Conquer Cancer Announced Recipients of Seven Oncology Research Grants

Dr. Yara Abdou has been awarded the 2024 Conquer Cancer – Breast Cancer Research Foundation® Career Development Award for Diversity and Inclusion in Breast Cancer for her project, “Molecular Residual Disease in Triple Negative Breast Cancer: Detection and Therapeutic Interception.”

The award supports her research on detecting and targeting residual disease in triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), an aggressive form of the disease, with a focus on improving outcomes for diverse patient populations. Dr. Abdou’s work is expected to make significant contributions to TNBC treatment and enhance diversity in breast cancer research.

Yara Abdou specializes in the treatment of early-stage and metastatic breast cancer, with a particular focus on developing novel therapies, including immunotherapy, for different breast cancer subtypes. Her research involves close collaboration with basic and translational scientists to explore the breast tumor microenvironment and enhance treatment strategies by leveraging the immune system.

Dr. Abdou’s work also investigates racial differences in tumor biology and the immune microenvironment to better understand disparities in breast cancer outcomes, particularly among minority women. As both a clinician and researcher, her goal is to improve treatment approaches while minimizing suffering and morbidity associated with breast cancer.

David W. Lim

Dr. David W. Lim has been awarded the 2024 Conquer Cancer – Breast Cancer Research Foundation® Career Development Award for his research project titled, “Understanding the Impact of Social Marginalization, Variability in Care Received, and Treatment Center and Provider Characteristics on Lobular Versus Ductal Breast Cancer Outcomes Using Population-Based Health Services Data.”

This award supports Dr. Lim’s work in exploring how social factors, variations in care, and differences in treatment centers and providers affect outcomes in lobular and ductal breast cancer. His project aims to provide critical insights into health disparities and improve clinical outcomes by analyzing population-based data. Dr. Lim’s research seeks to address key factors influencing breast cancer outcomes and contribute to more equitable care for all patients.

Dr. Lim’s research focuses on improving outcomes for patients with lobular breast cancer, a subtype that has worse long-term survival compared to invasive ductal carcinoma. Funded by the Terry Fox Research Institute, he studies treatment and patient outcomes across multiple Canadian hospital centers. His work also explores quality of life for breast cancer survivors, including the impact of ambulatory surgery and decision-making around treatments like prophylactic mastectomy and neoadjuvant therapy. Additionally, Dr. Lim examines racial, ethnic, and social disparities in breast cancer outcomes, aiming to create a more equitable healthcare system.

Adi Zoref-Lorenz

Adi Zoref-Lorenz, MD, PhD, has been honored with the 2024 Conquer Cancer – Israel Cancer Research Fund Career Development Award for her innovative research project titled “Hyperinflammation in Hematologic Malignancies: Characterizing and Altering the Natural History of a Lethal Syndrome.”

This award recognizes Dr. Zoref-Lorenz’s pioneering work in studying the role of hyperinflammation in hematologic malignancies, such as leukemia and lymphoma. Her research aims to better understand how this inflammatory response contributes to the progression of blood cancers and to develop strategies to intervene, potentially altering the disease’s trajectory and improving patient outcomes. By focusing on the mechanisms of hyperinflammation, Dr. Zoref-Lorenz hopes to uncover novel therapeutic targets that could transform the way these cancers are treated.

Young Investigator Awards Recipients

Hazim Ababneh

Hazim Ababneh, MD, has been awarded the 2024 Conquer Cancer – Endowed Young Investigator Award in memory of Evelyn H. Lauder for his research project titled “Breast Cancer-Related Lymphedema in the Middle East: Women’s Awareness, Screening Utilization Patterns, and Identifying Barriers and Challenges.”

This prestigious award recognizes Dr. Ababneh’s groundbreaking work on addressing breast cancer-related lymphedema (BCRL) in the Middle East, a condition that often goes underdiagnosed and undertreated. His project aims to assess women’s awareness of BCRL, the utilization of screening programs, and the barriers that prevent women from accessing timely care. Dr. Ababneh’s research seeks to improve early detection and management of lymphedema, which is a common and debilitating side effect of breast cancer treatment. By identifying cultural, social, and healthcare-related challenges in the region, his work has the potential to significantly improve the quality of life for women affected by this condition.

Allison Chang

Allison Chang, MD, PhD, has been awarded the 2024 Conquer Cancer – F Cancer Young Investigator Award in memory of Barbara Berlanti for her innovative research project titled “A Deep Learning Image Analysis Tool for Identifying Individuals at Risk for Lung Cancer.”

Dr. Chang’s groundbreaking work aims to develop a deep learning-based image analysis tool that can more accurately identify individuals at high risk for lung cancer. By leveraging advanced machine learning algorithms, her research seeks to enhance early detection and improve screening methods, ultimately leading to earlier diagnosis and better outcomes for patients. This tool could revolutionize lung cancer screening by providing more precise risk stratification, particularly for populations that may not have easy access to traditional diagnostic methods.

Dana Narvaez

Dana Narvaez, MD, has been awarded the 2024 Conquer Cancer – Breast Cancer Research Foundation Young Investigator Award for Diversity and Inclusion in Breast Cancer, in honor of Susan Hirschhorn and in memory of her mother, for her research project titled “Development of a Prognostic Score Integrating Pathological Biomarkers to Evaluate Treatment Response to Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors in the Neoadjuvant Setting of Triple Negative Breast Cancer.”

Dr. Narvaez’s pioneering work aims to create a prognostic score that incorporates pathological biomarkers to better evaluate how patients with triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) respond to immune checkpoint inhibitors, particularly in the neoadjuvant setting. TNBC is an aggressive subtype of breast cancer with limited treatment options, making early identification of effective therapies critical. By integrating biomarkers into a predictive tool, Dr. Narvaez’s research seeks to optimize treatment strategies and improve outcomes for TNBC patients, particularly those from diverse and underserved populations who may face additional barriers to effective care.

Nataly Torrejon

Nataly Torrejon, MD, has been awarded the 2024 Conquer Cancer – Breast Cancer Research Foundation Young Investigator Award for Diversity and Inclusion in Breast Cancer for her innovative research project titled “TRAIL-R2 and HER2 Bi-Specific Chimeric Antigen Receptor T Cells for the Treatment of Metastatic Breast Cancer.”

Dr. Torrejon’s groundbreaking research focuses on developing a novel immunotherapy approach to treat metastatic breast cancer by engineering bi-specific Chimeric Antigen Receptor T (CAR-T) cells. These cells are designed to target both TRAIL-R2 and HER2, two key markers involved in cancer cell survival and growth. By targeting these markers simultaneously, Dr. Torrejon’s approach aims to enhance the effectiveness of CAR-T therapy in treating aggressive metastatic breast cancer, particularly in patients with HER2-positive tumors.

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