Congratulations to the
2026-2028 Conquer Cancer Now
Grant Recipients

Amjad Askary, Ph.D. (Prostate Cancer) The Regents of the University of California, Los Angeles
Tracing the Clonal Origins of AR-Independent Phenotypes in Metastatic Prostate Cancer

Defne Bayik, Ph.D. (Glioblastoma Brain Cancer) University of Miami
Exploiting Sex Differences in Neurotransmitter-Driven Immune Metabolism for Glioblastoma Therapy

Ridhdhi Desai, Ph.D. (Pancreatic Cancer) Drexel University
Identifying targetable signaling events that drive early progression of IPMN-derived pancreatic cancer

Matthew Hemming, M.D., Ph.D. (GIST GI Cancer) UMass Chan Medical School
Emergent functions of oncogenic KIT in gastrointestinal stromal tumor

Kristen Meerbrey, Ph.D. (Breast Cancer) Baylor College of Medicine
Exploring RNA splicing regulators as novel immuno-oncology targets in TNBC

Jason Northey, Ph.D. (Skin Cancer) University of Alberta
Extracellular matrix stiffness fosters DNA damage and breast cancer risk

Gilbert Rahme, Ph.D. (Glioblastoma Brain Cancer) Stony Brook University, State University of New York
Tandem Insulator-Enhancer (TIE) Domain Amplification: A Novel Mechanism of Genome Architecture Disruption and Oncogene Activation in Glioblastoma

Melissa Reeves, Ph.D. (Breast Cancer) University of Utah
Mechanisms and spatial context of tumor cell-intrinsic resistance to immunotherapy

Manolis Roulis, Ph.D. (Colon Cancer) University of Pennsylvania
Mesenchymal control of colon cancer initiation     

Dana Silverbush, Ph.D. (Glioblastoma Brain Cancer) University of Pennsylvania
AI-guided dissection of NK cell–activating immune circuits in CAR T-treated glioblastoma

Akihiro Yoshida, Ph.D. (Melanoma Skin Cancer) Case Western Reserve University
Therapy-induced senescence and metabolic vulnerabilities in NRAS mutant melanoma

Bingfei Yu, Ph.D. (Leukemia AML) University of Southern California
Developing Antigen Presenting Cell-mimic viral particles to enhance in vivo CAR-T generation and fitness

Daniel Zabransky, M.D., Ph.D. (Pancreatic Cancer) Johns Hopkins University
Targeting Aging-Driven GDF-15 Signaling to Enhance Immunotherapy Responses in Pancreatic Cancer

Jacquelyn Zimmerman, M.D., Ph.D. (Pancreatic Cancer) Johns Hopkins University
Overcoming CD105+ CAF crosstalk in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma

Congratulations to the
2024-2026 Conquer Cancer Now
Grant Recipients

Lucia Borriello, Ph.D. (Breast Cancer) Temple University
Role of Chemotherapy in Promoting Awakening of Dormant Tumor Cells and Metastatic Relapse

Katelyn Byrne, Ph.D. (Pancreatic Cancer) Oregon Health and Science University
Reprogramming suppressive regulatory T cells in the tumor microenvironment 

Joseph Chan, M.D., Ph.D. (Lung Cancer) Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
Early transcriptional, epigenetic, and environmental factors of squamous transformation in lung cancer

Yang Chen, Ph.D. (Pancreatic Cancer) University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center
Targeting collagen I homotrimer induced IL-18 as a novel therapeutic strategy in pancreatic cancer

Yejing Ge, Ph.D. (Squamous Skin Cancer) University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center
Elucidating the molecular and cellular pathogenesis of endogenous retroviruses in skin cancer

Hugo Gonzalez, Ph.D. (Breast Cancer) Fundacion Ciencia y Vida
Reprogramming of the Metastatic Niche by Tumor Cell-Derived Factors

Miller Huang, Ph.D. (Pediatric Cancer - Neuroblastoma) Children’s Hospital Los Angeles
Elucidating the mechanism of chromosome 17q gain-mediated neuroblastoma tumorigenesis

Stephanie Markovina, M.D., Ph.D. (Cervical Cancer) Washington University St. Louis
Targeting mechanisms of tumor immune evasion in cervical cancer

Beatrice Rondinelli, Ph.D. (Breast Cancer) Gustave Roussy Hospital
How chromatin dysfunction drives defective repair in BRCA mutant cancers      

Megan Ruhland, Ph.D. (Melanoma Skin Cancer)Oregon Health and Science University
Antigen sorting by dendritic cells impacts anti-tumor immunity

Nan Zhang, Ph.D. (Ovarian Cancer) The Wistar Institute
Myeloid cell-derived interleukin 1b promotes chemoresistance in metastatic ovarian cancer

Linghua Zheng, Ph.D. (Brain Cancer - GBM) Ohio State University
Targeting a New Immune Checkpoint Axis (PILRα–CD8α) to Treat Glioblastoma

Ongoing Research

Dr. Evanthia Roussos Torres (Breast Cancer and Immunology) University of Southern California 2020-2026

• Research into ethnic differences among breast cancer patient immune responses

• Optimizing immunotherapy by reprogramming the suppressive tumor microenvironment of breast cancer

  *Co-funded by The Marni Fund, Kaufman & Levine Families 2020-2023 and The Minnie Riperton Fund 2022-2023

Dr. Anat Erdreich-Epstein (Pediatric Brain Tumors)
Children’s Hospital Los Angeles 1996, 1998-2000, 2004-2006, 2010-2026

• Research to study receptor avB3 antibody and if it can disrupt angiogenesis (growth of new blood vessels) and inhibit growth of pediatric neural tumors, as has already been done in breast cancer.

  Results from this study, funded by Concern Foundation, will lead to phase-1 clinical trials using a humanized function-blocking anti-avB3 antibody in the treatment of resistant malignant pediatric brain tumors and neuroblastoma. ~Dr. Anat Erdreich-Epstein

• Antiangiogenic manipulation of pediatric neural tumors with monoclonal antibody to integrin

• Ceramide in Integrin Signaling in Brain Tumor Angiogenesis" and 16-18 Novel Molecular Model of P1D1 Function in Pediatric Brain Tumors

• Novel Molecular Model of P1D1 Function in Pediatric Brain Tumors

Dr. Tijana Talisman (Pancreatic Cancer) City of Hope 2023-2026

• Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma: Collecting plasma with pancreatic cancer and those in high risk of developing the disease

  *Co-funded by Linda Burkett

Concern Cares Awards

Roy and Patricia Disney Family Cancer Center 2023-2026

• The Center for Urological Health

Beauty Bus Foundation (Patient Services) 2017-2026

• Beauty Bus creates Pop-Up Salons where cancer patients, caregivers, and hospital staff receive a variety of complimentary beauty and grooming services to offer dignity, hope and respite to families when they need it most.

The Adolescent and Young Adult Cancer Program (AYA)
University of Southern California 2010-2026

• The AYA represents a collaboration between the USC Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center and Norris Cancer Hospital (USC Norris), Children’s Hospital Los Angeles (CHLA), and Los Angeles County Medical Center (LAC+USC) designed to address this “AYA Gap.”

Wellness, Resilience, and Survivorship Program (Patient Services)
Cedars Sinai 2020-2026

• Cancer Exercise Recovery Program, Emerging from the Haze™, Gentle Yoga for Wellness, Art Therapy, and Nutrition in Your Kitchen. All continued to be offered free-of-charge to cancer survivors receiving care at and outside of Cedars.

Children’s Hospital Summer Oncology Program 2012-2026

• 2024 6 students funded

• 2023 5 students funded

• 2022 5 students funded

Hope for Henry (Patient Services) 2021-2025

• Hope for Henry is reinventing how hospitals care for children and their families through innovative, scientifically tested programs that help hospitalized kids confront the challenges of serious illness, adhere to their medical plans, and thrive.

Sharsheret (Patient Services) 2021-2025

• Sharsheret, a national non-profit organization, improves the lives of Jewish women and families living with or at increased genetic risk for breast or ovarian cancer through personalized support and saves lives through educational outreach.