After unveiling a new 5-year strategic plan at the 2023 World Conference on Lung Cancer in September, the IASLC has officially begun working toward the plan’s goals and objectives.
IASLC Chief Executive Officer Karen Kelly, MD, said the plan, which will guide the association from 2024-2029, has redefined the IASLC’s mission and vision and sets an aggressive blueprint to achieve them.
Going forward, the association will be working toward its new mission to “be the multidisciplinary world authority on lung and other thoracic cancers through collaborative science, education, and advocacy in order to ensure optimal prevention and patient care.”
Dr. Kelly said the association has incorporated a key element—a timeline—into the society’s vision statement: “Conquering Lung and Other Thoracic Cancers Worldwide in the 21st Century.”
“Adding a time element into our vision statement is not only vital for ensuring accountability, but it also serves as a source of motivation and inspiration,” she said.
The strategic plan is organized into three pillars, each with its own outcome goals and aims:
- Pillar 1: Collaborative Science
- Pillar 2: Global Education
- Pillar 3: Transforming Science Advancements into Actionable Patient-centered Interventions
Though just launched, new initiatives are already in the works. Under the umbrella of Pillar 1, applications for the first team science award are being accepted through March 4. An expansion of the IASLC Academy—representing the most globally diverse Academy class in its history—supports the aims of Pillar 2. And under Pillar 3, a comprehensive, global biomarker survey will soon be released.
While each pillar stands on its own, Dr. Kelly said they also flow from one to the other.
Taken together, the pillars, outcomes, and aims outlined in the plan have been designed to serve as a roadmap that guides the organization toward a future characterized by groundbreaking discoveries, compassionate care, and transformative impact.
“Our plan is bold, and we are off to a strong start,” Dr. Kelly said.
IASLC President Paul Van Schil, MD, PhD, Professor of Thoracic and Vascular Surgery, Antwerp University Faculty of Medicine, said to implement the strategic plan, the IASLC needs all members to contribute.
“I am really looking forward to collaborating as we move further on this track and keep IASLC the leading organization in thoracic oncology,” he said.