2025 Cancer Research Grant Recipients

Anne Van Arsdale, MD, MSc
2025
Albert Einstein College of Medicine
Associate Professor

Pathogenic role of extrachromosomal DNA (ecDNA) with human papillomavirus (HPV) DNA integration in cervical carcinoma

Dr. Na Zhao
2025
Assistant Professor
Baylor College of Medicine

Targeting eIF4A to Combat Established Metastatic Triple-Negative Breast Cancer

Wings
Dr. Li Lan
2025
Associate Professor
Duke University

Targeting the mRNA Methyltransferase TRDMT1 in Ovarian and Breast Cancer

Dr. Harikrishna Nakshatri
2025
Marian J. Morrison Professor of Breast Cancer Research
Indiana University

Deciphering aberrant epithelial-endothelial-fibroblast interactions in inflammatory breast cancer

Wings
Dr. Junran Zhang
2025
Professor
The Ohio State University

Targeting SQLE to Enhance Immunotherapy for Breast Cancer

Dr. Livnat Jerby
2025
Assistant Professor
Stanford University

Redirecting adoptive and endogenous T cells to target Her2+ breast cancer tumors

Dr. Li Lily Wang
2025
Staff
Cleveland Clinic

Targeting a novel immune checkpoint receptor for the treatment of Triple-Negative Breast Cancer

Wings
Dr. Charles Ishak
2025
Assistant Professor
The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center

UBA1 as a therapeutic opportunity to eliminate immune-refractory ovarian tumors

Wings
Dr. Uttam Tambar
2025
Bonnie Bell Harding Professor in Biochemistry
University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center

Targeted Degradation of KAT7 for the Treatment of Aggressive Breast Cancer

Dr. Benjamin Hopkins
2025
Assistant Professor
Weill Medical College

Targeting Cullin-RING E3 Ubiquitin Ligase 1 to treat ovarian cancer

2024 Cancer Research Grant Recipients

Maria Soledad Sosa, PhD
2024
Associate Professor
Albert Einstein College of Medicine

Targeting dormant disseminated breast cancer cells to prevent metastasis formation

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Gloria Echeverria, PhD
2024
Assistant Professor
Baylor College of Medicine

Disrupting mitochondrial translation in chemoresistant triple negative breast cancer to overcome metabolic vulnerabilities

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Sichun Yang, PhD
2024
Associate Professor
CWRU Case Comprehensive Cancer Center

Targeting intrinsic ERalpha disorder to overcome antiestrogen resistance

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Jennifer Hope, PhD
2024
Assistant Professor
Drexel University

Targeting PSGL-1 to promote immune checkpoint blockade responsiveness in treatment-resistant triple negative breast cancer

Memorial Sloan Kettering - Dr. Adrienne Boire at MSKCC.
Adrienne Boire, MD, PhD
2024
Geoffrey Beene Junior Faculty Chair, Associate Attending Neurologist, Associate Member Human Oncology and Pathogenesis Program
Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center

Breast Cancer Communication Across Brain Barriers

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Erin Howe, PhD
2024
Assistant Professor of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Center for Proteomics and Molecular Therapeutics
Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine & Science

Rab11 family interacting proteins control immune recognition of breast cancer brain metastases

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Scott Abrams, PhD
2024
Chair, Department of Immunology; Jacobs Family Endowed Chair of Immunology; Professor of Oncology
Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center

Targeting the Immune Suppressive Tumor Microenvironment in Triple-Negative Breast Cancer to Improve Chemo-Immunotherapy Outcomes

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Swarnali Acharyya, PhD
2024
Associate Professor
The Trustees of Columbia University in the City of New York

Targeting PGF-FLT1 tumor microenvironment interactions to overcome PARP inhibitor resistance in breast cancer

Ernst Lengyel, MD and Melanie Weigert, MD, OBGYN, photo taken by
Ernst Lengyel, PhD
2024
Professor, Gynecologic Oncology
The University of Chicago

Methylation-based biomarkers for the detection and stratification of ovarian cancer in high-risk women

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Pengda Liu, PhD
2024
Associate Professor
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Statins suppress breast cancer metastasis by controlling canonical and non-canonical 2’3’-cGAMP signaling

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Sarwish Rafiq, PhD
2024
Assistant Professor
Emory University

Engaging the endogenous immune system using immune checkpoint inhibitors and CAR T cells

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Lingtao Jin, PhD
2024
Associate Professor, Department of Molecular Medicine
The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio

Targeting novel protein kinase to improve taxane-based chemotherapy in ovarian cancer

2023 Cancer Research Grant Recipients

Dong-Joo Ellen Cheon
Dong-Joo (Ellen) Cheon
2023
Associate Professor
Albany Medical College

Lipid-loaded macrophages as novel therapeutic targets in ovarian cancer

Valentina Hoyos Velez
Valentina Hoyos Velez
2023
Assistant Professor
Baylor College of Medicine

An immunopeptidomics-guided approach to refine target selection of breast cancer antigens for T cell receptor engineered T cell (TCR T) therapy

Nicole James
Nicole James
2023
Assistant Professor
Brown University

Predictive Markers of Immunotherapy Response in Triple Negative Breast Cancer

John Maciejowski
John Maciejowski
2023
Assistant Member
Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center

Targeting the TREX1 Checkpoint to Improve Anti-Tumor Immunity

Lucia Borriello
Lucia Borriello
2023
Assistant Professor
Temple University – Of The Commonwealth System of Higher Education

Understanding the role of macrophages in tumor dormancy

Wings
Ghassan Mouneimne
2023
Associate Professor
University of Arizona

Targeting matrix stiffness to block invasion progression of ER+ breast cancer

Justin Milner
Justin Milner
2023
Assistant Professor
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Tailoring CAR-T Cell Activity for Triple Negative Breast Cancer

Vishal Chandra
Vishal Chandra
2023
Assistant Professor
University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center

Obesity Management Augmenting Endometrial Cancer prevention

Wings
Bodour Salhia
2023
Associate Professor
University of Southern California

The development of OvaPrint, a cell-free DNA methylation test for the early detection of high-grade serious ovarian cancer

Marina Sharifi
Marina Sharifi
2023
Assistant Professor
The University of Wisconsin – Madison School of Medicine and Public Health

Identifying molecular drivers of PI3K inhibitor resistance in metastatic breast cancer via liquid biopsy

Isaac Chan
Isaac Chan
2023
Assistant Professor
UT Southwestern Medical Center

Using natural killer cells to treat metastatic breast cancer

Matthew Greenblatt
Matthew Greenblatt
2023
Associate Professor
Weill Medical College of Cornell University

New Approaches to Target Vertebral Metastases in Breast Cancer