$550,000 in research grants awarded by the Cholangiocarcinoma Foundation
The Cholangiocarcinoma Foundation, a nonprofit organization funding novel research for bile duct cancer, has awarded the tenth cycle of funding for its Research Fellowship Program. Eleven early-career investigators from select institutions were each awarded $50,000 for a one-year study.
Since 2015, the Foundation has awarded 60 research fellowships totaling $2.55 million 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 continue to gain valuable insights and provide results that make a difference for patients,” said Stacie Lindsey, Foundation CEO and Founder. “We are proud to honor and support these eleven remarkable scientists as they carry on the legacies of those for whom the grants are named.”
A total of 62 letters of intent were received this year from academic, medical, or research institutions worldwide. 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.
The Research Fellowship awardees are listed below.
Mark R. Clements Memorial Research Fellowship
Binbin Li, Mayo Clinic
Cancer cell senescence promotes tumor immunosuppression in 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. This year’s grant is awarded to Binbin Li from the Mayo Clinic in Rochester. Binibin will be investigating how cancer cell senescence promotes tumor immunosuppression in cholangiocarcinoma.
AstraZeneca/CCF Research Fellowship
Pilar Acedo, Royal Free Hospital
Unraveling fibroinflammatory and immune signatures in PSC and CCA by spatial multiomics
The Research Fellowship grant focuses on the important role that scientific research plays in expanding knowledge about cholangiocarcinoma. This year’s grant is awarded to Pilar Acedo from Royal Free Hospital, UCL, in the UK. Pilar will investigate unraveling fibroinflammatory and immune signatures in PSC and CCA by spatial multiomics.
Linda Blum Memorial Research Fellowship
Liberalis Boila, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center
Understanding PP2A regulation and its impact on drug sensitivity in isocitrate dehydrogenase 1 mutated intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma
In memory of Linda Blum, who passed away from the disease in 2007, Mel Blum and his family are supporting the Linda Blum Memorial Research Fellowship. This fellowship is awarded to Liberalis Boila from the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center. Liberalis will investigate PP2A regulation and its influence on drug sensitivity in isocitrate dehydrogenase 1 mutated intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma.
Julienne Morriss Callaway Research Fund
Iwan Paolucci, MD Anderson Cancer Center
Radiomics-based prediction of response to immunotherapy for intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma
In memory of Julienne Morriss Callaway, who passed away from the disease in 2019, Jack Callaway and the Callaway family set up the Julienne Morriss Callaway Research Fund, which supports a Memorial Research Fellowship in her name. This fellowship is awarded to Iwan Paolucci from MD Anderson Cancer Center. Iwan will investigate radiomics-based prediction of response to immunotherapy for intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma.
Bart Green Memorial Research Fellowship
Eranga Roshan Balasooriya Loku Balasooriyage, Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center, Harvard Medical School
Targeting cholangiocarcinoma cells that survive FGFR inhibition
In memory of Bart Green, who passed away from the disease in 2014, the Green Family is supporting the Bart Green Memorial Research Fellowship. This fellowship is awarded to Eranga Roshan Balasooriya Loku Balasooriyage from Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center, Harvard Medical School. He will be investigating targeting cholangiocarcinoma cells that survive FGFR inhibition.
Stewart Mather Memorial Research Fellowship
Davide Povero, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science
Metabolic vulnerabilities driving susceptibility to ferroptosis in cholangiocarcinoma
In memory of Stewart Mather, who passed away from the disease in 2020, Colleen Mather and the Mather Family Foundation are supporting the Stewart Mather Memorial Research Fellowship. This fellowship is awarded to Davide Povero from the Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science in Rochester, Minnesota. Davide will be investigating metabolic vulnerabilities driving susceptibility to ferroptosis in cholangiocarcinoma.
The Quack Out Cholangio 5k Research Fellowship Grants
Caitlin Conboy, Mayo Clinic School of Graduate Medical Education
Therapeutic vulnerabilities of ARID1A and PBRM1-deficient cholangiocarcinoma
The first Quack Out Cholangio 5k Research Fellowship Grant honors Bill Hayes and Al Lemieux. This year’s first fellowship is awarded to Caitlin Conboy from Mayo Clinic School of Graduate Medical Education. Caitlin is our first encore recipient, having successfully received a fellowship grant last year. Caitlin will be investigating the therapeutic vulnerabilities of ARID1A and PBRM1-deficient cholangiocarcinoma.
Elizabeth Raupach, Mayo Clinic in Scottsdale
Dual targeting of P-TEFb and superenhancers in cholangiocarcinoma
The second Quack Out Cholangio 5k Research Fellowship Grant honors Mark Risley and Keith Moss. This year’s second fellowship is awarded to Elizabeth Raupach from Mayo Clinic in Scottsdale. Elizabeth will be investigating the dual targeting of P-TEFb and superenhancers in cholangiocarcinoma.
Maria Vandervoort Memorial Research Fellowship
Alicia-Marie Conway, The University of Manchester
Blood-based biomarker discovery for the diagnosis and earlier detection of cholangiocarcinoma
This research grant is in memory of Maria Vandervoort, who passed away from the disease in 2022. Glen Vandervoort supports the Maria Vandervoort Memorial Research Fellowship to honor her legacy and is dedicated to scientific inquiry. This fellowship is awarded to Alicia-Marie Conway from The University of Manchester, UK. Alicia-Marie will investigate the discovery of blood-based biomarkers to detect and diagnose cholangiocarcinoma earlier.
Cheryl S. Sessions Memorial Research Fellowship
Mohamed-Reda Benmebarek, National Cancer Institute, NIH
Anti-VEGF treatment enhances immune checkpoint inhibitor-induced antitumor responses by targeting B and regulatory T cells
In memory of Cheryl S. Sessions, who passed away from the disease in July 2022, the Sessions family is supporting the Cheryl S. Sessions Memorial Research fellowship grant. This fellowship is awarded to Mohamed-Reda Benmebarek from the National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health. Mohamed-Reda will investigate how anti-VEGF treatment enhances immune checkpoint inhibitor-induced immune responses by targeting B and regulatory T-cells.
Michael Shane Memorial Research Fellowship
Gordon Taylor Moffat, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre
Exploring the genomic and immune profile of KRAS mutations within cholangiocarcinoma
In memory of Michael Shane, who passed away from the disease in 2019, Felice Shane is supporting the Michael Shane Memorial Research Fellowship. This fellowship is awarded to Gordon Taylor Moffat from Princess Margaret Cancer Centre. Gordon will investigate the characterization of KRAS Allele Variants within Biliary Tract Cancers.
Through the Foundation’s Research Fellowship Program, we continue to gain valuable insights and provide results that make a difference for patients. We are proud to honor and support these eleven remarkable scientists as they carry on the legacies of those for whom the grants are named.
Stacie Lindsey
CCF Founder & CEO