The Young Investigator program identifies individuals with the potential to make noteworthy advancements in children's cancer research while building a stable force of high-quality researchers for the future. Young Investigators are in the early stages of their scientific careers and are located at universities, research institutions, and hospitals throughout the United States.
In 2012, CureSearch began funding 12 Young Investigators, each for 2 years, in areas of study that represent the highest risk with the poorest outcomes for children with cancer.
Relapsed Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia
Chris Porter, MD
University of Colorado
Children’s Hospital of Denver
Scientist Explores Gene to Increase Survival Rate of Patients with High-Risk in Leukemia in Search of Targeted Therapies
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Acute Myeloid Leukemia
David Gordon, MD
Dana Farber Cancer Institute
Project: Trisomy 8 in Hematopoiesis and Acute Myeloid Leukemia
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Brain Tumors
Eric Raabe, MD, PhD
Johns Hopkins University
Project: Determining the Role of H3FA Mutations in Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma
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Bone Tumors
Meenakshi Hegde, MD
Baylor College of Medicine
Examining the Body’s Immune System in Search of Treatments for Osteosarcoma
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Liver Tumors
Debanjan Dhar, PhD
University of California San Diego
Project: Mechanistic Characterization of Tumor Initiating Cells that Give Rise to Hepatocellular Carcinoma
Lymphomas
Maxwell Krem, MD, PhD
University of Washington
Project: KLHDC8B and Mouse Modeling of Hodgkin Lymphoma
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Neuroblastoma
Shizhen Zhu, MD, PhD
Dana Farber Cancer Institute
Understanding Neuroblastoma Gene Mutation: Findings Could Lead to Targeted Treatments for Children with this Rare Cancer
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Rare Tumors
Chrystal Louis, MD, MPH
Baylor College of Medicine
Project: Phase II Feasibility Study Using EBV-CTL in Newly Diagnosed Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma
Kidney Tumors
Alex Kentsis, MD, PhD
Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
Boston Children’s Hospital
Understanding the Inner Workings of Rhabdoid Tumors
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Rhabdomyosarcoma and other Soft Tissue Tumors
Jason Yustein, MD, PhD
Baylor College of Medicine
Project: Novel Mouse Models of Metastatic Rhabdomyosarcoma
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Adolescent and Young Adult Cancers
Abby Rosenberg, MD
Seattle Children’s Hospital
Project: Promoting Resilience During and After Adolescent Young Adult Cancer
Year One funded by Sigma-Tau Pharmaceuticals
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Late Effects and Survivorship
Lynda Vrooman, MD
Dana Farber Cancer Institute
Project: Bone Fracture in Pediatric and Adolescent Survivors of Childhood Cancer