Who We Fund

University of California, San Francisco

I am a postdoctoral researcher at UCSF, aiming to advance proteomic technologies for target discovery and redefine immunotherapy in blood cancers. In Dr. Arun Wiita's lab, I focus on identifying novel surface antigens in hematological malignancies like AML and multiple myeloma. By combining proteomics with immunotherapy strategies, I aim to bridge scientific discovery and clinical applications, improving outcomes for patients. My PhD in clinical proteomics from IIT-Bombay provided a foundation in biomarker discovery and translational research. I specialize in mass spectrometry-based proteomics, applying quantitative and targeted approaches to explore cancer proteomes and identify "proteoforms" as therapeutic targets. Building on promising data, my research explores surface protein post-translational modifications as a new class of immunotherapy targets, positioning me to become an independent investigator developing breakthrough therapies for blood cancers.

Program Name(s)

Career Development Program

Project Title

“Open-Surfaceomics” for Identifying Novel Surface PTMs as Immunotherapy Targets in AML

Dana-Farber Cancer Institute

Philippe Armand obtained his MD and PhD (in Biomedical Sciences) from the University of California San Francisco. He completed a residency in Internal Medicine at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in 2004, and a fellowship in Hematology/Oncology at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute (DFCI) in 2007. Since then, he has worked in the Stem Cell Transplantation and Lymphoma Divisions at DFCI. He is currently a Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School, an Institute Physician at DFCI, the Harold and Virginia Lash/David Lash Chair in Lymphoma Research, and the Chief of the Division of Lymphoma. His clinical practice is solely focused on patients with lymphoma. His research interests center on the development of novel therapeutics and assays in lymphoma, with a key focus on the translation of local laboratory research to novel clinical trials. He actively mentors many junior investigators, both fellows and junior faculty, in both clinical care and clinical research.

Program Name(s)

Academic Clinical Trials Program (ACT)

Project Title

Bispecific antibody-based frontline therapy for follicular lymphoma

The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center

As a physician scientist, I am positioned at the interface of a robust clinical program and the vibrant research environment of UTSW. I have gained firsthand experience in treating pediatric patients with several malignancies. I have seen many of these same children succumb to the incurable nature of these diseases. Bringing this clinical experience into the lab, I recognize the urgency for new treatment strategies to improve outcomes in pediatric cancer. My research focuses on targeting relapsed and refractory acute leukemias utilizing novel immunotherapy methods. I developed a novel chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)- T cell directed against a protein on AML cells called LILRB4. I have demonstrated this CAR-T cell to have potent anti-leukemia activity and we are now translating this work to a first in human clinical trial. I aim to approach disease control from the perspective of both tumor cell elimination and eradication of immune- protective niches for tumor cells.

Program Name(s)

Academic Clinical Trials Program (ACT)

Project Title

Anti-LILRB4 CAR-T cells for the treatment of relapsed or refractory pediatric acute myeloid leukemia

Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center

Coming soon.

Program Name(s)

Specialized Center of Research Program

Project Title

Translational Discovery in Peripheral T-Cell Lymphomas

Columbia University Medical Center

Viviana obtained her BS in Biological Sciences and her master degree in Genetics and Molecular Biology at Sapienza, University of Rome before moving to Paris, France, to join Dr Di Nunzio laboratory at Institut Pasteur, for her PhD studies. Viviana applied fluorescence microscopy techniques to track HIV-1 in the host nucleus and investigate about the viral interplay with factors in the nucleus of the infected cells during early steps of replication. Guided by her interest in epigenetics, Viviana joined the Viny Lab in 2023 for her postdoctoral training where she aims to identify gene regulation mechanisms linked to blood cell development and disease. Viviana’s goal is to contribute to innovative blood research for more effective personalized treatments and positively impact the academic environment. She also hopes to inspire younger generation to get involved in science and be able to mentor students in their career path in cancer research.

Program Name(s)

Career Development Program

Project Title

Impaired dynamic nucleosome remodeling as a leukemogenic mechanism and therapeutic target in AML

Garvan Institute of Medical Research

Peter trained at the University of Wales College of Medicine and Cambridge and Oxford Universities in the UK. In 2003 he joined Sheffield University and became joint Director of the Mellanby Center for Bone Research and Head of Department of Human Metabolism. In 2011 Peter joined the Garvan Institute of Medical Research in Sydney where he is Director of the Cancer Plasticity and Dormancy program. Peter is an international leader in understanding myeloma bone disease. He discovered key molecular pathways that cause myeloma bone disease. This research contributed to development of bone targeted therapies, including anti-RANKL and zoledronic acid, that are now in routine clinical use globally. Peter’s current research is investigating molecular pathways, including the Wnt pathway and sclerostin, that target osteoblasts, restore lost bone, increase bone strength and stop fractures. He is also investigating the role of bone cells in controlling myeloma cell dormancy and disease relapse.

Program Name(s)

Translational Research Program

Project Title

Targeting the Osteogenic Lineage as a Therapeutic Strategy in Multiple Myeloma

Washington University in St. Louis

Dr. Fehniger is a Professor of Medicine at WashU Medicine in St. Louis. As a physician-scientist he leads a research program focused on developing novel immunotherapies for patients with blood cancer. His group pioneered studies discovering memory-like natural killer (NK) cell immunobiology and activity against acute myeloid leukemia and other hematologic malignancies. His team developed the platform for production of GMP-grade memory-like NK cells for use in academic clinical trials and translated these findings into early phase clinical trials advancing memory-like NK cellular therapy for both adult and pediatric patients. Correlative immunology from these trials identified multiple mechanisms whereby memory-like programs enhance NK cell response to blood cancers. Current research focuses on engineering memory-like NK cells with synthetic proteins to enhance targeting and function, identifying immunosuppressive mechanisms within blood cancer microenvironments, and translating these new findings to the clinic. He has mentored over 30 graduate, medical, and post-doctoral trainees as well as junior faculty. Dr. Fehniger serves as Co-leader of the Siteman Cancer Center Hematopoietic Development and Malignancies Program, Laboratory Director of the Center for Gene and Cellular Immunotherapy, and Director of the Siteman Cancer Center Biologic Therapies Core Facility. 

Program Name(s)

Academic Clinical Trials Program (ACT)

Project Title

NK cell immunotherapy to reduce relapse after haploidentical transplant for high-risk pediatric AML

Dana-Farber Cancer Institute

Dr. Julia Paczkowska completed her master’s degree in pharmacy at Poznan University of Medical Science, Poland. Thereafter, she obtained her PhD in medical sciences from the Institute of Human Genetics, Polish Academy of Sciences, Poznan, with a thesis focusing on deregulated transcription factors and microRNAs in the pathogenesis of classic Hodgkin lymphoma. After obtaining her degree, she began her post-doctoral studies in the laboratory of Dr. Margaret Shipp at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston. Dr. Paczkowska’s postdoctoral research focuses on the immunobiology of classic Hodgkin lymphoma and related B-cell malignancies.

Program Name(s)

Career Development Program

Project Title

Characterization and Targeting of Tumor-Associated Monocytes/ Macrophages that Limit the Efficacy of PD-1 Blockade in Lymphoma

Maine Medical Center

Dr. Michaela Reagan is a Faculty Scientist II at the MaineHealth Institute for Research and an Associate Professor at Tufts University School of Medicine. She received her B.S. in general Engineering from Harvey Mudd College (2006) and Ph.D. from Tufts University in Biomedical Engineering in the field of breast cancer bone metastasis (2011). She then performed her post-doctoral research at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in the laboratory of Dr. Irene Ghobrial (2011-2015). Dr. Reagan is a member of the Finance Committee of the American Society of Bone and Mineral Research (ASBMR) and is the past chair of the ASBMR’s Women’s Committee. Since 2015, she has led innovative, transdisciplinary, basic and translational research in the Reagan Laboratory at MaineHealth with the goal of identifying cancer vulnerabilities that can lead to new treatments or cures for multiple myeloma (MM) patients. Her unique research is focused on the interactions between obesity, adipocytes and myeloma cells.

Program Name(s)

Career Development Program

Project Title

Multiple Myeloma Support from the Microenvironment: Bone Marrow Adipocytes and the Fatty Acid Binding Proteins

The University of Chicago

Dr. Megan McNerney, MD/PhD, is an Associate Professor in the Departments of Pathology and Pediatrics at The University of Chicago. She is a cancer genomicist and physician-scientist investigating how genetic changes alter normal hematopoiesis and drive malignancy. She also serves as an Attending in the Genomic and Molecular Pathology clinical laboratory. Dr. McNerney leads a team of 14 scientists interrogating the pathogenesis of loss of chromosome 7 and CUX1 in high-risk myeloid malignancies. She has published 34 manuscripts, many in top-tier journals. Mentoring and education are among her most meaningful roles, and the majority of her trainees have remained in biomedical research after leaving the lab. She is also dedicated to promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion in all aspects of her scholarship. Dr. McNerney has received numerous honors, including the Blood Cancer United Fellow Award and the Blood Cancer United, Illinois Chapter Researcher of the Year.

Program Name(s)

Career Development Program

Project Title

Genomic interrogation of high-risk myeloid neoplasms to identify new therapies

Regents of the University of Michigan

I am a Research Scientist in the Deininger Lab at Versiti Blood Research Institute, where my work focuses on leukemia biology—particularly in hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells, mitochondrial function, and the identification of therapeutic targets in hematologic malignancies. I have extensive experience in experimental hematology, including stem cell assays, CRISPR-based genome editing, lentiviral and retroviral modeling, and advanced flow cytometry.

In my current role, I have led projects optimizing functional metabolic assays, such as Seahorse XF analysis, to study mitochondrial bioenergetics in rare stem cell populations. I also work extensively with mouse models of leukemia, including xenografts, and coordinate multi-institutional collaborations for biospecimen acquisition and translational research.

In August 2025, I will transition with the Deininger Lab to the University of Michigan, where I will hold a Research Assistant Professor appointment in the Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Hematology/Oncology. My goal is to continue bridging mechanistic studies with preclinical testing to develop and refine targeted therapies for hematologic malignancies.

Program Name(s)

Career Development Program

Project Title

Understanding the role of Metabolic Regulator SIRT5 in Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia

NYU Grossman School of Medicine

Karim-Jean Armache, PhD, is the Laura and Isaac Perlmutter Professor of Biochemistry at NYU Grossman School of Medicine. His research focuses on the mechanistic basis of chromatin regulation, with emphasis on Polycomb and Trithorax group complexes, histone modifications, and the epigenetic control of gene expression. Using integrative approaches spanning structural biology, chemical biology, biochemistry, and cell biology, Dr. Armache’s lab has uncovered fundamental mechanisms of key chromatin‐modifying enzymes and identified new therapeutic opportunities in cancer and developmental disorders.

Program Name(s)

Discovery

Project Title

Molecular Mechanisms Underlying Aberrant Histone Deubiquitination in Leukemia