Overview

The IASLC Patient Advocacy Program is a global initiative focused on providing people with lung cancer and other thoracic malignancies with opportunities to advocate for research, attend educational conferences, form relationships with physicians and care providers, lend their voices through committee involvement, and share their stories through speaking opportunities.

Our Patient Advocacy Program includes the following components: Patient Advocates Committee, Cancer Care Team Award, STARS Programs, and Patient Advocate Educational Award. More details on each component are provided below.

Cancer Care Team Award

Exceptional care for patients with lung cancer is not limited to interactions with any one specialist or care center. Delivery of patient care is at its best when multidisciplinary team members offer the patient seamless and informed communication, as well as an individualized treatment plan based on not just the patient’s needs but the patient’s wishes. Knowing that this type of stellar care is happening around the world every day, the IASLC Cancer Care Team Award recognizes these multidisciplinary teams, as nominated by the patients they serve. An international panel chooses one winning team from each of the four regions: North America, Latin America, Europe, Asia/Rest of World. The selection criteria are: trust, empathy, communication, access to care team members and information, shared decision-making, and patient support and survivorship.

Nominations for the 2025 IASLC Cancer Care Team Award will open March 21, 2025. For more information and to nominate a care team, please visit here or use the top navigation bar on this page. You can also visit the IASLC Website to view past winners. 

STARS (Supportive Training for Advocates on Research & Science)

The IASLC is a scientific membership organization that recognizes the importance of patient research advocates within the research ecosystem. The IASLC Supportive Training for Advocates on Research & Science (STARS) program aims to increase the number of patient research advocates (PRAs) equipped to provide provide the patient perspective for lung cancer research, and also provide accurate scientific translation for other people touched by lung cancer. .

Click here to learn more about the STARS PRA Program. 

Click here to learn more about the STARS Scholar Program. 

Please note, applications for the 2025 programs will open February 3, 2025 and close Friday, March 14, 2025. 

Patient Advocate Educational Award

The IASLC is passionate about including the patient voice in events and resources. To facilitate that, the Association offers awards to allow patient advocates to immerse themselves in live educational events, such as TTLC, WCLC, and NACLC. The IASLC provides the Patient Advocate Educational Award to individuals who foster awareness, support, and hope in the lung cancer community. These awards are targeted to patients/survivors, caregivers/partners, and patient advocates who are early in their advocacy journey and would benefit from in-person attendance at WCLC.

For more information and to apply, click here or use the top navigation bar on this page. The main header reveals nested navigation options for each program. 

To learn about past winners and their work, visit the IASLC website.