The Breath of Hope Ohio gala is returning on May 2 and bringing together survivors, advocates, researchers and supporters for an evening of hope and action against lung cancer.
Attendees will gather at the Ohio Union Archie M. Griffin Grand Ballroom in Columbus from 6 to 9 p.m. with a special survivors’ reception starting at 5:15 p.m. Guests will enjoy a buffet dinner, music, silent and live auctions and inspiring keynote speeches. Tickets cost US$150 for regular attendees while lung cancer patients and survivors can apply for free tickets.
Organizers founded Breath of Hope Ohio in 2014 after Mark Lomeo received a lung cancer diagnosis. The first gala took place in 2015 and the event has run annually ever since.
Past galas have featured similar evenings of community, education and fundraising. Together, these events have raised more than US$1.6 million to advance lung cancer research and treatment at The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center and the school’s Richard J. Solove Research Institute.
These funds go toward supporting better awareness and new therapies. Survival rates have improved in recent years thanks to earlier detection and innovative treatments, yet lung cancer still claims more lives each year than breast, colon and prostate cancers combined.
Read more: Breath Diagnostics advances pre-op pneumonia screening with FDA breakthrough designation
Blue Beautiful Skies Fund joins the cause
This fund now serves as a key collaborator with the Breath of Hope Ohio gala.
Annie Cacciato and her husband Matt created the fund after their own experience with lung cancer. The fund channels donations directly into thoracic oncology research at Ohio State University.
Mark and Sandy Lomeo partnered with the Cacciato family soon after founding Breath of Hope Ohio and the two efforts have worked side by side since the first gala in 2015. Their shared mission focuses on areas where federal funding often falls short.
Key industry sponsors, including Amgen Inc (NASDAQ: AMGN) (ETR: AMG), AstraZeneca PLC (NYSE: AZN) (FRA: ZEG), Bristol-Myers Squibb Co (NYSE: BMY) (FRA: BRM), Daiichi Sankyo Co Ltd – ADR (OTCMKTS: DSNKY) (FRA: D4S), Eli Lilly And Co (NYSE: LLY) (ETR: LLY), Genentech and Pfizer Inc (NYSE: PFE) (ETR: PFE), have supported past events and help drive continued progress.
Event highlights need for improved screening measures
This year’s gala shines a light on the urgent need for enhanced screening capabilities. Early detection dramatically improves outcomes, but current methods leave gaps. Gala attendees learn about promising new technologies that could change the game.
One exciting innovation is OneBreath from Breath Diagnostics. This well-advanced breath test analyzes a single exhale for volatile organic compounds linked to lung cancer. Developers designed it as a simple, non-invasive option, though it has not yet become commercially available.
Other advances include AI-assisted CT scans that improve accuracy in reading images from companies such as Koninklijke Philips NV (NYSE: PHG) (ETR: PHI1), Tempus AI Inc (NASDAQ: TEM) (FRA: F3M) and Median Technologies SA (EPA: ALMDT) (FRA: 4ZG).
Simple blood draws and phlegm analysis also show strong potential. For example, bioAffinity Technologies Inc (NASDAQ: BIAF) offers CyPath Lung, a sputum test that uses flow cytometry and AI to detect cancer cells with high sensitivity, especially for smaller nodules.
These organizations and companies are influential forces in the battle against lung cancer.
Read more: Prestigious medtech intelligence firm recognizes Breath Diagnostics for innovation
Follow Rowan Dunne on LinkedIn
rowan@mugglehead.com
