TOGA’s Inspirational Research Grant has been created from philanthropic donations to increase research into prevention, treatment, or improved lives of those living with thoracic cancers.
While lung cancer remains the deadliest cancer, less than 6% of research funding goes towards thoracic cancers. To bridge this gap, TOGA’s Inspirational Research Grant creates more opportunities for successful clinical trials, giving lung cancer and mesothelioma patients access to life-saving treatments and world-class care.
For 2025, ALK Positive Australia Inc. and the TOGA are honoured to announce a new grant partnership dedicated to advancing ALK+ NSCLC research in Australia. This grant aims to empower researchers with the resources they need to make a real difference in the lives of Australian people battling ALK+ NSCLC.
The Inspirational Research Grants are $50,000 and are to be used over a two year period. To be a successful recipient, your project must have be designed with consultation with consumer representatives.
The 2025 Inspirational Research Grant Recipients
The 2025 TOGA Inspirational Research Grant recipients are:
- Dr Mark Adams: Pioneering Lung Cancer Microbiome Research in Australia: Standardising Sequencing, Bioinformatic Analysis and Clinical Associations Between Interstate Institutions.
- Dr Sagun Parakh: Evaluating the Impact of the Lung Microbiome on the Efficacy and Toxicity of Immunotherapy in Lung Cancer Patients
The 2025 ALK Positive Australia and TOGA Inspirational Research Grant for ALK+ NSCLC recipient is:
- A/Prof Venessa Chin: Unravelling Genomic Diversity in ALK-Positive Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer: Insights from Paired RNA/DNA Sequencing of Circulating Tumour Cells
