PRA Program

What Does the PRA Program Include?

 

STARS PRA program activities are all-virtual and include online learning modules (provided by Research Advocacy Network's Advocate Institute), educational sessions with lung cancer researchers and clinicians, videos and webinars, networking opportunities, and mentoring by experienced research advocates.  The program runs five months (June through October) with two or three scheduled activities most months. Events may take up 60-90  minutes each. You can see an example of the STARS PRA Program schedule here. We aim to schedule virtual meetings to accommodate all time zones in which participants live. To do this, we usually schedule two meeting times for each virtual event.  The online learning modules (offered by the Research Advocacy Network Advocate Institute) can each take between 30 minutes to a couple of hours, depending on how familiar you are with the topic being discussed.

Note that all STARS PRA program participants MUST have reliable access to Internet and Zoom to participate in the all-virtual program.  Educational topics include:

• Lung cancer screening and diagnosis.

• Lung cancer treatment options, with focus on immunotherapy, targeted therapy, and small cell lung cancer (SCLC).

• Lung cancer biomarkers and liquid biopsy.

• Cancer clinical trials structure and research ethics.

• What is translational research.

• Effective ways to communicate about science and research.

• Lung cancer research advocacy opportunities.

 

The PRA program also includes networking with other program participants, experienced lung cancer research advocates, and prominent clinicians and researchers. PRAs who participate fully receive a certificate of completion and will be added to the STARS Alumni group.

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Who Can Apply to the PRA Program?

 

The PRA program is for people who have or had lung cancer and their family members.  People who do not have this personal connection to a person who has or had lung cancer are not eligible to apply.  Applicants to the STARS PRA Program must be active lung cancer patient advocates and motivated to learn about lung cancer research, science, and research advocacy. Patient research advocates (PRAs) differ from patient advocates in that they bring the patient voice to research-related efforts. Previous participants in the STARS PRA program may apply to participate the PRA Program again. 

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Successful applicants for the STARS PRA program must demonstrate the following:

• Commitment and experience in lung cancer patient advocacy (we recognize advocacy opportunities vary by country).

• Membership in IASLC (free to patient/survivors and caregivers--apply here).

• A baseline understanding of lung cancer science and/or research with a passion to learn more.

• Eagerness to expand their advocacy beyond sharing their lung cancer story.

• Willingness to learn about and advocate for all types of lung cancer.

• Interest in using their skills and knowledge to educate others about lung cancer science and research.

• Ability to read, write, and speak in English.

 

English is the primary language used in most international oncology conferences, including World Conference on Lung Cancer. Therefore, for participants to fully engage in the STARS program, along with networking opportunities, applicants need to be able to read, write and communicate in English. We want everyone to have an equal opportunity to benefit from the STARS program, and past participants who struggled with communicating in English found it challenging to maximize the program's benefits. 

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What is the Application Process?

All applications are completed and submitted online. The 2025 application period opens February 3 and closes March 14 at 12 pm (noon) Mountain Daylight Time (MDT, or Denver time). If reviewers need more information regarding a PRA application, an interview with the applicant will be held via Zoom between March 17 and April 4. Successful applicants will be notified by 5 pm MDT on May 2.

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The application requires that you provide the name and email address of an established research advocate or researcher who is familiar with your patient advocacy activities.  The application form will email the person and direct them to an online survey. We suggest you contact your emdorser early in the application process to ask if they are willing to provide a recommendation. If they agree, enter their name and email ASAP on your application (even if you haven't completed the entire application) to give the person plenty of time to submit the recommendation before the application period closes.  It is the applicant's responsibility to make sure the recommendation is received on time.

 

Applications are reviewed by a group selected from the STARS Admin Team, Mentors, past participants, and other lung cancer research advocates.