The IASLC Supportive Training for Advocates on Research & Science (STARS) program aims to increase the number of patient research advocates (PRAs) in the thoracic oncology community. PRAs are patients or caregivers who have had a personal experience with cancer. They engage in activities related to cancer research and provide patient perspectives to improve research relevance, quality, participation, education, funding, and dissemination. Through the STARS program, PRAs are educated about how to read, interpret, and translate research, as well as communicate effectively with both the research and patient communities.
The rapidly evolving lung cancer treatment landscape has allowed the STARS program to grow as the number of patients living longer has grown. Simultaneously, the rapidly evolving science increases the need for PRAs to support patients and their loved ones throughout their treatment journeys.
PRA Angus Pratt, MBA, joined the STARS program in 2021. Today, he’s one of eight 2023 STARS Scholars, and as such will travel to the 2023 World Conference on Lung Cancer to continue his patient advocacy work.
“The grounding in scientific principles and terminology I’ve learned from the STARS program has led to many opportunities to bring my lived experience to the cancer research table, from a recent keynote at the Canadian Cancer Society Survivorship workshop to presenting a poster at the American Academy for Cancer Research, the ability to speak to patient concerns has been empowering,” Mr. Pratt said. “To say I’m excited to be attending WCLC is an understatement. To mingle with the world’s leading lung cancer researchers is humbling and an honor. The potential for research collaborations that will move lung cancer knowledge forward and to have the ability to thank those who do so much for lung cancer patients in person is incredible.”
Congratulations to Mr. Pratt and the rest of IASLC’s 2023 STARS participants and Patient Advocate Educational Award Recipients.
2023 STARS Scholar Program Participants
Angus Pratt, Canada
Caleb Ugwuenu, Nigeria
Erminia (Emi) Bossia Bell, Canada
Michel Itel, Australia
Bruce Dunbar, US
Dave Bjork, US
Lorraine Tyler, Australia
Wayne Yeung, US
2023 STARS PRA Program Participants
Aileen Murgatroyd, UK
Chris Conneran, US
Deirdre Russo, US
Larry Gershon, US
Lorraine Tyler, Australia
Oskar Torberger, Sweden
Tarunima Malik, India
Tim Monds, Canada
Barbara A. Martin, US
Deborah Friedman, US
Elizabeth Dols, US
Laura Floyd, Canada
Oonagh McArdle, Ireland
Pierre Onda, USA
Tiffini Joseph, US
2023 Patient Advocate Educational Award Recipients
Ivonne Diaz, UK
Graham Hall, Australia
Aditya Manna, Nigeria
Annabelle Gurwitch, US
Joseph Isaac, Nigeria
Miryana Perez Vela, Mexico
