$600,000 for Rally-Funded Young Investigator Grants

We’re delighted to announce the $600,000 awarded for this year’s Young Investigator Grants, which support the next generation of childhood cancer researchers!

But who exactly are these young investigators? In short, they’re bright, passionate scientists and doctors working tirelessly to find better treatments and, ultimately, cures for childhood cancer.

Young investigators are typically within five years of completing their fellowship. At this crucial stage in their careers, they’re focused on establishing themselves through research, publications and grant funding.

These passionate, early-career researchers bring fresh ideas, innovative approaches and the dedication to make a lasting impact in the fight against pediatric cancer. By funding these rising stars, Rally ensures that groundbreaking research keeps moving forward and that children battling cancer have the best chance at a brighter future.

Meet this year’s Young Investigator Grant recipients:

Brain and Central Nervous System Cancers

Funded by Rally Foundation

• Baylor College of Medicine: Mohammad Abu Arja, M.D., for Targeting the Neurovascular Niche in Group 3 Medulloblastoma
• The Hospital for Sick Children: Anthony Pak Yin Liu, MBBS, for Clinical Utility of Liquid Biopsy for CNS Germ Cell Tumors
• University of Florida: Christina von Roemeling, Ph.D., for Focused Ultrasound Delivery of Personalized Nanoparticle Vaccines for Brain Tumors
• University of Colorado Denver: Dong Wang, Ph.D., for Mediator Kinase CDK8 is a Therapeutic Target in MYC-driven Medulloblastoma

Solid Tumors

Funded by Rally Foundation

• Case Western Reserve University: Yuan Gao, Ph.D., for Flip the Switch: Lipid Control of ETV6 in Ewing Sarcoma

Co-Funded by Rally Foundation and a Collaborative Partner 

• Purdue University: Nathaniel Mabe, Pharm.D., Ph.D., for Targeting the TRIM28-SETDB1 Axis to Enhance Anti-GD2 Therapy in EWS, co-funded by Rally Foundation and Infinite Love for Kids Fighting Cancer 

Blood Cancers

Co-Funded by Rally Foundation and a Collaborative Partner

• Temple University: Jorge Gomez Deza, Ph.D., for Targeting Neuron Stress Pathways to Prevent CIPN in Kids, co-funded by Rally Foundation and Arms Wide Open Childhood Cancer Foundation

Mixed Brain/CNS, Solid Tumor and Blood Cancers

Funded by Rally Foundation 

• Virginia Commonwealth University Health: Jia-Ray Yu, Ph.D., for Target the H3K36me2 Pathway in Pediatric Cancers

Co-Funded by Rally Foundation and a Collaborative Partner

• The University of California, San Francisco: Geoffrey Cheng, M.D., for Biology of Diffuse Alveolar Hemorrhage in Stem Cell Transplant Recipients, co-funded by Rally Foundation and Infinite Love for Kids Fighting Cancer

Survivorship / Quality of Life / Psychosocial

Funded by Rally Foundation

• University of Washington: Melissa Martos, M.D., for Diagnostic Communication and Outcomes by Language in Pediatric Oncology
• Michigan State University: Courtney E. Sullivan, Ph.D., for Cross-Cultural Validation of a Pediatric Cancer Nursing Quality System
• Vanderbilt University Medical Center: Molly Talman, M.D., for Scaling Survivorship: AI-Assisted Care Plans for Childhood Cancer Survivors