FORBECK SCHOLARS
PERSISTENCE, APOPTOSIS, AND MINIMAL RESIDUAL DISEASE
Maria Davern, PhD Dana-Farber Cancer Institute SPONSORED BY: CATHERINE MAAS
Luis Prieto, PhD Mayo Clinic SPONSORED BY: PAM AND RAY WENC
Maria focuses on treatment-resistant “persister” cancer cells that survive even the strongest therapies. She’s working to pinpoint their weaknesses and help stop cancer from coming back.
Luis investigates “persister” cancer cells that survive treatment by entering a dormant state. He aims to understand and eliminate these cells to prevent cancer from returning.
SUBSEQUENT CANCER RISK AFTER PEDIATRIC CANCER
Maria Rozo, MD Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago SPONSORED BY: KRISTINA COLE, MD, PHD Maria studies whether genes that raise cancer risk in adults also affect children. Her research could improve screening and long-term care for pediatric cancer survivors.
Samuel W. Brady, PhD St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital SPONSORED BY: MARIA AND TOM RILL
The Brady laboratory studies how chemotherapy- and radiation-induced mutational signatures promote second cancer development in childhood cancer survivors and the prognostic impact of these signatures. The overall goal is to improve pediatric cancer treatment while reducing toxicity.
TARGETING CANCER EVOLUTION
Slim Mzoughi, PhD Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai SPONSORED BY: MARK AND JUDITH DASILVA Slim investigates how colon cancer cells evolve and adapt to resist treatment. He’s identifying key pathways in this transformation to find new ways to stop cancer growth.
A big thank you to Junior Board member Olivia Taylor for researching and writing the scholar bios in this newsletter—we’re so grateful for her support and dedication to the Foundation!
TARGETING IMMUNOMETABOLISM FOR CANCER THERAPY
Jackie Bader, PhD Vanderbilt University Medical Center SPONSORED BY: PEGGY SHAUGHNESSY AND ROSS LYONS Jackie investigates how obesity changes immune cells in ways that promote cancer. Her research may lead to treatments tailored to patients with obesity-related cancers.
Samuel Weinberg, MD, PhD Northwestern University SPONSORED BY: MELINDA AND PATRICK O’NEILL Sam explores how immune cells inside tumors use energy and how this affects their cancer-fighting abilities. His work could boost the effectiveness of cancer immunotherapies.
TECHNOLOGY TO ADVANCE CARE AND OUTCOMES FOR PEDIATRIC CANCER SURVIVORS
Erin Ratterman, MD Vanderbilt University Medical Center SPONSORED BY: TRICIA FORBECK
Erin studies how newer chemotherapy drugs affect the long-term health of children who undergo bone marrow transplants. She aims to help young cancer survivors live healthier lives.
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