By Sofie Tapia

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Representatives on the forefront of lung cancer research in Kentucky introduced a new collaborative effort to combat the state’s high rate of lung cancer Wednesday at the state capitol.

The effort, titled the Kentucky Lung Cancer Education Awareness Detection Survivorship Collaborative, is a three-year collaboration between UK, the University of Louisville and the Lung Cancer Alliance. It is being funded by a $7 million grant from the Bristol-Meyers Squibb Foundation’s Bridging Cancer Care Initiative.

Dr. Jamie Studts, principal investigator of the Kentucky LEADS program, was aware of the needs for state lung cancer prevention and jumped into action when he heard about the opportunity to apply for the grant through the Bristol-Myers Squibb Foundation. He held meetings with the partners in January and said, “their excitement turned to action.”

The LEADS Collaboration will focus on providing education, early detection, screening and patient support all over the state. Kentucky Gov. Steve Beshear, a cancer survivor himself, was enthusiastic about this project. He said that his hope is that this collaboration will put a dent in the serious and complex issue facing our state, since Kentucky leads the nation in cases of lung cancer.

Dr. Mark Evers, director of the UK Markey Cancer Center, describes the LEADS approach as “unique and novel.” The program is split into three different components: provider education, survivorship care, and prevention and early detection.

Studts is not only the director of the Kentucky LEADS program, but is heading up the survivorship component of the project as well.

“Historically there’s not been a lot of research or effort put into lung cancer survivorship,” said Studts, who said that the reason was because “there hasn’t been much survivorship.” Studts said his hope is to increase the quality of life for these survivors, as well as educate their caregivers.

The programs provided through LEADS will be carried out with help from partners all over the state. Studts says that their core mantra is “design for dissemination,” meaning being able to apply programs in even the most rural areas of the state.

People in these areas will be able to receive free detection screenings under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, said Studts.

The first year of the LEADS project will focus on developing these projects, however.

Studts says that he plans on sustaining these relationships and collaborations past the end of the project.

Evers said the project will not only improve the commonwealth, but could have positive indirect effects on UK, such as bringing in clinical investigators and “recruit clinicians and technicians.”

Laurie Fenton-Ambrose, president and CEO of the Lung Cancer Alliance, has high hopes for the project, and said “times are really changing for this disease.”