Lung Cancer Initiative awarded a Lung Cancer Research Fellows grant to Aaron Chack, a graduate research assistant at UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, to support his research targeting a newly discovered molecular pathway as an effective approach for treating lung cancer. The grant provides $25,000 in research support.
Chack’s research is focused on the dynamic ablation of circular RNAs as a novel target in lung cancer.
“Recently, our group has identified a new molecular pathway that drives lung cancer metastasis in some aggressive cancers. Importantly, this pathway is normally inactive in healthy tissues, but is turned on in lung cancer,” said Chack, whose mentor is Chad Pecot, MD, co-leader of the UNC Lineberger Molecular Therapeutics Research Program and director of the UNC RNA Discovery Center. “This is an actionable pathway, meaning that it is possible to target it with new treatments. We have created therapeutically active compounds that efficiently target this pathway in the laboratory, but the effectiveness of these compounds in animal models has not yet been determined.”
Chack is studying how quickly the new molecular compounds engage CDR1as, a circular RNA, in non-small cell lung cancer tumors and how a sustained cellular reduction in CDR1as levels affects tumor growth and metastasis. The experiments will test the efficacy of molecularly targeting CDR1as.
Lung Cancer Initiative awarded four Lung Cancer Research Fellows grant. Each recipient will present on their projects at Lung Cancer Initiative’s 2025 Annual Update and Awards Celebration.
“Our goal through the Research Fellows Program has always been to support young investigators in training with seed money for pilot projects in lung cancer. If we get them interested in lung cancer early in their career, then perhaps they will use that pilot project to get preliminary data to support obtaining additional funding through an NCI, federal or other larger grants to continue lung cancer research as a career. At the very least, these recipients will have more awareness around lung cancer as they continue their medical path, and at best, they may go on to become thought leaders in lung cancer research and care,” said Jennifer Garst, MD, Lung Cancer Initiative board chair.
Since 2015, Lung Cancer Initiative has provided $1.13 million to 45 fellows through this program. Ninety-seven percent of fellows have stayed in the field of lung cancer.
About Lung Cancer Initiative
As a leading nonprofit supporting lung cancer research and education, Lung Cancer Initiative specializes in connecting patients, survivors, and loved ones with the medical and research community. The organization’s mission is to advance survivorship and provide support to those affected by lung cancer through research, education, and access programs. For more information and to learn about ways to get involved, please visit lungcancerinitiative.org.