Donna Hansel, MD, PhD

Division Head, Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, MD Anderson Cancer Center

Dr. Hansel’s research focuses on invasive mechanisms in bladder cancer and application of these findings to the identification of new variants of bladder cancer and modifications to bladder cancer staging criteria. Overall, she has presented her research nationally and internationally, and her work has appeared in more than 130 peer-reviewed publications and testicular cancer. Dr. Hansel received her undergraduate degree in Biology from the Johns Hopkins University and her M.D., Ph.D. degree from the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine.

David M. Engman, MD, PhD

Chair Emeritus of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Cedars-Sinai
Retired Professor of Microbiology-Immunology and Pathology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine

Dr. Engman is a physician-scientist with clinical expertise in molecular genetic pathology and research interests in emerging infectious diseases and cancer.  He has dedicated much of his professional career to the mentoring of scientists, physicians and physician-scientists and directed the Northwestern University MD-PhD Program for nearly twenty years.  Dr. Engman served as President of the National Association of MD-PhD Programs and Chair of the MD-PhD Section of the Association of American Medical Colleges.  He was voted Mentor of the Year by the faculty of the Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine in 2015 and served as Chairman of the Department of Pathology at Cedars-Sinai from 2016 to 2020.

Peiwen Chen, PhD

Associate Staff/Professor, Department of Cancer Biology, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic

Dr. Chen’s goal is to figure out how myeloid cells are triggered to infiltrate into the Glioblastoma (GBM) tumor microenvironment by glioma cells under specific genetic backgrounds (e.g., PTEN mutation and deletion), and, in turn, how they affect glioma cell biology and induce immunosuppression. Based on these mechanistic studies, he aims to develop novel immunotherapy strategies for GBM.

Dalnim Cho, PhD

Assistant Professor, Department of Health Disparities Research, Division of Cancer Prevention and Population Sciences, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center

The purpose of Dr. Cho’s study is to identify the short- and long-term changes in stress, health behaviors, and quality of life and their associations in the transition from active treatment to survivorship. Young adult cancer survivors and their partners will be asked to complete a daily diary survey for 7 consecutive days (‘a burst’) 9 times over 2 years, with the bursts spaced 3 months apart.

Abby Green, MD

Associate Professor of Pediatrics, Infectious Diseases, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis

Dr. Green is dual board-certified in both pediatric hematology-oncology and infectious diseases. She is an attending physician on the immunocompromised infectious diseases team at St. Louis Children’s Hospital and Assistant Professor in the Department of Pediatrics at Washington University School of Medicine. She is on the Core Leadership Council of the Center for Genome Integrity at Siteman Cancer Center.

2022 DAPER Awardee

Berkley Gryder, PhD

Assistant Professor, Department of Genetics and Genome Sciences, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine
Assistant Professor, Case Comprehensive Cancer Center, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine

Dr. Gryder’s laboratory studies the 3D architecture, composition, and function of long-range enhancers driving cancer gene expression programs. From this vantage point, the Gryder lab is developing new molecular strategies to control and collapse nuclear subcompartments called super-clusters, also known as transcriptional condensates.

Hae Lin Jang, PhD

Associate Professor of Medicine, Brigham and Women’s Hospital

Dr. Jang’s research group develops innovative biomaterials and biotechnologies to solve medical problems, especially cancer metastasis in bone. They create an immune-integrated cancer metastasis in bone modeling platform to understand underlying pathological mechanisms and engineer novel immunomodulatory therapies to defeat cancer.

Michael Jackson, PhD

Senior Vice President, Drug Discovery and Development, Conrad Prebys Center for Chemical Genomics, Sanford Burnham Prebys
Adjunct Professor, Cell and Molecular Biology of Cancer Program, Sanford Burnham Prebys

Dr. Jackson is responsible for the operations of the Conrad Prebys Center for Chemical Genomics, a 55-person, multidisciplinary drug discovery enterprise, which has all the capabilities needed for small molecule drug discovery and drug repositioning. Prior to joining SBP, he spent 15 years at Johnson & Johnson developing a track record for research and development as he rose through the ranks from Vice President of Discovery to President of R&D at ALZA Corporation.

Cato T. Laurencin, MD, PhD

Professor of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Materials Science and Engineering and Biomedical Engineering, University of Connecticut
Albert and Wilda Van Dusen Distinguished Endowed Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Connecticut
Chief Executive Officer, The Connecticut Convergence Institute for Translation in Regenerative Engineering
Director, The Raymond and Beverly Sackler Center for Biomedical, Biological, Physical and Engineering Sciences

Dr. Laurencin is the first surgeon in history elected to all four National Academies: the National Academy of Sciences, the National Academy of Engineering, the National Academy of Medicine, and the National Academy of Inventors. The founder of the field of regenerative engineering, he received the National Medal of Technology and Innovation from President Barack Obama in ceremonies at the White House, the nation’s highest honor for technological achievement. Laurencin received the 2021 Spingarn Medal from the NAACP.

Robert G. Rowe, MD, PhD

Assistant Professor of Pediatrics, Boston Children’s Hospital

Dr. Rowe’s research is focused on the biology of normal and diseased blood stem cells. He is interested in the mechanisms underlying developmental differences in young and old blood stem cells and how these are perturbed in diseases such as bone marrow failure and leukemia.

2022 DAPER Awardee

Nilay Sethi, MD, PhD

Assistant Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School
Physician, Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
Associate Physician, Medical Oncology, Brigham And Women’s Hospital

Dr. Sethi’s goal is to combine clinical observations and patient-derived data with rigorous basic science investigation to yield opportunities for impactful translational advances. He is committed to defining the mechanisms underlying gastrointestinal cancers with the hope that such insight will translate into new prevention and treatment methods.

2022 DAPER Awardee

Min Xue, PhD

Associate Professor of Pharmacological Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai

The primary goal of Dr. Xue’s research group is to create chemical tools that enable a deeper understanding and effective treatments of human diseases, such as cancer. He takes a convergent approach and innovate through the interdisciplinary sciences involving bioanalytical chemistry, chemical biology, organic chemistry, multivariate statistics, and cancer biology.

2022 DAPER Awardee

Peter Kuhn, PhD

Deputy Director, Convergent Science Virtual Cancer Center
Director, USC Michelson Convergent Science Institute in Cancer
University Professor of Biological Sciences, Medicine, Biomedical Engineering, Aerospace & Mechanical Engineering, and Urology University of Southern California

Dr. Kuhn is a physicist and educator with a career long commitment in personalized medicine and individualized cancer patient care with a focus on the redesign of cancer care that eliminates uncertainty in treatment choices and outcomes. He has a history of developing disruptive technologies that solve real-world scientific and healthcare problems.  He has significant experience in managing large scale research collaborations and interdisciplinary research teams at the interface of physics, life science and medicine. As the founder and director of the Scripps Physics Oncology Center, an NCI supported signature initiative, his research over the past 12 years has focused on the understanding of the fluid phase of solid tumors. At USC this enterprise is known as Convergent Science Institute in Cancer (CSI-Cancer). The results are both advancing cancer care through better understanding of the metastatic process in patients and through the translation of scientific results to clinically useful products. The underlying technology of the center is now being tested in over three thousand patients in the research setting as well as being commercially developed by Epic Sciences. His laboratory is now integrating patient, model system, and high-content single cell genomics data to translate clinically observed correlations into a mechanistic understanding of the physical and biological underpinnings of cancer dynamics to modify outcomes for the diagnosis, prognosis, and therapy management of ovarian, breast, lung, colon, prostate, and other tissue cancers.

Kenneth A. Bertram, MD, PhD

Special Advisor on Military Health, Convergent Science Virtual Cancer Center
Clinical Product Development Officer, Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine
Medical Director, Center for Defense Medicine, BioGenerator
Colonel, United States Army, Ret.

Dr. Bertram served 24 years on Active Duty in the U.S. Army as an Internal Medicine and Hematology/Oncology physician, as a medical research Program Manager, and as the Commander of the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research (WRAIR). After retiring as a Colonel, he was selected to lead the Army’s Medical Advanced Development and Acquisitions teams. Dr. Bertram retired from Federal Service in 2018 and now spends half of his time at Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine leading efforts to bring stem cells into clinical trials and half of his time as a Consultant to BioGenerator helping to bring innovative medical solutions to America’s Service Members and Veterans.

Thomas R. Cech, PhD

Chair, Convergence Council
Distinguished Professor of Biochemistry, University of Colorado Boulder
Director, University of Colorado BioFrontiers Institute
Investigator, Howard Hughes Medical Institute

Dr. Cech’s research centers on RNA and RNA-protein complexes. His group studies telomerase, the chromosome end-replicating enzyme that is reactivated in the majority of cancers. They also study how RNA regulates epigenetic silencing. Dr. Cech has been elected to the National Academy of Sciences and the National Academy of Medicine, and he has been awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry and the National Medal of Science. He served as president of the Howard Hughes Medical Institute from 2000 to 2009.

Stephen J. Freedland, MD

Warschaw Robertson Law Families Chair in Prostate Cancer, Cedars-Sinai
Director, Center for Integrated Research in Cancer and Lifestyle, Cedars-Sinai
Co-Director, Cancer Genetics and Prevention Program, Cedars-Sinai
Associate Director, Faculty Development Samuel Oschin Comprehensive Cancer Institute, Cedars-Sinai
Professor of Urology, Cedars-Sinai
Staff Physician, United States Department of Veterans Affairs

Dr. Freedland’s research interests include urological diseases and the role of diet, lifestyle and obesity in prostate cancer development and progression, as well as prostate cancer among racial groups and risk stratification for men with prostate cancer. He is a committed mentor having mentored over 70 mentees and published over 200 publications wherein the mentee was first author.

James Hu, MD, FACP

Clinical Associate Professor of Medicine, Co-Director of the Adolescent Young Adult (AYA) Oncology Program and Medical Director of the Sarcoma Program, USC Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center
Colonel, United States Army Reserve (USAR), Ret.

Dr. Hu is a former military commander of a combat support hospital and served in the army for 30 years. He has more than 20 years of clinical experience in medical oncology and brings this acumen to the bedside. Understanding the rarity of sarcoma cancers, Dr. Hu has collaborated with other national experts on clinical trials and have also been the Principal Investigator of more than 15 clinical studies.

Amanda Randles, PhD

Alfred Winborne and Victoria Stover Mordecai Assistant Professor of Biomedical Sciences, Duke University
Assistant Professor of Biomedical Engineering and Computer Science, Duke University

Dr. Randles has 114 U.S. patents and 16 international patents in her name, and counting (mainly in parallel computing), she made international headlines in 2015 for creating the first three-dimensional simulation of blood flow through the human body. Her research in biomedical simulation and high-performance computing focuses on the development of new computational tools that we use to provide insight into the localization and development of human diseases ranging from atherosclerosis to cancer.

Jan Liphardt, PhD

Associate Professor of Bioengineering, Stanford University

Dr. Liphardt’s scientific training is in single-molecule biophysics and thermodynamics of small systems. The focus of his research is to determine how biological systems function. Systems under investigation range from the self-organization of receptors in membranes, the transport of cargos through biological pores, and the control of the DNA loopscape in the nucleus. He co-founded CancerBase, where patients can share medical data and learn from one another.

Nancy Krunic, PhD

Vice President and Global Head of Diagnostic Sciences and Partnerships, Novartis

Dr. Krunic is a dynamic leader with more than 20 years of experience in the global pharmaceutical and diagnostic industries.  In her current role at Novartis, she collaborates with strategic external partners and internal teams to identify, evaluate and implement diagnostic solutions for clinical biomarkers supporting development and commercial launch of innovative medicines. She is a core member of the BloodPac Consortium, a board observer at Freenome, and member of the American Society for Clinical Oncology.

Yu-Chong Tai, PhD

Anna L. Rosen Professor of Electrical Engineering and Medical Engineering, California Institute of Technology
Andrew and Peggy Cherng Medical Engineering Leadership Chair and Executive Officer for Medical Engineering

Dr. Tai’s research uses MEMS/NEMS technologies such as micromotors, microphones, neural chips, micro relays, micro power generators, micro valves, micro pumps, etc. for medical applications. He collaborates with physicians and biologists across the nation to develop integrated implants for cortical, retinal, and spinal applications. Micro implant devices include spinal neural stimulators, ECG implants, retinal prosthetic devices, intraocular lenses, etc.

Ian M. Thompson Jr., MD

Emeritus Professor, University of Texas
The Children’s Hospital of San Antonio Foundation

Dr. Thompson is a Urologic Oncologist with an interest in early detection, prevention, and treatment of prostate and other GU cancers. He has been a member of the Southwest Oncology Group (SWOG) since the 1980’s and chair of the GU Committee since the early 2000’s. He was in the Army at Brooke Army Medical Center and served as Chair of Urology and Cancer Center Director at the University of Texas Health Science Center. Dr. Thompson joined CHRISTUS Santa Rosa, as Hospital CEO and later with the two System Foundations.

Rodney Page, DVM, MS

Stephen J Withrow Presidential Chair in Oncology, Colorado State University
Professor of Oncology, Colorado State University
Director, Flint Animal Cancer Center

Dr. Page’s research interests have recently been focused on a ‘One Medicine’ approach to cancer. He has served as PI of the Golden Retriever Lifetime Study since 2008 (GRLS) and has led national efforts to bring translational and comparative oncology to a greater audience by developing two National Academy of Science, Engineering and Medicine workshops and coordination of national research consortia for comparative cancer research. He is the 2019 recipient of the AVMA/AKC Career Achievement Award in Canine Research.

Deborah Lafer Scher, MBA

Independent Board Director

Ekso Bionics

Ms. Scher is a senior strategy and operations executive. She has built successful businesses in multiple healthcare sectors including senior care, academic medical centers, wellness, healthcare information and physician offices serving as the organization’s chief operating officer (COO), chief strategy officer (CSO), lead acquisitions executive and chief administrative officer (CAO). Ms. Scher provides guidance on public/private partnerships to enhance strategic missions.

Angela Lai, MSE

Chief Executive Officer, BetterOmics

Ms. Lai is a computer scientist, with decades of experience building complex computing infrastructure and machine-learning platforms at a global scale, including for regulated industries such as health science and financial systems. She was previously CTO of GRAIL, where she led the software and bioinformatics team to amass the largest clinical trial data set in oncology, and create a machine-learning platform with bespoke algorithms to detect cancer signals within tumor-derived cell-free nucleic acids in blood. She was previously CTO of GRAIL and spent over a decade at Google, where she was VP of Engineering.

David Spetzler, PhD, MBA

President and Chief Scientific Officer, Caris Life Sciences
Adjunct Faculty, Arizona State University
Board Member, Biden Cancer Initiative Standards Group

Dr. Spetzler is focused on the development of clinical assays to aid in the creation of precision medicine strategies for individual cancer patients, as well as noninvasive technologies to identify and predict early-stage cancer. He developed multiplexed nanotechnologies for single molecule detection of nucleic acid and protein targets. Dr. Spetzler also developed novel methods of using DNA to create biological computers to solve NP-complete optimization problems and built a novel optical detection system capable of measuring single molecule protein conformational changes with microsecond time resolution.

Adam Bass, MD

Herbert and Florence Irving Professor of Medicine, Columbia University Irving Medical Center

Dr. Bass is a physician-scientist who has focused on the genomics of gastric and esophageal cancers, followed by defining mechanisms of key genomic aberrations in in vitro and in vivo models. Recently, he moved his research group to Columbia University to serve as a Founding Director of the Center for Precision Cancer Medicine.

Carole Baas, PhD

Patient Advocate, Convergent Science Virtual Cancer Center
National Advocate, National Cancer Institute’s Physical Sciences-Oncology Program
Member, Institutional Review Board, Baylor Research Institute

Dr. Baas represents the patient voice as one of the four founding editors of the scientific journal Convergent Science Physical Oncology, which focuses on how experimental and theoretical science contributes to a better understanding of cancer complexity and to the development of more effective diagnostic and treatment strategies. She is an advocate reviewer for the DoD Congressionally Directed Medical Research Program, PCORI and Komen.

Bobby Clark III

Maciej S. Lesniak, MD

Chair, Department of Neurological Surgery, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine
Michael J. Marchese Professor of Neurosurgery and Professor of Neurological Surgery, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine

Dr. Lesniak’s clinical and research interests focus on neurosurgical management of patients with brain and spinal cord tumors. He takes care of patients with both benign as well as malignant cancer of the brain/spinal cord. In addition, part of his practice is devoted to the care of neurovascular patients, including aneurysms and arteriovenous malformations.

Marsha D. Lewin, MS, MBA

Patient Advocate, Convergent Science Virtual Cancer Center
Member, Institutional Review Board, Cedars-Sinai

Ms. Lewin is an institutional review board community member. She reviews study goals and documents to ensure their clarity and consistency, and the protection of patient rights. As a retired management consultant, she is particularly interested in effective cross functional collaboration and education. Ms. Lewin has authored four books, published numerous articles, and mentored several consultants.

Daniel C. Link, MD

Professor, Departments of Medicine and Pathology & Immunology, Washington University Medical School, St. Louis, MO

Dr. Link’s research is focused on two general areas: characterizing the regulation of hematopoietic niches in the bone marrow under homeostatic and stress conditions and defining the molecular pathogenesis and treatment of leukemias. Cutting edge genomic, transgenic, and imaging approaches are being used in this research. The Link laboratory emphasizes a collaborative research environment and places a priority on the career development of its trainees.

Kathrin Milbury, PhD

Associate Professor, Department of Behavioral Science, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center

Dr. Milbury systematically developed a unique program of research evaluating mind-body medicine as well as other behavioral interventions as a supportive care approach for cancer patients and their family caregivers. Her clinical trials are conducted in collaboration with clinicians and scientists representing various disciplines and funded by the National Cancer Institute, the American Cancer Society, and other research foundations.

Susan K. Peterson, PhD, MPH

Professor and Deputy Department Chair, Department of Behavioral Science, Division of Cancer Prevention and Population Sciences, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
Member, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center UTHealth Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Houston, TX
Adjunct Professor, Division of Health Promotion and Behavioral Sciences, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston School of Public Health, Houston, TX

Dr. Peterson’s research focuses on understanding behavioral, psychosocial, and health-related outcomes of persons at increased risk for cancer and other sequelae, across the cancer prevention and survivorship continuum. A cross-cutting theme of her research is the development and evaluation of digital health assessments and interventions for populations at risk for hereditary cancer and cancer survivors. Her research also focuses on psychosocial and behavioral outcomes of genetic testing for hereditary cancer syndromes in cancer survivors and their families, as well as the integration of genomic services into general oncology care.

Peter C. Scacheri, PhD

Gertrude Donnelly Hess Professor of Oncology
Professor, Department of Genetics & Genome Sciences, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine

Dr. Scacheri is a genomicist interested in the role of the epigenome in health and human disease.  He is known for his work on transcriptional enhancer elements in human cancer. Dr. Scacheri has published more than 75 peer reviewed papers as well as numerous book chapters, reviews, and perspective articles. He is also deeply committed to graduate student training.

Shiladitya Sengupta, MS, PhD

Associate Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School and Harvard-MIT Health Sciences and Technology
Associate Bioengineer, Department of Medicine, Brigham And Women’s Hospital
Principal Investigator, Dana Farber Cancer Institute

Dr. Sengupta develops novel biotechnologies for clinical translation based on the understanding of underlying biological mechanisms and disease pathology. At a fundamental level, he is currently working on three different themes: (1) the early events of metastasis; (2) understanding the mechanisms (such as phenotypic plasticity) that allow cancer cells to tolerate chemotherapy; and (3) developing next generation therapeutics, including nanomedicines, that can modulate the tumor stromal contexture, including the immune cells.

Ramesh A. Shivdasani, MD, PhD

Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School
Distinguished Physician, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
Deputy Director, Dana-Farber/Harvard Cancer Center

Dr. Shivdasani’s laboratory investigates the fundamental biology of digestive tract stem cells and cancers, with a focus on epigenetic and transcription factor determinants of organogenesis, cell differentiation, and neoplasia. The overarching goal is to understand, deeply and beyond the mutational paradigm, how normal cells become cancerous and how stem cell and differentiation mechanisms may be leveraged to help reverse the process.

Yinsheng Wang, PhD

Distinguished Professor of Chemistry, University of California, Riverside

Dr. Wang received his Ph. D. degree from Washington University in St. Louis after obtaining his BS and MS degrees from Shandong University and Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, respectively. Dr. Wang’s research involves the use of mass spectrometry, along with synthetic organic chemistry and molecular biology, for investigation about the occurrence and biological consequences of DNA damage as well as for the identification and functional characterizations of nucleic acid- and nucleotide-binding proteins.

Leonard I. Zon, MD

Director, Stem Cell Research Program, Boston Children’s Hospital
Grousbeck Professor of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School

Dr. Zon’s laboratory aims to dissect how assaults to the hematopoietic system cause severe diseases such as leukemias, lymphomas, and anemias. They investigate hematopoietic development and disease using chemical screens, genetic screens, and analysis of novel transgenic lines in zebrafish. Dr. Zon is internationally recognized for his pioneering work in stem cell biology and cancer genetics.  He also maintains an active research program in the developmental origins of melanoma.

Kimberly L. Blackwell, MD

Chief Executive Officer, Zentalis Pharmaceuticals

Dr. Blackwell is an expert in metastatic breast cancer who led programs that resulted in numerous groundbreaking regulatory approvals in the cancer field. She has led oncology therapeutic development including IO assets and biomarker development as well as drug development and served on Boards of Directors and Scientific Advisory Boards of Pharma and Biotech companies. Dr. Blackwell’s innovative work in developing non-chemotherapy-based approaches for the treatment of breast cancer led to her inclusion on TIME magazine’s 2013 list of the 100 most influential people in the world.

Craig D. Shriver, MD, FACS, COL, USA (Ret)

Oliver H. Beahrs Professor of Surgery Uniformed Services
University Murtha Cancer Center (MCC) Director, Walter Reed National Military Medical Center
Colonel, United States Army, Ret.

Dr. Shriver trained in Surgical Oncology at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center. He is a renowned researcher with interests in cancer epidemiology, proteogenomics, surgical technique advances, and breast cancer. Dr. Shriver served 34 years on active duty with the Army and deployed four times in support of overseas combat operations.

Jason H. Moore, PhD, FACMI, FASA

Chair, Department of Computational Biomedicine, Cedars-Sinai

Dr. Moore is a biomedical informatician with expertise in the development, evaluation, and application of artificial intelligence (AI) algorithms, methods, and software for the analysis of big biomedical and clinical data. His recent work has focused on the development of automated machine learning (AutoML) methods for democratizing AI.

Ghecemy Lopez, DSW, MAEd

Program Administrator of Navigation, Survivorship and Advocacy, Cedars-Sinai Cancer

Dr. Lopez works as a Program Administrator of Cancer Navigation, Survivorship and Advocacy at the Cedars-Sinai Cancer, Community Outreach and Engagement team, leading several community-based projects that can improve access and quality of life for patients and their loved ones; and promoting bidirectional research between patients, community, and scientists.

In addition to that, she is also known as a global cancer research advocate. She reviews research protocols, chairs committees, and collaborates with multiple scientists, clinicians, fellow survivor advocates, government entities, small and large nonprofits within the state of CA, nationally and abroad. Dr. Lopez survived breast and thyroid cancers in her early 30s. Since then, her mission became making the road a bit easier for underrepresented cancer groups, especially those who experience cultural and linguistical barriers.

Steve Kay, PhD

David L. Lee-Simon Ramo Chair in Health Science and Technology, University Professor, Provost Professor of Neurology, Biomedical Engineering and Quantitative Biology, Director of Convergent Bioscience, University of Southern California

Dr. Kay serves as the Provost Professor of Neurology, Biomedical Engineering and Quantitative Computational Biology and the Director of Convergent Bioscience at USC. He also directs the USC MESH Academy. Dr. Kay leads a large interdisciplinary research hub that merges medicine, engineering and the sciences with the goal of accelerating the discovery of novel therapeutics and diagnostics.

His research lab investigates the molecular basis of circadian rhythms and their relation to cancer therapeutics in humans and also agricultural biotechnology in crop plants. Steve Kay Laboratory – The Keck School of Medicine (usc.edu)

Jennifer Van Eyk, PhD

Professor of Cardiology, Biomedical Sciences, Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Director of Basic Science Research in the Barbara Streisand Women’s Heart Center
Cedars-Sinai Medical Center

Dr. Van Eyk is an international leader in the area of clinical proteomics and her lab has focused on developing technical pipelines for de novo discovery and larger scale quantitative mass spectrometry methods. This includes multiple reaction monitoring (MRM, also known as SRM) and most recently data independent acquisition. Dr. Van Eyk’s laboratory is well known for the extreme technical quality of the data generated, rigorous quality control with tight %CV while applying these to key clinical questions. The aim is to maximize throughput and reproducibility in order to move targeted and robust discovery methods into large population healthy continuous assessment and clinical grade assays focusing on brain and cardiovascular diseases.

Andrew Venteicher, MD, PhD

Assistant Professor, Department of Neurosurgery                                         Co-Director, Center for Skull Base and Pituitary Surgery                          University of Minnesota

Dr. Venteicher’s lab studies non-canonical mechanisms of tumorigenesis, focusing on brain cancers. We study chromatin architecture, inter- and intra-tumoral heterogeneity, and cellular state using genomics applied to human cancer.

2023 DAPER Awardee

Peter Miller, MD, PhD

Assistant Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School                           Faculty Member, Center for Cancer Research, Massachusetts General Hospital                                                                                                       Associate Member, Broad Intstitute of Harvard and MIT

The ultimate objective of Dr. Miller’s work is to develop new strategies for the risk-stratification, prevention, and treatment of MDS and AML, particularly therapy-related disease. His lab seeks to understand how PPM1D influences hematopoietic cells’ susceptibility to malignant transformation and how PPM1D alters the response to cytotoxic agents. From a direct translational therapeutic perspective, their goals are to (1) define classes of currently used treatments that would be most effective in t-MN and most enhanced with concurrent PPM1D inhibition, (2) highlight therapeutic contexts where PPM1D inhibitors would be most efficacious and (3) identify new potential drug targets downstream of PPM1D that mediate transformation and therapy resistance.

Kun-Hsing Yu, MD, PhD

Associate Professor of Biomedical Informatics, Harvard Medical School                                                                                                          Assistant Professor of Pathology, Brigham and Women’s Hospital

Colorectal cancer (CRC) affects 1.5 million patients in the U.S. Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) are integral parts of treating metastatic and recurrent CRCs with high microsatellite instability (MSI-H). Nonetheless, 60-69% of MSI-H CRC patients do not respond to ICIs. In addition, immune-related adverse events (irAEs) affect 39-71% of patients receiving ICIs and are difficult to predict. Dr. Yu’s CSVCC research goals are to identify the digital pathology profiles indicative of ICI responses via artificial intelligence methods, predict the risk of irAEs, and optimize treatment strategies for CRC patients.

 2023 DAPER Awardee

Priya H Dedhia, MD, PhD

Associate Professor of Medicine, The Ohio State University

Developing a successful cancer research program that will improve outcomes for cancer patients requires an active understanding of emerging concepts and technologies in cancer research and changing patient needs. Dr. Dedhia expects to develop new approaches to answer research questions, improved grant and manuscript writing skills, multi-institutional collaborations, and a national presence. Similarly, she hopes to contribute her molecular biology and organoid development expertise, clinical perspective, and surgical access to patient tissues in order to support the research of her peers in the CSVCC. Dr. Dedhia hopes to not only develop her own professional network but also strengthen the breadth of other members of the CSVCC by building on the opportunities afforded through the CSVCC.

2023 DAPER Awardee

Kacper Rogala, PhD

Assistant Professor of Structural Biology, and of Chemical and Systems Biology, Stanford University

This project aims to generate novel therapeutic ideas for bladder and colorectal cancers that show resistance to cytotoxic chemotherapy. Dr. Rogala’s focus is on targeting cancers that thrive in nutrient-depleted environments. Surprisingly, despite these cancers theoretically being at a disadvantage, they manage to survive and resist the effects of anti-cancer drugs. His primary aim is to pinpoint specific proteins that are crucial for the survival of these cancers, reveal how these proteins work on the molecular level, and develop experimental drugs to stop them in their tracks

Maayan Levy, PhD

Assistant Professor, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a prevalent and highly fatal type of cancer that affects people worldwide. While a small percentage of CRC cases can be attributed to known genetic factors, the majority of cases are influenced by environmental factors that contribute to its development. This emphasizes the significant impact of modifiable behavioral practices that can be adjusted to support efforts in preventing CRC, or even treating existing polyps or tumors. Recently, Dr. Levy’s team has discovered a new molecular pathway through which diets can inhibit tumor growth in the intestine. Specifically, her research demonstrated that ketogenic diets, which are low in carbohydrates and high in dietary fats, have the potential to prevent colorectal cancer development in both animal models and human cancer cells. Her current objective is to delve into the mechanisms responsible for this protective effect, aiming to advance this discovery towards practical applications for patients.

Floris Barthel, MD, PhD

Assistant Professor, Cancer and Cell Biology Division, Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen), Assistant Professor, Computational and Quantitative Medicine, City of Hope

When it is first diagnosed in a patient, the glioblastoma genome is catastrophically altered. Supported by the CSVCC, Dr. Barthel will investigate the role of telomere dysfunction in shaping the cancer genome.

2023 DAPER Awardee

David Largaespada, PhD

Professor, Department of Pediatrics, Department of Genetics, Cell Biology and Development, University of Minnesota

Dr. Largaespada is an authority on mouse genetics, gene modification, and cancer genes. He received his BS in Genetics and Cell Biology from the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities in 1987 and his PhD in Molecular Biology with Dr. Rex Risser at the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1992. He did a post-doctoral fellowship at the National Cancer Institute working with world-renowned geneticists Dr. Nancy Jenkins and Dr. Neal Copeland, where the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society of America awarded him a post-doctoral fellowship. He joined the faculty of the University of Minnesota in late 1996. Dr. Largaespada currently holds the Hedberg Family/Children’s Cancer Research Fund Chair in Brain Tumor Research. He was awarded the American Cancer Society Research Professor Award in 2013, the highest award given by the ACS.

Shuji Ogino, MD, PhD

Professor, Department of Pathology, Harvard Medical School, Professor (Epidemiology), Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Chief, Molecular Pathological Epidemiology Program, Brigham and Women’s Hospital

Dr. Ogino has developed the integrative scientific field of molecular pathological epidemiology (MPE).  Dr. Ogino founded the International Molecular Pathological Epidemiology (MPE) Meeting Series (www.mpemeeting.org) in 2013 and has been serving as its Chair/Co-Chair for six past meetings.  Dr. Ogino is a leading investigator to study the interactive roles of exposures, genetics, systemic conditions such as obesity, microbiome, and immunity in cancer biology and etiologies.  He has conducted multimodal, multi-omic studies using large-scale prospective cohort studies and clinical trials, having discovered the etiological links between certain diets / lifestyle factors and microbiota / immune cell infiltrates in the tumor microenvironment.  Recently, Dr. Ogino devotes his research effort to early-onset cancers that have shown increased incidence in recent decades.  Those include mostly GI and/or obesity-related early-onset cancer types such as cancers in the colorectum, breast, bone marrow (myeloma), endometrium, esophagus, extrahepatic bile duct, gallbladder, head and neck, kidney, liver, pancreas, and stomach.  As one of thought leaders in this particular topic, Dr. Ogino applies integrative research approaches to address this global issue.  For his unique transdisciplinary scientific contribution, Dr. Ogino has received numerous awards and honors. 

Benjamin Ebert, MD, PhD

George P. Canellos, MD, and Jean S. Canellos Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Chair of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute

Matthew Ringel, MD

Ralph W. Kurtz Chair, Director, Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, The Ohio State University

The Ringel Lab is dedicated to studying mechanisms of cancer invasion, metastatic progression, and therapeutic resistance in thyroid cancer. One of the most active thyroid cancer laboratories in the country, the Ringel Lab experts focus on translational discoveries designed to enhance clinical thyroid cancer care through basic science. He has ongoing collaborations with investigators in the OSU Colleges of Medicine, Veterinary Medicine, and Engineering studying mechanisms by which cancer invade and metastasize.

Christopher Lengner, PhD

Harriet Ellison Woodward Associate Professor, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Chair, Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine

The overarching goal of Dr. Lengner’s research program is to gain an understanding of the molecular mechanisms that govern stem cell potency and how dysregulation of these mechanisms can contribute to disease onset and progression, including oncogenesis. His laboratory employs genetic, genomic, and single-cell analysis approaches in murine systems to address these fundamental questions, and, in parallel, utilizes human induced pluripotent cells and patient samples to translate findings into human systems. Using these approaches they have identified novel pathways underlying the somatic stem cell self-renewal and the ontogeny of hematopoietic and gastrointestinal cancers. These pathways are subsequently being assessed as potential points for therapeutic intervention in cancers and diseases of regenerative failure. They have also begun to unravel the hierarchical structure of the intestinal stem cell compartment with the ultimate goal of understanding how perturbations in this hierarchy contribute to disease states, including cancer, chronic inflammation, and regeneration in response to acute injuries such as ischemia or radiation damage.

Michael Berens, PhD

Professor and Director, Cancer & Cell Biology Division
Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen)

While the tumor heterogeneity within and across glioblastoma cases is widely appreciated, strategies by which to accommodate this in efforts to conduct clinical trials advancing new therapies are lacking. In addition to NIH-funded work to understand sex-based differences in glioma, my lab is also revisiting completed (“failed”) GBM trials with the intent of discovering molecular signatures of vulnerability that discriminate responders (typically <10%) from non-responders. We aim to use such molecular signatures as a means to fuel the launch of a Glioblastoma Umbrella Signature Trial (GUST), where multiple single treatment arms are populated with patients whose tumors show highest likelihood of benefitting from that arm.

Steven Artandi, MD, PhD

Laurie Kraus Lacob Director of the Stanford Cancer Institute, Jerome and Daisy Low Gilbert Professor and Professor of Biochemistry, Stanford University

Dr. Artandi is an oncologist and cancer biologist whose research work has focused on the role played by the enzyme telomerase in cancer, aging and stem cell function. His work has produced new insights into the origins of cancer, revealing how telomerase endows cells with immortal growth properties and how aspiring cancers circumvent critical bottlenecks encountered during carcinogenesis.

Woodrow “Woody” Brokenburr, MBA

Patient Advocate, Convergent Science Virtual Cancer Center

Diagnosed with osteosarcoma at the age of 9, in an era where pediatric cancer care faced significant challenges, Woody’s early years were marked by a strong determination to return to a normal childhood after a life-saving surgery left him with a residual limb. Throughout his more than six decades as a cancer survivor, Woody channels his gratitude into advocacy, striving to improve access to quality care and support for cancer patients. He has served as a member in organizations such as the American Cancer Society and Stand Up To Cancer reflecting his commitment to enhancing health outcomes, particularly for communities of color.

Diana T. Chingos, MFA, MS

Patient Advocate, Convergent Science Virtual Cancer Center

Jessica A. Betts, MBA

Patient Advocate, Convergent Science Virtual Cancer Center

Jessica’s journey with colorectal cancer began with a daunting possibility of stage 4, discovered during her first colonoscopy at just 39 years old. Initially, it seemed a massive tumor had breached her colon and affixed to her uterus. However, what appeared dire turned hopeful: surgery revealed a stage 2A diagnosis as the tumor was contained within the colon wall and nodes were clear. Opting out of chemotherapy, she embarked on a five-year regimen of regular colonoscopies, scans, and consultations with her oncologist. Amidst the medical routine, the emotional toll on her and her family remained significant.

From the moment of diagnosis, she took to social media to share her journey, driven by a mission to underscore the criticality of early detection. Her efforts swiftly led to over 100 individuals seeking screenings within the first month alone, with eight people discovering cancer early, three of whom sought treatment at her recommended clinical teams. Despite her advocacy successes, she also experienced the heartbreaking loss of a friend to advanced colorectal cancer. Reflecting on her own diagnostic challenges—years of misdiagnoses and overlooked symptoms—she passionately engaged with advocacy groups and medical communities. Her involvement extended to educating medical students and physicians on the importance of thorough assessments and patient comfort in discussing uncomfortable symptoms. Active in colorectal cancer walks, awareness campaigns, and fundraising, she remains committed to her personal goal of encouraging others to prioritize early screening, driven by a profound belief in the potential to find a cure.

Justin D. Lathia, PhD

Professor and Vice Chair
Department of Cardiovascular & Metabolic Sciences
Director for Faculty Development
Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic

Dr. Justin Lathia leads a translational cancer stem cell research laboratory and is Vice Chair and Professor in the Department of Cardiovascular & Metabolic Sciences at the Lerner Research Institute (LRI), part of the Cleveland Clinic and also serves as the Director of Faculty Development for the LRI. Dr. Lathia is also the Scientific Director of the Rose Ella Burkhardt Brain Tumor & Neuro-Oncology Center at the Cleveland Clinic and the Melvin Burkhardt Endowed Chair in Neuro-Oncology Research. He is also the Reza Khatib MD Professor, and Co-Leader of the Molecular Oncology Program at the Case Comprehensive Cancer Center.

Xiuzhen Huang, PhD

Professor of Computational Biomedicine
Founder, National AI-Campus
Cedars-Sinai Medical Center

Dr. Xiuzhen Huang is Professor, Department of Computational Biomedicine at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, California. Her research interest includes Artificial intelligence, Machine learning, Deep learning, Bioinformatics, Biomedical informatics, Biomedical imaging, Computational biology, Parameterized computation and complexity, and Theory of computation.

Alissa Baker, MD

Assistant Professor, Department of Pediatrics (Pediatric Hematology-Oncology), Assistant Professor, Department of Developmental & Molecular Biology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine

The 5-year survival rate for Ewing sarcoma, the second most common malignant bone tumor in the adolescent and young adult population, have been stagnant for more than three decades, necessitating a better understanding of the biology of this cancer to help improve patient outcomes. Patients who present with metastatic Ewing sarcoma face a dismal approximately 25% 5-year overall survival, which is the focus of my research. Through in vitro work, Dr. Baker has identified a novel Wnt5a-driven pathway which Ewing sarcoma cells use for migration. To better understand the clinical implications, including how to target this signaling, in vivo modeling is necessary. Zebrafish offer an immunocompetent animal model which can be genetically engineered to express the driving translocation, resulting in small round blue cell tumors consistent with Ewing sarcoma. Through the CSVCC, her goals are to ultimately build a better in vivo zebrafish model of Ewing sarcoma in which to study the contributions of Wnt signaling and to translate those findings into direct therapeutic benefit. In addition, Dr. Baker hope to use the new zebrafish model to combine high throughput drug screens with in vivo microscopy techniques to visualize drug effects on aspects of proliferation and migration of Ein real time. She looks forward to working with innovators in different fields to help improve the survival rates for metastatic Ewing sarcoma through more accurate in vivo modeling.

Lindsay Schwartz, MD, MS

Assistant Professor, Department of Pediatrics, Division of Hematology, Oncology, Neuro-Oncology, and Stem Cell Transplant, Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago

Dr. Schwartz’s research focuses on how risky health behaviors impact the health outcomes of pediatric, adolescent, and young adult (AYA) cancer survivors. She develops methods and interventions to bridge the gap between cancer treatment and survivorship, addressing issues such as quality of life, wellness, mental and physical health, and lifestyle factors, such as substance use. Her work aims to reduce the long-term impact of cancer on survivors’ physical, mental, and emotional health, thereby also potentially easing burdens on military service members and their families. 

Jonathan Tsai, MD, PhD

Assistant Professor of Pathology, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Inc

Dr. Tsai’s research goals are to understand how Menin inhibitors work to treat KMT2A-rearranged leukemias and lead to the degradation of Menin and KMT2A protein. Specifically, we will 1) dissect the Menin-UBR5 interface in leukemia to understand how Menin inhibition enables Menin protein degradation, 2) characterize the effects of MI treatment and UBR5 (the E3 ubiquitin ligase we identified as a Menin and KMT2A regulator) association on Menin/KMT2A chromatin binding and transcription, and 3) compare the differential effects between Menin targeting compounds on MEN1/KMT2A protein stability and mechanisms of resistance.

Caner Saygin, MD

Assistant Professor of Medicine, University of Chicago

Dr. Saygin’s Lab aims is to eradicate leukemia by finding curative therapies and developing preventative strategies. Clonal hematopoiesis of indeterminate potential (CHIP) is defined by the presence of gene mutations in blood cells of an individual in the absence of a blood cancer. Individuals who receive chemotherapy or radiation therapy for a solid tumor or autoimmune disease are at high risk for CHIP. His lab has shown that CHIP is a precursor lesion for acute leukemias of both myeloid (AML) and lymphoid (ALL) origin. Individuals with CHIP are at significantly higher risk of developing blood cancers and inflammation-related diseases (such as heart attack, stroke, autoimmune disease) compared to individuals without CHIP. His research aims to identify mechanisms by which CHIP progresses to full-blown acute leukemia. They also try to understand how CHIP drives inflammation in human body so that we can develop new strategies to mitigate its adverse multisystem effects. Using patient samples and laboratory models of leukemia, they discover critical pathways that drive the initiation and progression of leukemia. They use and generate new cutting edge technology to gain important biologic insights and develop new drugs.

Edmond Chan, MD

Assistant Professor of Medicine, Columbia University

Microsatellite instability-high (MSI-H) is a hypermutable state that drives the oncogenesis of significant subsets of cancer, including 15% of colon and 20% of gastric cancers. Seeking to define novel therapies for MSI-H cancers, the Chan Lab and others discovered that Werner RecQ helicase (WRN) is a synthetic lethal target for MSI-H cancers. MSI-H, but not microsatellite stable (MSS), cells require WRN helicase activity for survival. The strength of WRN as a therapeutic target coupled with our mechanistic understanding of this synthetic lethal relationship have spurred pharmaceutical companies to pursue WRN inhibitor (WRNi) development. In this proposal, Dr. Chan’s lab seeks to advance WRN inhibition for MSI-H cancers by evaluating predictive biomarkers and resistance mechanisms of this new synthetic lethal target.

Jonathan Chou, MD, PhD

Assistant Professor of Medicine, University of California San Francisco

The goals of Dr. Chou’s research project are to develop a “prime-then-treat” strategy for surface targeting therapeutics (such as CAR T cells) in bladder cancer, and to identify blood and imaging biomarkers to better select patients for these therapies. He hypothesizes that bladder cancers with low expression of the NECTIN4 target antigen can be pharmacologically primed to upregulate NECTIN4 expression, which ultimately will enhance the therapeutic efficacy of CAR T and antibody drug conjugate (ADC) therapies. At the completion of this project, Dr. Chou hopes that these data will form the foundation of a new investigator-initiated clinical trial.

Hussein Abbas, MD, PhD

Assistant Professor, MD Anderson Cancer Center

The research goals of the CSVCC grant  are centered on defining mechanisms of therapy resistance in TP53-mutated acute myeloid leukemia (AML), one of the most aggressive and therapeutically refractory subtypes of leukemia. By leveraging innovative organoid models, immune–stromal co-culture systems, and high-dimensional profiling, we aim to dissect how inflammatory signaling, immune interactions, and stromal cues sustain leukemic persistence. Building on preliminary findings that implicate BCL-XL–mediated erythroid differentiation and immune-stromal crosstalk in resistance, our objectives are to (i) elucidate the microenvironmental drivers of TP53-mutant AML resistance, (ii) test the efficacy of dual BCL2/BCL-XL inhibition, and (iii) nominate rationally designed drug combinations. These studies will provide mechanistic insight into TP53-driven leukemogenesis, generate preclinical evidence for novel therapeutic strategies, and foster multidisciplinary collaborations across the VCC, ultimately accelerating translation to improve outcomes for patients with TP53-mutated AML.

Robert G. Rowe, PhD

Attending Physician, Boston Children’s Hospital, Assistant Professor of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School

Dr. Rowe is interested in the mechanisms underlying developmental differences in young and old blood stem cells and how these are perturbed in diseases such as bone marrow failure and leukemia.

2022 DAPER Awardee

Robert Kortum, MD, PhD

Associate Director, Convergent Science Virtual Cancer Center
Director, MD-PhD Program
Associate Professor of Pharmacology and Molecular Therapeutics, Uniformed Services University

Dr. Kortum is a molecular pharmacologist with a career-long dedication to overcoming one of cancer’s most persistent challenges: therapeutic resistance. His research program is centered on  understanding and targeting RTK/RAS signaling pathyways, a common driver in many aggressive malignancies. To achieve this, he has built a framework to study the evolution of resistance to targeted therapies. His work blends fundamental science with innovative techniques to identify novel strategies that enhance the effectiveness of FDA-approved and emerging therapies. This approach is underpinned by a clear focus  on translating scientific discoveries into clinically actionable solutions. This translational mindset is a central theme in his concurrent leadership roles. As the Director of the MD-PhD Program at the Uniformed Services University, he is dedicated to training the next generation of military clinician-researchers to conduct investigations that address the unique healthcare needs of service members. This commitment is further exemplified by his role on the APOLLO Network Steering Committee, a collaboration between the NCI, Department of Defense, and Department of Veterans Affairs focused on accelerating the clinical application of precision cancer treatments. Dr. Kortum brings this unique expertise—spanning from foundational science to the training of new leaders—to the CSVCC, where he helps shape strategies that will advance cancer research and care for the military community.

Stephen Pandol, MD

Additional Director, Convergent Science Virtual Cancer Center
Director, Basic and Translational Pancreas Research
Professor of Medicine, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, and Charles Drew University

Dr. Pandol is currently Director, Basic and Translational Pancreas Research at Cedars Sinai-Medical Center; and Professor of Medicine, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA and Charles Drew University. He is a founder of Avenzoar Pharmaceutics, a company developing agents for treatment and prevention of therapy resistance and metastatic cancer focused on pancreatic cancer.

He is a leading international authority in gastroenterology and pancreatology. Dr. Pandol heads a large research group devoted to understanding the mechanisms underlying medical disorders including inflammatory, diabetes and cancer  diseases of the pancreas. The research is designed to provide information needed for treatment and prevention of these disorders.

Cara O’Connor, PhD, MPH

Research Programs Officer, Convergent Science Virtual Cancer Center, University of Arizona

Cara is an epidemiologist whose background spans clinical trials, global health, and data science. She earned her BA in Anthropology from the University of Arizona, her Master of Public Health from UCLA, and her PhD in Infectious Disease Epidemiology from the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine.

Sandra Phung, BS

Program Manager, Convergent Science Virtual Cancer Center, Cedars-Sinai

Sandra oversees the operational and administrative management of the Convergent Science Virtual Cancer Center, coordinating program activities, leadership engagement, and strategic initiatives. She brings extensive experience in research administration and academic program management, including support of NIH-funded training programs and multidisciplinary research initiatives. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from California State University, Los Angeles.

Allison Welsh, MS

Program Administrator, CSI-Cancer: USC Michelson Center Convergent Science Institute in Cancer

Allison supports the operational and administrative management of CSI-Cancer, coordinating program activities, financial processes, and cross-institutional initiatives. She brings over a decade of experience in academic administration, including roles in research program coordination, departmental business operations, and financial management at USC. She earned her Master’s degree from California State University, Long Beach.

David Ebert, PhD

Chief AI and Data Science Officer, Associate Vice President for Research and Partnerships, Computer Science Engineering Endowed Innovation Chair, Dept. of ECE, University of Arizona

David Ebert is an internationally recognized leader in artificial intelligence and data science, with extensive expertise in visual analytics, explainable AI, and human–computer teaming. He currently serves as the strategic lead for AI and data science initiatives at the University of Arizona, reporting to the Senior Vice President for Research, Innovation & Impact. He is also a tenured faculty member in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering.

In his university-wide role, Ebert shapes Arizona’s AI and data science ecosystem. He advises on the computer science engineering program, as well as research strategy and faculty recruitment. He is also playing a key role in launching the university’s new Data Science Institute and coordinating interdisciplinary AI and health initiatives across campus to address national research priorities.

Prior to joining the University of Arizona, Ebert held the Gallogly Chair Professorship at the University of Oklahoma. He has also held leadership positions at Purdue University and served as the director of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security Center of Excellence. A Fellow of the IEEE, Dr. Ebert’s contributions to the field continue to shape the future of human-centered AI and data-driven innovation

Frederic de Sauvage, PhD

Vice President, Molecular Oncology
Genentech

Dr. de Sauvage is a molecular oncologist and Vice President of Research in Molecular Oncology at Genentech whose career has focused on identifying and targeting oncogenic signaling pathways. He received his BS in chemistry and PhD in neuroscience from the Catholic University of Louvain in Belgium, then joined Genentech as a postdoctoral fellow in the laboratory of David Goeddel in 1990. He discovered Thrombopoietin (TPO), the primary physiological regulator of platelet production, and subsequently led the discovery and development of vismodegib — a first-in-class Hedgehog pathway inhibitor approved for advanced basal cell carcinoma — earning the 2011 Achievement in Advancing Targeted Therapies for Cancer & Melanoma Award from the American Skin Association. He is a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science and an EMBO Associate Member.

Dr. de Sauvage’s laboratory investigates how developmental signaling pathways — particularly Wnt, Notch, and Hedgehog — are co-opted in cancer. His group identified R-Spondin translocations as a novel mechanism of Wnt pathway activation in colorectal cancer and demonstrated that targeting R-Spondin drives potent anti-tumor activity. His work has further shown that while tumors can exploit stem cell plasticity to evade stem cell-targeted therapies, the metastatic process in colorectal cancer remains critically dependent on Lgr5+ cancer stem cells.

Wendy Stock, MD

Anjuli Seth Nayak Professor of Medicine
Section of Hematology/Oncology
University of Chicago

Dr. Stock is a physician-scientist and nationally recognized leukemia specialist whose clinical practice and research focus on acute leukemia, acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), and CAR T-cell therapy. Her research bridges basic and clinical science, with a particular focus on why adolescents and young adults with ALL have distinct outcomes compared to children with ALL, and on identifying molecular markers for risk stratification and for early phase clinical trial development. She played a key role in the FDA approval of inotuzumab ozogamicin and led the CALGB 10403 trial, which significantly improved outcomes for young adults with ALL.

Dr. Stock serves as co-chair of the Leukemia Committee for the Alliance for Clinical Trials in Oncology and as co-program leader for Clinical and Experimental Therapeutics in the University of Chicago Comprehensive Cancer Center. She is the recipient of the 2020 American Society of Hematology Mentor Award, recognizing her longstanding commitment to the development of clinical trainees.

Anil Rustgi, MD

Herbert and Florence Irving Professor of Medicine
Herbert and Florence Irving Director, Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center
New York-Presbyterian/Columbia University Irving Medical Center

Dr. Rustgi is a physician-scientist and internationally recognized leader in gastrointestinal oncology whose research focuses on tumor initiation, the tumor microenvironment, and metastasis in cancers of the esophagus, pancreas, and colon. His lab develops innovative organoid and mouse models to translate discoveries into novel diagnostics and therapeutics, supported by NIH/NCI grants, SU2C, the Mark Foundation and an American Cancer Society Research Professorship. He trained at Yale, Duke University School of Medicine, and completed his residency (Beth Israel) and GI fellowship (MGH) at Harvard-affiliated hospitals before joining Columbia in early 2019, having previously served as Chief of Gastroenterology (1998-2018) at the University of Pennsylvania.

Dr. Rustgi has been elected to the National Academy of Medicine, the American Society of Clinical Investigation, and the Association of American Physicians (he is current President), and is a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science. He has served as president of the American Gastroenterological Association and editor-in-chief of Gastroenterology, among other leadership roles. His contributions have been recognized with the AACR Daniel Von Hoff Award (2024), the AGA Julius Friedenwald Lifetime Achievement Medal (2017), and multiple distinguished mentorship/teaching awards from the University of Pennsylvania and the AGA.

David Loeb, MD, PhD

Professor of Oncology and Pediatrics
Director, Pediatric Hematology and Oncology
Montefiore Einstein

Dr. Loeb is a physician-scientist whose clinical practice and research focus on pediatric cancers, with particular expertise in bone and soft tissue sarcomas and Wilms tumor. He received his MD and PhD from Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, where he also completed his residency in pediatrics, followed by a fellowship in pediatric hematology/oncology at Johns Hopkins Hospital. Before joining Montefiore Einstein, he served on the faculty of the Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins for nearly two decades.

Dr. Loeb’s laboratory investigates the molecular mechanisms driving pediatric bone tumors, including the IGF signaling pathway and epigenetic regulators of tumor cell differentiation, with the goal of identifying novel therapeutic targets. He is a member of the Children’s Oncology Group and participates in national clinical trials for children and adolescents with sarcomas.

Marina Konopleva, MD, PhD

Professor of Oncology and Molecular Pharmacology
Director, Leukemia Program
Co-Director, Blood Cancer Institute
Montefiore Einstein

Dr. Konopleva is a physician-scientist whose clinical practice focuses on hematologic malignancies, with particular expertise in acute myeloid leukemia (AML), acute lymphoblastic leukemia, and myelodysplastic syndrome. She received her MD from First Pavlov Medical Institute in St. Petersburg, Russia, and her PhD in experimental hematology from the Federal Institute of Hematology and Blood Transfusion, followed by postdoctoral training at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. Her landmark research established the dependency of AML cells on the anti-apoptotic protein BCL-2, contributing directly to the FDA approval of venetoclax in combination with low-intensity chemotherapy — a therapy that has meaningfully improved survival for elderly patients with AML.

Dr. Konopleva’s research, funded by the NIH and Department of Defense, spans apoptotic resistance mechanisms, tumor metabolism, and novel immune-oncology approaches including CAR T cells and bispecific engagers. A Scholar of the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, she is a member of the American Society of Hematology and the American Association for Cancer Research, among other professional societies. Her contributions have been recognized with the R. Lee Clark Prize in Basic/Translational Science and the Mentor of the Year award from MD Anderson Cancer Center.

William Kim, MD

Rush S. Dickson Distinguished Professor of Medicine
Division of Oncology
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Dr. Kim is a physician-scientist whose research and clinical practice focus on the genomics and biology of bladder and kidney cancers. He completed his clinical oncology training and postdoctoral fellowship at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute before joining the Division of Oncology at UNC Chapel Hill in 2006. His work has been recognized with several prestigious awards, including the Damon Runyon Clinical Investigator Award, the AACR Kure It Grant for Kidney Cancer Research, and the inaugural Bladder Cancer Advocacy Network (BCAN) Innovation Award.

In addition to his research contributions, Dr. Kim is known for his deeply patient-centered approach to clinical care — a philosophy he credits to his father — treating every patient with the same attention and commitment he would extend to a family member.

Tara Henderson, MD, MPH

Founders’ Board Centennial Professor of Pediatrics
Chair of Pediatrics, Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago
Professor of Pediatrics, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine

Dr. Henderson is a pediatric oncologist whose clinical practice and research focus on childhood cancer survivorship, with particular emphasis on long-term outcomes and quality of life for adolescent and young adult cancer survivors. She serves as a member of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Board of Directors and has chaired the ASCO Adolescent and Young Adult Survivorship Work Group.

Daniel Sprague, MD, PhD

Assistant Professor of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Medical University of South Carolina

The Sprague Lab is a chemical biology lab interested in developing new precision therapeutics for various cancers. At the moment, their studies are focused on ARID1A-mutated bladder cancer. The Sprague Lab aims first, to uncover new druggable pathways in bladder cancer, but also to develop a platform to rapidly profile patient-derived mutations in bladder cancer for drug sensitivities, and to repurpose already-approved drugs in new settings. Dr. Sprague is new to the world of cancer research, and for the CSVCC, he hopes to learn from experts as he dives deeper into oncology research. While doing so, Dr. Sprague hopes to contribute his expertise in pharmacology and small molecule synthesis to be able to help out and collaborate across disciplines. He is also looking forward to networking with other Scholars as they grow in their careers.

Julea Vlassakis, PhD

Assistant Professor of Bioengineering, Rice University

This CSVCC research aims to identify how childhood cancers like Ewing sarcoma leverage epigenetics and fusion oncoprotein transcription factors to achieve disease progression with very low mutational burden. Dr. Vlassakis seeks to understand how combinations of disease (e.g., EWS-FLI1) and healthy transcription and cofactors regulate gene expression and genome architecture in metastatic and proliferative cell populations. To do so, they are designing novel single-cell assays, which can be adopted by other researchers in the future.

John Rhee, MD, MPH

Physician, Center for Neuro-Oncology, Department of Medical Oncology
Physician, Division of Adult Palliative Care, Department of Supportive Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
Instructor in Neurology, Harvard Medical School

Dr. Rhee’s research aims to improve supportive, symptom, and palliative care for patients with primary and secondary central nervous system tumors, with the goal of improving their daily lived experience. His program uses large language models (LLMs) to extract symptom and toxicity data from the electronic health record at scale, to better characterize symptom burden and prognosis, and to develop targeted supportive care interventions, especially for patients with tumor-related aphasia. He is currently building an LLM-based app in order to help patients with tumor-related aphasia communicate.

Sarah Hill, MD, PhD

Assistant Professor of Medicine, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute

Dr. Hill’s work in the CSVCC focuses on defining a new subtype of endometrial cancer along with a paired biomarker with which to define this subtype and a therapy with which to treat it. Specifically, during her time in the CSVCC, she will identify an RB functional subtype of endometrial cancer. This will be accomplished by validating a transcriptional signature that can identify RB functional endometrial cancers, defining a mechanism by which RB signaling becomes dysfunctional in RB1 wild type endometrial cancer cells, and defining which CDK4/6 inhibitor is most effective in endometrial cancer.

Erik Blomain, MD, PhD

Assistant Professor, Clinical Scholar Track of Radiation Oncology, Thomas Jefferson University

Dr. Blomain’s current research interests focus on acquired resistance to therapy in lung cancer, leveraging a combination of conventional cell biology techniques and bioinformatics on both patient samples and preclinical models. Specifically, in his CSVCC project, he hypothesizes that chemoRT imparts resistance to downstream immunotherapy in locally-advanced non-small cell lung cancer. Dr. Blomain hopes to robustly test this hypothesis with the added input and guidance of his peers and mentors in the CSVCC in order to improve the lives of patients with lung cancer. Furthermore, he hopes that the collaborative environment of the CSVCC allows him to productively collaborate and synergize my skillset with others in the group.

Hind Rafei, MD, MS

Assistant Professor of Medicine, MD Anderson Cancer Center

Dr. Rafei’s CSVCC research goals are to develop more effective and less toxic immunotherapy strategies for pancreatic cancer by engineering CAR-T cells that can withstand the hostile solid tumor microenvironment. Her work focuses on metabolic rewiring of CAR-T cells, including targeting the cAMP signaling axis and combining engineered cell therapy with hypoxia-directed pharmacologic therapy. Through the CSVCC, Dr. Rafei aims to leverage multidisciplinary collaboration, mechanistic studies, and translational modeling to identify combination strategies that improve CAR-T cell persistence, function, tumor infiltration, and antitumor efficacy in pancreatic cancer.

Lior Goldberg, MD, MS

Assistant Professor, Department of Pediatrics and Beckman Research Institute, City of Hope Comprehensive Cancer Center

Dr. Goldberg’s laboratory develops immune-based therapies to treat cancer. His overall research goal is to optimize a novel chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cell immunotherapy for osteosarcoma, an aggressive bone cancer affecting children, adolescents, and young adults. His CAR T cell immunotherapy is designed to address known bottlenecks in CAR T cell therapy for solid tumors, including tumor-specific targeting and limited trafficking to the tumor site. Ultimately, his goal is to translate this novel CAR T cell therapy into a clinical trial to treat osteosarcoma.

Matthew Gallitto, MD, PhD

Assistant Professor of Radiation Oncology
Director of Proton Therapy Services
Columbia University

Dr. Gallitto’s goal is to develop more effective, less toxic therapies for children with diffuse midline glioma (DMG), one of the deadliest pediatric brain tumors, for which radiation therapy remains the only upfront treatment. A central obstacle is the blood-brain barrier, which shields these tumors from most systemic drugs. Through the PRCRP Career Development Award, he is testing whether nimbolide, a natural compound that potently “traps” the DNA-repair enzyme PARP1, can sensitize DMG to radiation and overcome treatment resistance when delivered directly into the tumor via convection-enhanced delivery (CED), a catheter-based approach that bypasses the blood-brain barrier. By combining mechanistic studies of DNA-damage biology with preclinical drug-delivery models, he aims to validate this strategy and generate the data needed to launch a first-in-child clinical trial, with the ultimate goal of extending survival and improving quality of life for children with DMG and their families.

Christine Zhang, PhD

Assistant Professor of Pathology
Northwestern University, Feinberg School of Medicine

Dr. Zhang’s scientific objective of this proposal is to understand how a group of proteins work together to help leukemia stem cells (the root cells that start and sustain leukemia) survive, grow, and resist treatment. Through laboratory studies and testing on pre-clinical models, this project proposes to examine how disrupting the transcriptional and translational pathways, alone or in combination with other targeted therapies, can impair leukemia stem cell survival.

Arjun Kalra, MD

Attending Hematology & Oncology Physician
Assistant Professor of Medicine
Uniformed Services University

Dr. Kalra’s primary goal for the CSVCC program is to deepen his exposure to foundational basic science and translational research methodologies, specifically focusing on how laboratory discoveries can be robustly applied to the development of next-generation cellular therapies within malignant hematology. By mastering this bench-to-bedside pipeline, he aims to connect complex laboratory assays with clinical scalability, building the investigative and clinical insights he needs to design, optimize, and lead impactful clinical trials for hematologic malignancies.

Walter Kucera, MD

Assistant Professor of Surgery, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences
Colorectal and General Surgeon, Naval Medical Center San Diego

As a military surgeon, Dr. Kucera sees unique patient challenges with our patient population but also extraordinary opportunity with our ability to longitudinally track exposures and treatment records across the spectrum of care.  While trauma research has long utilized databases of combat casualties, we are only beginning to scratch the surface of the ability to use the data from the Military Health System to improve cancer care.  He aims to use our data to find new insight into topics from epidemiology and prevention to treatment and survivorship in the realm of colorectal cancer care.

Shilpa Murthy, MD, MPH

Associate Professor of Surgery, University of Washington
VA Puget Sound Healthcare System

To advance early detection methods and improve cancer care delivery for Veterans, military personnel, and underserved patient populations through the full cycle of the cancer care continuum.  To identify modifiable risk factors, military exposures and investigate early detection methods for Veterans to improve cancer mortality outcomes. My goal is to develop evidence-based interventions that improve cancer outcomes, inform health policy, and address the unique challenges of young Veterans. I aim to develop veteran-informed, AI-assisted clinical tools that support early detection, treatment decisions, impact return to duty, and benefit military families.