Press Release
Feb 01, 2021
Chris Martin CMartin@DavidJamesGroup.com | 630-670-2745
DENVER- The International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer (IASLC) has selected Doreen, Australia resident Lisa Briggs as a participant for the Supportive Training for Advocates on Research and Science (STARS) Program as a Patient Research Advocate (PRA).
The STARS program aims to help patient advocates evolve into patient research advocates—a distinction explained by a PRA’s ability to bring the patient voice to research-related efforts. PRAs work with clinicians and scientists to provide the patient perspective for lung cancer research and policy.
Briggs was diagnosed in 2014 at the age of 32 with stage IV lung cancer just four months after the birth of her second child. There were limited options available in Australia at that time, especially for someone with her rare ALK gene rearrangement,but Briggs was able to enter a phase III clinical trial with targeted therapy that lasted for three years. In 2016, however, an asymptomatic brain metastasis led her to begin treatment with another targeted agent.
Brigg’s professional background is in allied health as both a doctor of osteopathy and exercise physiologist. She owned and operated a sports medicine clinic for 8.5 years, but following her diagnosis, ceased her practice and devoted her time toward her family and lung cancer advocacy.
As part of her lung cancer journey, she became a member of the local organizing committee for the 2020 Australian Lung Cancer Conference. She holds positions on steering committees including the Victorian Lung Cancer Registry, locally within her hospital, and for organizations such as Cancer Australia and Lung Foundation Australia. Briggs was the inaugural co-chair and now current member of the Lung Cancer Patient Advisory Group for Lung Foundation Australia and is passionate about challenging the diverse inequities in funding for lung cancer research.
As a patient research advocate, she hopes her voice and contributions can lead to better collaboration among all of those involved in lung cancer care and can ensure that the patient voice is always at the center of all the work that is done.
STARS Mentors and PRAs will receive complimentary registration to attend the IASLC 2020 World Conference on Lung Cancer (WCLC), to be held virtually January 28-31 2021. The WCLC is the largest international conference specific to lung cancer. To prepare for WCLC, Mentors and PRAs will participate in communication learning labs through Research Advocacy Network, education sessions and meetings with key opinion leaders in the lung cancer community.
About the IASLC:
The International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer (IASLC) is the only global organization dedicated solely to the study of lung cancer and other thoracic malignancies. Founded in 1974, the association's membership includes nearly 7,500 lung cancer specialists across all disciplines in over 100 countries, forming a global network working together to conquer lung and thoracic cancers worldwide. The association also publishes the Journal of Thoracic Oncology, the primary educational and informational publication for topics relevant to the prevention, detection, diagnosis, and treatment of all thoracic malignancies. Visit www.iaslc.org for more information.
About the WCLC:
The WCLC is the world’s largest meeting dedicated to lung cancer and other thoracic malignancies, attracting more than 7,000 researchers, physicians and specialists from more than 100 countries. The goal is to increase awareness, collaboration and understanding of lung cancer, and to help participants implement the latest developments across the globe. The conference will cover a wide range of disciplines and unveil several research studies and clinical trial results. For more information, visit wclc2020.iaslc.org.