Oncolytic Virus Research Collaboration: Memgen Inc., UMichigan, and ALK Positive, Inc.

The ALK Positive NSCLC Research Acceleration Committee (RAC) systematically reaches out to selected biotech companies with NSCLC treatments in development and/or trial. In February of 2022, RAC member Ray Hall (father to patient Summer Farmen) wrote a letter to the CEO of Memgen Inc., introducing us and asking for a get-acquainted Zoom meeting, which occurred shortly thereafter. CEO Greg Brown, MD, MBA, and Chief Scientific Officer Mark Cantwell, PhD let us know that they were initiating a clinical trial at Duke and Moffit Cancer Centers for their oncolytic virus drug MEM-288 for patients with solid tumors

Research, Clinical TrialsKirk SmithJuly 11, 2023research, Memgen, University of Michigan

Instructions and Call for Patient Participation in The University of Michigan Judith Tam ALK Lung Cancer Research Initiative

The University of Michigan Judith Tam ALK Lung Cancer Research Initiative is recruiting ALK positive NSCLC patients for extensive and sustained studies of the course of each individual’s disease. Their research is enabled by the continuing donation of patients’ blood samples, tumor tissue samples, and/or malignant fluids, as each may be available over time for individual patients. The following steps are required for a patient to participate in the study.

ResearchKirk SmithMay 16, 2023research, University of Michigan

Call for Patient Participation in The University of Michigan Judith Tam ALK Lung Cancer Research Initiative

The University of Michigan Judith Tam ALK Lung Cancer Research Initiative is recruiting ALK positive NSCLC patients for extensive and sustained studies of the course of each individual’s disease. Their research is enabled by the continuing donation of patients’ blood samples, tumor tissue samples, and/or malignant fluid as each may be available over time for individual patients.

ResearchKirk SmithMarch 30, 2023research, University of Michigan

The ALK Positive Lung Cancer Registry and Survey Need You!!

The ALK Positive Lung Cancer Registry and Survey is a study that was launched in October 2022, with the purpose of helping provide real-world answers to all those questions. It is an IRB approved study conducted by University of Washington, but funded and driven by the ALK Positive organization. There are already almost 1,000 patients registered, and over 700 have answered multiple survey forms. However, the researchers will need thousands more global participants to answer most of these questions!!

ResearchKirk SmithMarch 19, 2023research, Longitudinal Survey

ALK Positive and LUNGevity Foundation Announce Recipients of the 2022 ALK-Positive Research Awards

To transform advanced ALK-positive lung cancer into a chronic or curable disease, ALK Positive to award $1.75 million through their research award program

Patient organization ALK Positive, in partnership with LUNGevity Foundation, announced the 2022 recipients of the ALK Positive/LUNGevity ALK-Positive Lung Cancer Research Awards. The grant monies, totaling $1.75 million, were raised by ALK Positive and represent patients with ALK-positive non-small cell lung cancer themselves directly influencing the direction and focus of the research that affects their lives.

Research, ALK Positive NewsKirk SmithJanuary 22, 2023Research Grants, research

The New ALK Inhibitor: NVL-655 Trial Expands to Europe!

NVL-655 is a new experimental ALK inhibitor that is designed to treat ALK cancers, especially those that have become resistant to ALK inhibitors like lorlatinib, alectinib, and brigatinib. The study of this new drug is underway! Clinical trial sites in the U.S. include Orange, California; Denver, Colorado; Boston, Massachusetts; Detroit, Michigan; New York, New York; Nashville, Tennessee; and Seattle, Washington. The expansion to Europe includes sites in Toulouse Cedex, France; Villejuif, France; and Barcelona, Spain.

Clinical Trials, ResearchKirk SmithJanuary 22, 2023research, Clinical Trials

Groups Award Two Grants for ALK-positive Lung Cancer Research

(December 28, 2022) – ALK Positive Inc. (ALK Positive) and The Lung Cancer Research Foundation (LCRF) announce funding of two ALK-positive related lung cancer projects. These grants, totaling $500,000, are awarded to researchers whose projects are focused upon transforming care and improving outcomes for patients with ALK-positive non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

Research, ALK Positive NewsKirk SmithDecember 29, 2022Research Grants, News, research

Dr. Kenneth Culver named Director of Research & Clinical Affairs for ALK Positive, Inc.

We are excited to welcome Dr. Kenneth Culver as our first Director of Research & Clinical Affairs Dr. Culver worked for 20 years at Novartis Oncology where he contributed to the development of 12 compounds including ceritinib for ALK+ NSCLC. In his last role, he served as Head, US Thoracic Oncology Clinical Strategy and Lead for the Center of Excellence for Immuno-Oncology for US Clinical Development and Medical Affairs. Most recently, he was the Global Medical Affairs Leader for the Cell and Gene Oncology program at GlaxoSmithKline.

ALK Positive NewsKirk SmithSeptember 29, 2022Dr. Ken Culver, research

Patient Spotlight: Colin Barton, Denver, Colorado

We had a wonderful discussion with long-time member, Medical Committee Chair, Board member and donor, Colin Barton, about his background and personal history, his attitude to life, the achievements of the Medical Committee which he has been chair continuously since 2017, and his hopes and excitement for the future of ALK-positive cancer treatments.

Patient StoriesKirk SmithJanuary 19, 2022Colin Barton, Medical Committee, research

$7.6M Gift Launches New Lung Cancer Research Initiative at University of Michigan's Rogel Cancer Center

HUGE Announcement from the University of Michigan's Rogel Cancer Center - this $7.6 million gift from from Judith L. Tam and the Richard Tam Foundation may be the largest made to-date specifically for ALK positive research. #ResearchSavesLives

ResearchKirk SmithJanuary 19, 2022research, Judith Tam

Dr. Christine Lovly at ALKtALK

Dr. Christine M Lovly, MD, PhD at Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center, Nashville, TN

Her studies concentrate on: Lung Cancer, EGFR, ALK, kinase fusions, acquired resistance, targeted therapies, tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs), genomics, EGFR mutation, Small Cell Lung Cancer, Liquid Biopsies, Structural Biology, Precision Medicine

ALK TALKKirk SmithMarch 26, 2021research

$600,000 Granted in the First-Ever Research Awards Funded by ALK Positive

Tom CarrollAugust 26, 2018immunotherapy, research, lungevity