Year Giving campaigns raised almost $1.1M in November and December thanks to the enthusiastic participation of members from all over the world and the generous matching donations of a number of committed donors. We are excited to continue this legacy into 2022 to keep funding research and programs to benefit ALK-positive patients, so stay tuned for announcements of new campaigns and fundraising challenges throughout the year as well as information on how you can help us take our mission further.

•       Our Research Acceleration Committee (part of the Medical Committee) has intensified efforts to identify and pursue venture philanthropy opportunities aimed at developing and funding new ALK-specific treatments that can be brought to clinics faster than by traditional academic research. The Committee also continues to connect with biotech companies that engage in promising research that ALK-positive patients can benefit from, such as with Vivace Therapeutics that is developing a YAP inhibitor clinical trial.

•       Our ALK Research Library now boasts more than 500 scientific articles, videos, and other resources on all the latest ALK-specific research. It is our hope that the Library will soon become a go-to trusted resource for ALK patients, oncologists, researchers, and advocates for ALK-related research and treatment. The ALK Research Library can be found on our website at: https://www.alkpositive.org/alk-research

•       As part of our commitment to improve the life expectancy and quality of life of ALK-positive cancer patients worldwide, ALK Positive, Inc. is looking to grow and expand its reach by hiring a Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and a Chief Scientific Officer (CSO) to help take the organization to the next level and leverage untapped opportunities in research, treatments, fundraising, advocacy, and partnerships. We hope and expect to bring these professionals on board to join us in our mission in the coming months.

•       Members of the ALK Positive, Inc. Medical Committee have been invited to sit in the Advisory Board for the largest-to-date research project specific to ALK-positive lung cancer. The University of Michigan’s Rogel Cancer Center has received a $7.6M grant from Judith L. Tam and the Richard Tam Foundation to launch a project aimed at early detection-prevention of disease progression as well as the development of novel treatments for ALK-positive non-small cell lung cancer. ALK experts such as Drs. Alice Shaw and Shirish Gadgeel are also on the Advisory Board along with a multidisciplinary panel of experts. You can read the official announcement on our Blog post here.