The V Foundation for Cancer Research, a top-rated cancer research charity, through the Richard Jones Fund and the Stuart Scott Memorial Cancer Research Fund, and in collaboration with the Lung Cancer Initiative of North Carolina, announces awarding of two lung cancer grants. The grants, each $200,000, will support research by Edward Kim, M.D., FACP, and David Foureau, Ph.D., at Levine Cancer Institute, and Qingyi Wei, M.D., Ph.D., at Duke Cancer Institute.
Mary Ella Jones established the Richard Jones Fund in 2012 with a $50,000 pledge to the V Foundation after the passing of her husband Richard Foster Jones, a 10-year lung cancer survivor. Friends and family have donated to the Richard Jones Fund, raising thousands more.
“My family and I are delighted that funds from my husband’s memorial gifts are partnering with the Stuart Scott Memorial and the Lung Cancer Initiative to award these two grants,” said Jones. “It represents another step forward in Jim Valvano’s appeal: “Don’t Give Up . . . Don’t Ever Give Up!”® We’ll follow the progress of the research by Dr. Foureau and Dr. Kim with great interest.”
The Stuart Scott Memorial Cancer Research Fund was established in 2015 after the passing of ESPN sportscaster Stuart Scott to support minority scholars and research dedicated to ending the disparities among African Americans in cancer incidences and death rates. In addition, the Lung Cancer Initiative of North Carolina, in partnership with the V Foundation, is providing grants to research disparities among African Americans, with a focus on lung cancer patients in North Carolina.
Lung cancer remains a major cause of cancer mortality in the general population worldwide. African Americans have the highest incidence and rate of lung cancer-related deaths and develop the disease at an earlier age compared to other racial groups.
“We are honored to have been awarded this prestigious grant. Through our research, we hope to identify novel blood markers, which may help clinicians better evaluate and treat those patients with lung cancer receiving immunotherapy,” said Kim. “Fighting cancer is a team sport, and our team at Levine Cancer Institute will continue striving for better treatments for patients, including underserved populations such as our African-American patients. Each patient is unique, and personalizing treatment through precision medicine is the goal.”
Among the highest-rated nonprofits by Charity Navigator, America’s largest and most-utilized independent evaluator of charities, the V Foundation strives for victory over cancer with a strict adherence to sound fiscal management and transparency. The V Foundation holds a 4-star rating from Charity Navigator and is among the top 4% of cancer charities of all charities evaluated; and the Foundation is a GuideStar platinum-rated charity.
To donate to the Richard Jones Memorial Fund, please contact Becky Bumgardner at the V Foundation at 919-380-9505.
