GO2 for Lung Cancer Brings Patients and Advocates to Capitol Hill to Urge Action on the Nation’s Leading Cancer Killer
February 25, 2026
Lung Cancer Voices Summit Calls on Congress: Support Research. Save Lives.
Washington, D.C. — February 25, 2026 — On March 3, GO2 for Lung Cancer (GO2) will convene more than 200 people impacted by lung cancer on Capitol Hill for its annual Lung Cancer Voices Summit, elevating patient voices and urging Congress to take immediate action to address the nation’s leading cause of cancer death. With more than 230,000 Americans expected to be diagnosed with lung cancer this year, advocates are calling for increased federal investment in research that saves lives.
Participants include people living with lung cancer, survivors, caregivers, veterans, and families, alongside clinicians, researchers, and healthcare experts. GO2 is joined by partners from across the lung cancer community—including biomarker groups, research foundations, advocacy organizations, and patient-led initiatives—representing the full spectrum of expertise and lived experience. United around a shared mission, this community is meeting with lawmakers to advocate for $60 million in dedicated funding for the Lung Cancer Research Program (LCRP) in the FY 2027 federal budget and to deliver a clear message: sustained investment in lung cancer research, awareness, and support saves lives.
“People’s lives are at stake, and we need funding and support now,” said GO2 for Lung Cancer’s Co-Interim Chief Executive Officer Danielle Hicks. “We see firsthand the consequences of underinvestment. Lung cancer remains the single largest cancer killer in the United States, yet it continues to receive disproportionately low levels of federal research funding. That must change.”
Keynote speaker Christine M. Lovly, MD, PhD, FASCO, division chief of thoracic medical oncology, professor in the Department of Medical Oncology & Therapeutics Research at City of Hope, one of the largest and most advanced cancer research and treatment organizations in the United States, emphasized both the scientific urgency of sustained funding and the strength of collective advocacy.
“We are at a pivotal moment in lung cancer research and patient care,” said Dr. Lovly. “Scientific advancements are transforming how we understand and treat this disease, but progress is slowed by persistent barriers, including both insufficient funding for research and unequal patient access to the innovations that arise from our nation’s research efforts. Sustained investment in lung cancer research is essential to accelerate breakthroughs and ensure patients benefit from discoveries as quickly as possible. When the lung cancer community comes together, we create the momentum needed to drive real change.”
Despite lung cancer’s status as the leading cause of cancer-related death, federal investment in research remains inconsistent and vulnerable to shifting budget priorities. Recent funding negotiations have created uncertainty for medical research programs nationwide.
For Fiscal Year (FY) 2027, the lung cancer community is united in calling on Congress to fully restore and increase funding for the Lung Cancer Research Program (LCRP) to $60 million within the Congressionally Directed Medical Research Program (CDMRP) at the Department of Defense. This investment is essential to reverse the harmful impact of the FY 2025 Full-Year Continuing Resolution, which:
- Enacted a 57 percent reduction to overall CDMRP funding; and
- Eliminated dedicated funding for the LCRP in FY 2025.
Without restored and sustained investment, promising research may stall, innovation may slow, and patients could face delays in accessing lifesaving breakthroughs.
Reflecting on the unified voice of the summit, Dr. Lovly added, “The best testament to the value of getting this right is more family, friends, neighbors, and loved ones who are living longer with a better quality of life. Together, the lung cancer community can create better treatments and more opportunities.”
“Patients cannot wait,” Hicks said. “Every delay in funding means delayed progress, delayed treatments, and lives lost. Congress has an opportunity, and a responsibility, to act.”
Lung cancer questions? Contact our free HelpLine at support@go2.org or 1-800-298-2436.