$500,000 in research grants awarded by the Cholangiocarcinoma Foundation

$500,000 in research grants awarded by the Cholangiocarcinoma Foundation

Research grants were made to support early-career, innovative researchers worldwide who are focused on studying cholangiocarcinoma at renowned institutions

The Cholangiocarcinoma Foundation, a nonprofit organization funding novel research for bile duct cancer, has awarded the ninth cycle of funding for its Research Fellowship Program. Ten early-career investigators from select institutions were each awarded $50,000 for a one-year study.

Since 2015, the Foundation has awarded 49 research fellowships totaling $2,550,000 in seed funding to early-career investigators to raise awareness about cholangiocarcinoma and inspire innovative, high-quality research. In accordance with the Foundation’s research philosophy, the organization supports promising projects that are less likely to get traditional funding.

“Through the Foundation’s Research Fellowship Program we hope to gain insights and achieve significant scientific milestones,” said Stacie Lindsey, Foundation CEO, and founder. “We are proud to honor and support these remarkable young scientists as they carry on the legacies of those for whom the grants are named.”

A total of 76 letters of intent were received this year from academic, medical, or research institutions throughout the world. Post-doctoral fellows, instructors with an MD, Ph.D., Pharm.D. or DVM, and junior faculty within the first four years of appointment at the time of application were eligible to apply.

The grant review committee is composed of experienced clinicians and scientists from the cholangiocarcinoma field and seasoned research advocates who reviewed the proposals and selected the awardees.

“We are thrilled to announce the ten Research Fellowship Grants being funded in 2023 by CCF,”  said Nilo Azad, MD, Johns Hopkins, and Sumera lyas, M.B.B.S. Mayo Clinic, Chairs of the grants review committee. “These grants will launch a broad range of cutting-edge research projects spanning the basic to clinical research continuum. We believe these projects and the young investigators leading them will produce important breakthroughs for the cholangiocarcinoma community.”

“These grants will launch a broad range of cutting-edge research projects spanning the basic to clinical research continuum. We believe these projects and the young investigators leading them will produce important breakthroughs for the cholangiocarcinoma community.”

-Nilo Azad, MD, Johns Hopkins, and Sumera lyas, M.B.B.S. Mayo Clinic, Chairs of the grants review committee

Zhen, Yuanli

Mark R. Clements Memorial Research Fellowship:
Yuanli Zhen, Massachusetts General Hospital

Mobilization of anti-tumor immunity in FGFR2-driven cholangiocarcinoma

In memory of the Cholangiocarcinoma’s Co-founder, Mark R. Clements, who passed away from the disease in 2007, CCF is supporting the Mark R. Clements Memorial Research Fellowship grant. The grant is being awarded to Yuanli Zhen from Massachusetts General Hospital. Yuanli will be investigating the mobilization of anti-tumor immunity in FGFR2-driven cholangiocarcinoma.

Warren, Emilie

Stewart Mather Memorial Research Fellowship:
Emilie Warren, Emory University
CD4+CD26+ tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes represent a novel strategy to improve the efficacy of adoptive T cell transfer therapy in cholangiocarcinoma

In memory of Stewart Mather, who passed away from the disease in 2020, his wife Colleen and the Mather Family Foundation are supporting the Stewart Mather Memorial Research Fellowship grant. The grant is being awarded to Emilie Warren from Emory University. Emelie will be investigating how CD4+CD26+ tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes represent a novel strategy to improve the efficacy of adoptive T cell transfer therapy in cholangiocarcinoma.

Tang, Tin-Yun

Bruce Coppock Memorial Research Fellowship:
Tin-Yun Tang, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center
MTAP Loss Clonality and Targeting in Cholangiocarcinoma

In memory of Bruce Coppock, who passed away from the disease in December, the CCF board and staff are supporting the Bruce Coppock Memorial Research Fellowship grant, to recognize and honor Bruce’s years of service. The grant is being awarded to Tin-Yun Tang from The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. Tin-Yun will be investigating MTAP Loss Clonality and Targeting in Cholangiocarcinoma.

Olaizola, Paula

The Quack Out Cholangio 5k Research Fellowship Grant:
Paula Olaizola, MRC Human Genetics Unit, Institute of Genetics and Molecular Medicine
Understanding of the reciprocal interactions between cancer cells and CAFs within the emerging cholangiocarcinoma tumour microenvironment

The Quack Out Cholangio 5k Research Fellowship Grant honoring Kathy Byrnes (known as Kathy Kbt) and Shannon McCarty is awarded to Paula Olaizola from MRC Human Genetics Unit, Institute of Genetics and Molecular Medicine. Paula will be investigating the reciprocal interactions between cancer cells and CAFs within the emerging cholangiocarcinoma tumour microenvironment. In their memory, Kathy's husband, Billy, and Shannon's husband, Ron, were the official starters of the 3rd Annual Quack Out 5k in 2022. Shannon, a mother of 3, was diagnosed with stage 4 intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma at age 44 and passed away at age 46.  Shannon loved traveling, the Denver Broncos, and eating terrible things like scrapple. Kathy was diagnosed with stage 4a intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma at age 36 and passed away at age 41. Kathy loved traveling, napping, and spending time with her friends and family.

Nebbia, Martina2

AstraZeneca/CCF Research Fellowship:
Martina Nebbia, Massachusetts General Hospital
A safety switch for safe clinical application of tumor antigen-specific CAR -T cell immunotherapy in multi-focal and metastatic intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma.

Supported by AstraZeneca, the AstraZeneca/CCF Research Fellowship grant, is being awarded to Martina Nebbia from Massachusetts General Hospital. Martina will be investigating a safety switch for safe clinical application of tumor antigen-specific CAR -T cell immunotherapy in multi-focal and metastatic intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma.

Dr. Ethan Ludmir

Marion U. Schwartz Memorial Research Fellowship:
Ethan Ludmir, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center
Integrating Radiomics and Immunogenomics to Predict Tumor-Related Liver Failure for Patients with Metastatic Intrahepatic Cholangiocarcinoma

In memory of Marion U. Schwartz, CCF is supporting the Marion U. Schwartz Memorial Research Fellowship grant. The grant is being awarded to Ethan Ludmir from The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. Ethan will be investigating the integration of Radiomics and Immunogenomics to Predict Tumor-Related Liver Failure for Patients with Metastatic Intrahepatic Cholangiocarcinoma.

Xia, Jonathan

Jacques Dupont Memorial Research Fellowship:
Jonathan Xia, McGaw Medical Center of Northwestern University
Integrating Multi-omics in Bile for Biomarker Discovery in Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis and Cholangiocarcinoma

In memory of Jacques Dupont, Barbara Dupont, family, and friends are supporting the Jacques Dupont Memorial Research Fellowship grant. The grant is being awarded to Jonathan Xia from McGaw Medical Center of Northwestern University. Jonathan will be investigating the integration of Multi-omics in Bile for Biomarker Discovery in Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis and Cholangiocarcinoma.

Tomlinson, Jennifer

Andrea Lynn Scott Memorial Research Fellowship:
Jennifer Tomlinson, Mayo Clinic
The Role of YAP in Cholangiocarcinoma Tumor Immunity

In memory of Andrea Scott, Jason Scott, family, and friends are supporting the Andrea Lynn Scott Memorial Research Fellowship grant. The grant is being awarded to Jennifer Tomlinson from Mayo Clinic. Jennifer will be investigating the Role of YAP in Cholangiocarcinoma Tumor Immunity.

Conboy, Caitlin

Susan Morrison Research Fellowship:
Caitlin Conboy, Mayo Clinic
Targeting Epigenetic Dysregulation in Cholangiocarcinoma

Supported by Susan G. Morrison, the Susan Morrison research fellowship grant is being awarded to Caitlin Conboy from Mayo Clinic. Caitlin will be targeting Epigenetic Dysregulation in Cholangiocarcinoma.

Green, Benjamin

Kathleen & Paul Sidenblad Research Fellowship:
Benjamin Green, University of Hawaii Cancer Center
A peptide vaccine targeting WT1 for immunotherapy against intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma

Supported by Kathleen and Paul Sidenblad, the Kathleen and Paul Sidenblad research fellowship grant is being awarded to Benjamin Green from University of Hawaii Cancer Center. Benjamin will be investigating a peptide vaccine targeting WT1 for immunotherapy against intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma.