Recipients include: Harvard University, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Providence Portland Medical Center

CHICAGO, IL, USA, June 1, 2018 /EINPresswire.com/ -- The Cholangiocarcinoma Foundation (CCF), a nonprofit organization funding novel research for bile duct cancer, has awarded the 4th cycle of its Research Fellowship Program.

Since 2015, the Foundation has awarded $750,000 in seed funding to outstanding, young investigators to raise awareness about cholangiocarcinoma and inspire innovative, high quality research. In accordance with the Foundation’s Research Philosophy, CCF supports promising projects that are less likely to get traditional funding. Open-access research that catalyzes collaboration and focuses on finding a cure is a core value of the program.

According to the Grants Review Committee, the decision-making process was a long and difficult one. The quality of the proposals was consistently very high, with many meritorious proposals vying for a limited amount of grant dollars. A total of 52 applications were received this year from not-for-profit academic, medical or research institutions in 14 countries (Canada, China, Denmark, Germany, Italy, Japan, Korea, Netherlands, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, Thailand, United Kingdom, and the United States).

Post-doctoral Fellows and Instructors with an MD, PhD, Phar.D. or DVM were eligible to apply. For the 2018 funding cycle, the eligibility guidelines were expanded to include Junior Faculty within first 4 years of appointment at the time of application.

“Through these studies, CCF’s Research Fellowship Program aims to gain insights and achieve significant milestones into the research of cholangiocarcinoma,” said Donna Mayer, Executive Director of the Cholangiocarcinoma Foundation. We are proud to honor and support these remarkable scientists as they carry on the legacies of those for whom the grants are named.”

2018 FELLOWSHIP RECIPIENTS:

Shuichi Aoki, MD, PhD – Harvard University
Role of PlGF/Nrp1 Pathway in Intrahepatic Cholangiocarcinoma Cell Survival, Tumor-associated Fibrosis and Abnormal Vasculature
Amount: $50,000

Iris Sze Ue Luk, PhD – Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center
Evaluating Novel Targeted Therapies in Cholangiocarcinoma using Tumor Slice Cultures
Amount: $50,000

Tinghu Zhang, PhD – Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
Developing FGFR2 Degrader with PROTAC Technology to Target Intrahepatic Cholangiocarcinoma
Amount: $50,000

Chunhong Zheng, PhD – Providence Portland Medical Center
Single-cell Immunogenomic Profiling of Neoantigen-reactive T Cells in Human Cholangiocarcinoma
Amount: $50,000

About Cholangiocarcinoma
Cholangiocarcinoma, a highly lethal cancer with poor prognosis, arises from the bile ducts in the liver. It is often diagnosed at advanced stages when treatment is only minimally effective, emphasizing the imminent need for novel therapies. There are no effective strategies for prevention, early diagnosis or long-term treatment, indicating a significant unmet medical need.

Although considered rare, with 9,000 cases a year being diagnosed in the US, cholangiocarcinoma is the second most common primary liver cancer in the world. Both incidence and mortality are increasing thus research into this deadly disease is urgently needed.

About the Cholangiocarcinoma Foundation
Founded in 2006, the Cholangiocarcinoma Foundation is a global 501(c)(3) non-profit organization whose mission is to find a cure and improve the quality of life for those affected by bile duct cancer. As a rare and lethal disease, cholangiocarcinoma lacks attention and sufficient resources. There is a vast, unmet need for education about cholangiocarcinoma across the entire disease spectrum - from bench to bedside. For that reason, the Cholangiocarcinoma Foundation continues its efforts to raise awareness of all stakeholders in the cholangiocarcinoma community through advocacy, education, collaboration and research. More information is available at cholangiocarcinoma.org.

Jordan Giles
Cholangiocarcinoma Foundation
888-396-6731x10
email us here

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