In 2015, Yale Cancer Center was awarded a SPORE (Specialized Programs of Research Excellence) grant for translational research in lung cancer from the National Cancer Institutes.

Nearly 90% of lung cancers worldwide are non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cases, which are largely incurable once they become metastatic. While most cases are linked to smoking, experts are increasingly identifying mutations in light smokers and never-smokers that are treatable.