Jill Morningstar Named Board Chair; Aileen Murgatroyd and Jill Frizzley Join Board of Directors

NEW YORK, Oct. 20, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- The Lung Cancer Research Foundation (LCRF) today announced Jill Morningstar as Chair of its Board of Directors. Morningstar, who has served on LCRF's board since 2024, succeeds Colleen Conner Ziegler, who has led the board since 2023. Ms. Conner Ziegler will remain on the LCRF's Board of Directors and continue to support its mission.

LCRF also welcomes two new members to its Board of Directors: Aileen Murgatroyd, Chair and co-founder of Research ALKay+ve in the United Kingdom, and Jill Frizzley, President of Wildrose Partners, LLC.

In 2018, Morningstar's husband, Al Fitzpayne, was diagnosed at age 46 with stage IV EGFR-positive lung cancer. Al was active and healthy, with no known risk factors and no history of tobacco use. Advances in lung cancer research and treatment have helped make his continued survival possible.

Morningstar has since become a leading advocate for the lung cancer community, including chairing the LungCAN Steering Committee's efforts to secure increased federal funding for lung cancer research in 2022. Her career has included work in the United States Congress, including with the House Education and Labor Committee under Chair George Miller, Senator Paul Wellstone, and Congressman Barney Frank, as well as with advocacy organizations including the Children's Defense Fund, the Earl Warren Institute at the University of California, Berkeley School of Law, and the Israel Association for Ethiopian Jews.

"I am looking forward to this expanded role and to working even more closely with the LCRF Board of Directors and leadership team," said Jill Morningstar. "My husband Al is alive today because of research, and continued research gives us hope that he'll be there for the milestones every husband and father dreams of sharing. So much progress has been made in lung cancer research, and by funding the most promising science, we can make real change for people who are living with this disease – but it will take everyone who cares about lung cancer research to ensure it gets funded. I know firsthand what advances in research can mean for patients and families, and I am deeply committed to helping LCRF create the conditions for the discoveries that come next."

"Serving as LCRF's Board Chair has been one of the great honors of my life, and I am proud of the strategic vision we have built together," said Colleen Conner Ziegler, outgoing Board Chair. "I am thrilled to pass the baton to my friend and colleague Jill Morningstar. Jill's dedication to advancing lung cancer research, and the energy and leadership she brings to everything she does, make her exactly the right person to lead this board into its next chapter. My commitment to LCRF's mission does not end here, and I look forward to supporting Jill and this board in the work ahead."

"I am grateful for Colleen's leadership over the last three years – her impact will be felt for years to come. She has built a strong foundation that will allow LCRF to continue funding great research. I also want to congratulate Jill Morningstar on stepping into this expanded leadership role as our new Board Chair," said Aubrey Rhodes, LCRF Executive Director. "Jill's steadfast support of advancing lung cancer research and her strong leadership have already had a tremendous impact on the lung cancer community and on LCRF, and I look forward to building on our vision together with her in the years ahead."

"I am also delighted to welcome Aileen Murgatroyd and Jill Frizzley to our Board of Directors," Rhodes continued. "Both bring very personal connections to lung cancer, along with significant advocacy experience and an unwavering commitment to research. Their perspectives will strengthen our work to accelerate discovery, deepen collaboration, and improve outcomes for people affected by lung cancer."

Aileen Murgatroyd is Chair and co-founder of Research ALKay+ve, a UK charity established in 2020 to advance research for ALK-positive lung cancer in memory of her daughter Kay, who was lost to lung cancer at the age of 24. Following her daughter Kay's diagnosis with stage IV ALK-positive lung cancer at age 17, Murgatroyd became a passionate advocate dedicated to accelerating research and improving outcomes for people with oncogene-driven lung cancers.

Under Murgatroyd's leadership, Research ALKay+ve has become a respected international partner, funding innovative research and collaborating with leading lung cancer organizations, including LCRF. Murgatroyd has raised more than $250,000 to support research through LCRF, and she currently serves as a Research Advocate for the Foundation.

Jill Frizzley is a lung cancer survivor, patient advocate, attorney, business leader, and fundraiser whose personal experience has strengthened her commitment to advancing lung cancer research.

Diagnosed with stage I lung cancer in early 2025, Frizzley learned through genomic testing that her cancer was driven by a rare RET fusion. Her experience reinforced her understanding of the importance of research in improving detection, treatment, and outcomes for people affected by lung cancer. Although her lung cancer was found early, Frizzley has spoken openly about the reality that many others are diagnosed at later stages – and that her own cancer may recur – and research is crucial for more and better treatment options.

Since her diagnosis, Frizzley has become an active advocate, supporting others facing lung cancer, raising awareness, and helping generate funding for research. She brings both her personal experience and professional expertise as an independent director on boards of companies across a wide range of industries to her role on the LCRF Board of Directors.

About the Lung Cancer Research Foundation (LCRF)

The Lung Cancer Research Foundation® (LCRF) is the leading nonprofit organization focused on funding innovative, high-reward research with the potential to extend survival and improve quality of life for people with lung cancer. LCRF's mission is to improve lung cancer outcomes by funding research for the prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and cure of lung cancer. To date, LCRF has funded 450 research grants, totaling nearly $53 million, the highest amount provided by a nonprofit organization dedicated to funding lung cancer research. For more information about the LCRF grant program and funding opportunities, visit lcrf.org/research.

Contact:

LUNG CANCER RESEARCH FOUNDATION (LCRF)

Sheila Sullivan

Sr. Director, Marketing & Communications

SOURCE Lung Cancer Research Foundation

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