Today the New York Times ran an article “exposing” a donation made in 2000 by the Vector Group, which owns Liggett, to the International Early Lung Cancer Action Program screening study and insinuated that the research and researchers were tainted.

Sadly, this is far from the truth and another attempt to discredit I-ELCAP and lung cancer screening in general. Why else raise this now? The donation was made 8 years ago, was publicly reported and was an unrestricted grant that allowed for no control by the donor.

LCA President and CEO, Laurie Fenton Ambrose responded to the NY Times reporter with a written letter (below).  We will not let those who want to deny the lung cancer community the benefits they deserve defeat our efforts.