National Cancer Center 2023/2024 Grants
The following post-doc fellowship grants and renewals were approved for 2023/2024
Tanzina Tanu , Ph.D.
Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston MA
PROJECT: Investigating recurrently mutated RNA surveillance component ZC3H18 in melanoma
$50,000
Sydney Moyer, Ph.D.
Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston MA
PROJECT: Th1 cells with increased adhesion pathway expression are required for inflammation-associated colorectal cancer development and progression
“We are investigating how a population of immune cells, Th1 cells, which are present during chronic intestinal inflammation may play a role in colon cancer development. Intestinal inflammation in general is increasing in prevalence due to environmental and dietary factors; thus, it is imperative that we investigate how this inflammation influences colorectal tumorigenesis. The funds from the National Cancer Center are vital to both the scientific advancement of this project as well as establishing myself as an early independent investigator.”
$50,000
Xiaowei Wu, Ph.D.
Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston MA
PROJECT: Targeting residual cancer cells upon CDK4/6 inhibition
“Anti-cancer drugs called ‘CDK4/6 inhibitors’ arrest the proliferation of cancer cells, but they are unable to eliminate the residual cancer cells. My project aims to facilitate the killing of those residual cancer cells. This study will provide new therapies to prevent cancer relapse and improve patient survival. The NCC fellowship grant will not only ensure the successful completion of this project but also support my career development as a cancer researcher.”
$50,000
Guimei Jiang, Ph.D.
NY University, New York, NY
PROJECT: Use of cancer associated CTCF mutations to investigate CTCFs role in regulating imprinted regions and their contribution to cancer
$50,000
Minzeng Zhang, M.D., Ph.D.
Dana-Farber Cancer Inst, Boston, MA
PROJECT: Quantitative immune profiling of mantle cell lymphoma for precision therapy
“We are examining the immune system of patients with mantle cell lymphoma and revealing specific features that can predict clinical responses and inform the selection of optimal treatments. This project will address the clinical priorities and promote a shift to precision medicine approaches in mantle cell lymphoma. The funds from the National Cancer Center will advance my research and goal to become a physician-scientist leading an independent research laboratory primarily focused on experimental therapeutics in lymphoid malignancies.”
$50,000
Chitra Rawat, Ph.D.
Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland OH
PROJECT: Elucidating the role of CIT-Mediated phosphorylation on pre-mRNA splicing in prostate cancer
“My research work focuses on defining phosphorylation-dependent pre-mRNA splicing events associated with prostate cancer progression. I chose this project because it is designed to deliver new therapeutic strategies that may overcome treatment resistance and progression in prostate cancer, the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths in American men. The NCC grant will provide critical support to establish the early stage of this line of research and will be a key step toward achieving my career goal of becoming an independent researcher.”
$50,000
He Eric Zhu, Ph.D.
Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston MA
PROJECT: Global Ubiquitome Profiling by Transpeptidation Aided Mass Spectrometry (TAMS) to Decipher the Ubiquitin Signaling of USP7 in Ewing sarcoma
$52,000
Pietro Berico, Ph.D.
New York University Medical School
PROJECT: Targeting Melanoma Plasticity Underpin Drug Resistance and Metastatic Progression
$52,000
Audifas Salvador Matus Meza, Ph.D.
Univ of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE
PROJECT: Development of an NTSR1-targeted Radiotherapeutic for Colorectal Cancer and Other NTSR1-positive Cancers
$52,000
Yongji Zeng, Ph.D.
Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX
PROJECT: The role and regulation of the Hippo pathway in paligenosis
$52,000
Gaurav Chauhan, Ph.D.
Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland OH
PROJECT: Deciphering the role for PKN1-SRF signaling in deregulated gene expression and splicing events in treatment-resistant prostate cancer
$52,000
Youngbin Cho, Ph.D.
University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh PA
PROJECT: Myosin II as a target for suppressing tumor-associated macrophage recruitment in triple-negative breast cancer
$52,000
Yi Shi, Ph.D.
Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore MD
PROJECT: Intratumoral hypoxia promotes metastatic liver-organotropism in breast cancer
$52,000
Jungmin Lee, Ph.D.
The University of California, San Francisco
PROJECT: Synthetic control of effector T cell infiltration into immune-excluded tumors
$52,000
Lizhong Ding, Ph.D.
The University of California, Los Angeles
PROJECT: Liver specific fibrosis drives immunosuppression in metastatic melanoma
$52,000