Dr. Lauren Byers is a rising star in the field of lung cancer research. Her research findings into treatments for patients with small cell lung cancer are bringing new excitement and hope for these patients across the globe. “I am so grateful for the financial support and networking opportunities I received from LUNGevity’s research grants early in my career. They have allowed me to establish my lab and build collaborations that would have taken many years to build on my own,” says Byers.
LUNGevity’s Career Development Awards (CDAs) are research grants awarded to promising lung cancer researchers who are beginning their research careers. Dr. Byers received her CDA in 2012 after she had finished her medical oncology training and was starting a new role as a faculty member at MD Anderson Cancer Center.
She had been working with Dr. John Heymach, a lung cancer expert at MD Anderson and a member of LUNGevity’s Scientific Advisory Board, when they made a remarkable discovery. Their research suggested that they may have found a new approach to treat extensive-stage small cell lung cancer by combining PARP inhibitors with chemotherapy. PARP is an enzyme that helps repair damaged DNA. PARP inhibitors are drugs that prevent cancer cells from repairing damage caused by the chemotherapy.
“At the time, there hadn’t been any improvements in small cell lung cancer treatments for 30 years,” notes Dr. Byers. “It was amazing to imagine that we may have found a way to make a difference for these patients.”
A Solution to the Chicken-Egg Dilemma
When researchers are just starting out in their careers, they often face a chicken-egg dilemma. They need funding to hire good scientists and to conduct their experiments. However, large grant providers (such as the Department of Defense or the National Institutes of Health) typically require scientists to have solid data before they will fund the research.
LUNGevity’s CDA gave Dr. Byers a way to avoid this dilemma and allowed her to pursue her small cell lung cancer research. “The LUNGevity funding was critical,” says Dr. Byers. “It allowed me to hire talented scientists who could help me do the work. Many of them are still working with me now, continuing to make progress for small cell lung cancer patients.”
The Importance of Networking
LUNGevity’s CDAs require awardees to attend LUNGevity’s science meetings and present the data to lung cancer experts. “Getting connected with LUNGevity’s network of thought leaders had a big impact on my career,” says Byers. “Of course, I knew who they were. But this gave them an opportunity to know me. Plus, they were so fantastic about giving advice and input to improve my research.”
Networking is a big part of both career building and research breakthroughs. Dr. Byers recalls the moment when simply sitting next to the right researcher made a big difference. “There was one LUNGevity meeting where I sat next to Dr. Julian Sage, a renowned small cell lung cancer researcher from Stanford University. I showed him data on a new therapy with striking activity. He said ‘That looks great. Do you want to test it in my mice?’ So, we ended up building this collaboration and publishing our findings.” Their work has led to dozens of clinical trials worldwide looking at using specific molecular inhibitors to help sensitize small cell lung cancer patients to immunotherapy.
Paying it Forward
Today Dr. Byer’s research is thriving, and she is encouraging researchers in her laboratory to build their own labs and expand upon her work to improve treatment options for small cell lung cancer. One of the researchers she is mentoring, Carl Gay, MD, PhD, recently joined MD Anderson Cancer Center as a junior faculty member. He will be developing a translational research program for small cell lung cancer patients and is working to develop biomarkers for improved SCLC treatments.
In 2019, Dr. Byers herself joined LUNGevity’s Scientific Advisory Board. “The LUNGevity science meetings are a unique time. We get in a room and think about what matters most for lung cancer patients. I was always hoping there would be an opportunity for me to help guide the science of new awardees. I am thrilled to now be on LUNGevity’s Scientific Advisory Board so that we can continue working together to meaningfully impact lung cancer patients with improved quality of life.”