NEW YORK CITY-The industry turned out in droves to support Uniting Against Lung Cancer in its annual fundraising event, held Nov. 17 at Gotham Hall. Roxanne Donovan, a member of the Uniting Against Lung Cancer board, tells GlobeSt.com that this year’s Joan’s Legacy: Uniting Against Lung Cancer Strolling Supper with Blues & News fundraiser has brought in north of $1 million, up from last year’s $900,000. More than 700 guests, with a heavy representation from commercial real estate, attended the gala event, emceed by ABC News anchor Bill Ritter.

“I really believe we’re on the verge of a new ear in lung cancer,” said Dr. Avi Spira of Boston University School of Medicine, recipient of this year’s Caine Halter Hope Now Award on Wednesday evening. Spira, whose work focuses on earlier detection and treatments to improve quality of life for patients, said researchers could accomplish “amazing things” with the help of organizations like Uniting Against Lung Cancer.

Spira noted that federal research grant programs provide relatively little funding for research into lung cancer, which claimed 160,000 American lives in 2009—a higher toll than those of colon, breast, prostate and pancreatic cancers combined. The funding for high-risk projects is especially meager, added Spira. He was in such a position a decade ago, but today an early diagnostic test for lung cancer is making its way through the Food and Drug Administration’s approvals process.