Innovation and Patient Advocacy at the World Conference on Lung Cancer 2025 in Barcelona
September 18, 2025
Barcelona, September 6–9, 2025 — The Rising Tide Foundation for Clinical Cancer Research (RTFCCR) proudly participated in the World Conference on Lung Cancer for the first time. This conference offered a valuable opportunity to learn about the latest developments in lung cancer treatment and to gain a deeper understanding of the most pressing needs in the field. It also served as an excellent platform for networking and increasing the visibility of our foundation within the lung cancer research community.
Dr. Alexandre Alencar, Head of Cancer Research Programs at RTFCCR, was invited to speak at the 2025 STARS Workshop Research Advocacy, hosted by the LUNGevity Foundation. As a panelist, Dr. Alencar shared the funder’s perspective on empowering individuals with cancer to engage in research advocacy. The discussion highlighted the importance of effective communication, persistence, and meaningful partnerships for successful collaborations between patient research advocates and investigators.
The conference served as a dynamic platform for exchanging cutting-edge insights and forging new collaborations among leading experts in lung cancer. RTFCCR was pleased to see several of its grantees presenting impactful research, including Dr. Benjamin Besse (Gustave Roussy, France) and Dr. Matthias Guckenberger (University Hospital Zurich, Switzerland). The foundation also met with a new recipient of the pre-application grant, Dr. Sidney Barned, a patient partner advising a research project from The Ohio State University James Comprehensive Cancer Center, USA.
Additionally, RTFCCR’s new funding program for Early Career Investigators in Supportive Care was featured and disseminated during the congress, attracting interest from emerging researchers in the field.
The World Conference on Lung Cancer marked a moment of growth for RTFCCR: the foundation expanded its network, witnessed its grantees being recognized within the lung cancer research community, and gained deeper insight into the field’s pressing needs and cutting-edge advancements.