Parker Institute Awards $525,000 to Advance Diverse Talent in Cancer Research

Donor-powered initiative fuels next generation of scientific innovators, expands equity in cancer research

The Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy (PICI), a collaborative consortium of the world’s leading immuno-oncology experts, announced its inaugural 2024 class of Representation in SciencE (RISE) Scholar award recipients. Selected through PICI’s Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging (DEIB) Program, these seven outstanding researchers are pursuing innovative immunotherapy projects that could transform cancer treatment.

The RISE Scholar program is made possible by an anonymous donor whose commitment to advancing diversity and innovation aligns with PICI’s dedication to supporting the next generation of scientific pioneers. A total of $525,000 will support this year’s scholars, with each researcher receiving $75,000 to advance their innovative research.

Their projects target critical challenges in immunotherapy, including:

• Enhancing CAR T-cell treatments for solid tumors
• Novel approaches to overcome immunotherapy resistance
• Advancing T cell engineering
• Understanding tumor microenvironments

“The 2024 RISE Scholars embody the fresh thinking and bold approaches needed to drive future breakthroughs.

Through the support of visionary donors, we’re amplifying diverse voices and perspectives – essential drivers of innovation – as we work to make all cancers curable,” – said Shane Corcoran, Senior Vice President of Strategy and Operations at PICI.

As part of PICI’s commitment to these up-and-coming investigators, RISE Scholars receive critical funding and access to PICI’s collaborative network of globally renowned immunotherapy researchers.

Meet the 2024 RISE Scholars:

• Sofía Castelli, PhD Candidate, University of Pennsylvania: Pioneering new approaches to enhance CAR T-cell therapy through innovative cytokine signaling, Castelli’s work could improve treatment outcomes for solid tumors.

• Maggie Colton Cove, PhD Candidate, University of California, San Francisco: Developing an innovative synNotch-CAR T circuit to overcome the hostile environment of Group 3 medulloblastoma, addressing a critical challenge in pediatric brain cancer treatment.

• Javier Gonzalez Vaz, PhD, University of California, Los Angeles: Advancing strategies for T cells to adapt to and overcome harsh tumor microenvironments, potentially improving immunotherapy success rates across multiple cancer types.

• Rosmely Hernandez, PhD, Gladstone Institutes: Leveraging sophisticated CRISPR screening approaches to enhance T cell therapies, working toward more effective and precisely targeted treatments.

• Jee Hye Kang, PhD Candidate, Weill Cornell Medicine: Studying and manipulating regulatory T cells to enhance the immune system’s natural ability to fight cancer, potentially unlocking new therapeutic strategies.

• Corey Perkins, PhD, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute: Investigating pre-metastatic events in pancreatic cancer progression to identify new therapeutic windows and treatment strategies.

• Grayson Rodriguez, PhD, Stanford Medicine: Engineering cytokines to manipulate STAT signals on immune cells, working to simplify immunotherapy delivery while improving efficacy.

The RISE Scholars program exemplifies PICI’s approach to research: accelerating scientific breakthroughs by bringing diverse perspectives to cancer’s toughest challenges. This donor-powered initiative demonstrates how strategic partnerships can advance both innovation and equity in science.

The RISE Scholarship is one part of PICI’s DEIB program, which also funds researchers from underrepresented backgrounds and scientific research focused on improving cancer outcomes in underserved communities.

About the Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy

The Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy (PICI) is radically changing how cancer research is done. Founded in 2016 through a $250 million gift from Silicon Valley entrepreneur and philanthropist Sean Parker, with an additional $125 million commitment announced in 2024, the San Francisco-based nonprofit is an unprecedented collaboration between the country’s leading immunotherapy researchers and cancer centers.

PICI Network research institutions include Stanford Medicine; the University of California, Los Angeles; the University of California, San Francisco; the University of Pennsylvania; Dana-Farber Cancer Institute; Gladstone Institutes; and Weill Cornell Medicine.

PICI also supports top researchers at other institutions, including The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, City of Hope, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai and Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis. By forging alliances with academic, industry and nonprofit partners, PICI makes big bets on bold research to fulfill its mission: to accelerate the development of breakthrough immunotherapies to turn all cancers into curable diseases.

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