LCI Awards $125,000 to Five Research Fellows Advancing Lung Cancer Care Across the Carolinas
Lung Cancer Initiative (LCI) is pleased to announce the recipients of five 2026-2027 Lung Cancer Initiative Research Fellowship grants, awarded to students at Duke University School of Medicine, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, ECU Health Medical Center and the Brody School of Medicine at ECU, and the Medical University of South Carolina. Each recipient will receive $25,000 to continue their research, chosen for their measurable impact and their commitment to advancing the lung cancer field.
“It is a critical time for us to support young researchers and their work,” said Neal Ready, MD, PhD, Duke Cancer Institute and LCI Chief Scientific Officer. “We continue to hear from our fellows that this grant is often the first funding that they received and enabled them to secure larger funding grants, grow in their careers, and ultimately step into leadership positions that are driving progress in lung cancer research and care.”
Since 2015, LCI has provided $1.3 million to 53 fellows, with 97 percent remaining in the field of lung cancer throughout their careers — a testament to the lasting impact of early-career support.
Meet the 2026-27 LCI Research Fellows
Yijun Chen, PhD Candidate — Wake Forest University School of Medicine
A Deep Learning Framework for Predicting Radiation-Induced Rib Fracture in NSCLC After SBRT Using Multimodal Longitudinal Data
Radiation therapy for lung cancer can damage nearby ribs, causing fractures in up to 40 percent of patients, yet doctors currently have limited tools to predict who is most at risk. This project uses artificial intelligence to analyze medical images and treatment data to identify high-risk patients before treatment begins, enabling more personalized care and a better quality of life.
Eunbee Cho, MD — ECU Health Medical Center and the Brody School of Medicine at ECU
Assessing the Clinical Utility of Cytokine Profiling and Inflammatory Markers for Prediction and Monitoring of Immune Toxicity and Clinical Outcomes in Patients with Small Cell Lung Cancer Receiving Tarlatamab
Tarlatamab is a promising new immunotherapy for relapsed small cell lung cancer, but immune-related side effects can force some patients to stop treatment early. This study will track cytokine levels — immune signaling proteins — to identify biomarkers that predict which patients are most at risk, with a particular focus on the medically underserved and racially diverse patient population of Eastern North Carolina.
Stephen Gottschalk, PhD — Medical University of South Carolina
Synthetic Cis-Regulatory Elements for Transcriptionally Targeted Gene Therapy in Lung Adenocarcinoma
Every cancer cell carries molecular signatures that distinguish it from healthy cells. This research aims to use those signatures to its advantage — mapping the unique protein activity of lung cancer cells and using AI to design precisely targeted DNA sequences. The work lays the groundwork for a new generation of gene therapies that target lung cancer while leaving healthy cells unharmed.
Bryony Hawgood, PhD Candidate — Duke University
A Novel Therapeutic Target for Lung Mucinous Adenocarcinoma
Invasive mucinous adenocarcinoma is a form of lung cancer defined by excessive mucus production that fuels tumor growth and shields cancer cells from treatment — and it currently has no targeted therapies. This research focuses on a newly identified metabolic enzyme essential to mucus production in these tumors. Early results suggest that blocking it, potentially using an already FDA-approved drug, could become a new therapy designed specifically for this disease.
Patrick Prochazka, PhD Candidate — Duke University
Evaluating the Potential of Repurposing Targeted Therapies for Chemoprevention in Lung Cancer
Lung cancer is most often caught too late — but what if it could be stopped before it even starts? This project investigates whether two targeted drugs already available in the clinic can suppress the earliest cancer-causing mutations that arise in lung tissue after tobacco exposure. The findings could open the door to the first precision medicine approach to lung cancer prevention for high-risk individuals.
Fellows will share their projects at LCI’s Annual Update and Awards Celebration in March 2027.
About LCIs Research Program
Since 2008, LCI has funded more than $4.4 million in lung cancer research through programs including the Research Fellowship grant, the Health Disparities in Lung Cancer grant (in partnership with the V Foundation for Cancer Research), the Career Development Award, and the Innovation in Lung Cancer Research Award.
The purpose of LCI’s Research Fellows program is to further the development of local lung cancer care and research programs across the state of North Carolina. By funding the research activities of fellows, LCI helps advance their careers and encourages their continued involvement in the field of lung cancer. This fellowship is available to students pursuing a career in lung cancer research, diagnosis, treatment, and/or care. LCI fellowships are granted for one year, with recipients receiving a $25,000 annual stipend.