Our mission: To save the lives of RET-positive lung cancer patients by advancing research and treatment options.
We fund and facilitate cancer research, and we educate and empower patients to participate in clinical trials and lung cancer registries.
Scientific research can be confusing and overwhelming
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About The Happy Lungs Project
Since our inception in 2021, The Happy Lungs Project has awarded more than $1 million in RET-positive lung cancer research grants. We also educate lung cancer patients and caregivers about ongoing studies and how their participation in clinical trials and registries can improve RET-positive treatment options and patient survival. Join our efforts to save the lives of RET-positive lung cancer patients by advancing research and treatment options.
When Abnormal Cells Multiply
RET-positive cancer is caused by a mutation or abnormal re-arrangement of the RET gene. This leads to abnormal activation of the cell membrane receptor, basically resulting in the “on-off” switch to get stuck in the “on” position and causing these abnormal cells to multiply and spread. RET alterations occur most commonly in lung cancer – specifically non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) – and approximately 37,500 people are diagnosed worldwide and 4,000 in the U.S. each year.
Currently, selpercatinib and pralsetinib are the two FDA-approved RET-inhibitors that selectively target the RET protein. While these treatments show great benefit in most patients, within 1-3 years many RET-positive lung cancer patients become resistant to the therapies and their cancer progresses again. Finding new therapies that prevent resistance and are effective long-term is critical.
Learn more about RET-positive NSCLC
Introducing Our New Clinical Trials Matching Tool
Clinical trials offer hope to patients – and critical information to researchers that can lead to improved treatment options. We provide information about the latest clinical trials for RET-positive patients. Use our tool to match to a trial.
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