Women in the Fight Against Pediatric Cancer
In honor of Women’s History Month, we’re proud to highlight the impact of our female medical advisory board members and the incredible researchers pushing pediatric cancer treatment forward. These women are leading groundbreaking studies, developing innovative therapies and changing the future of childhood cancer care.
Our Female Medical Advisory Board Members
Dr. Susan Blaney - Medical Advisory Board Chair developed new treatments for pediatric brain tumors to improve survival rates and quality of life. Her work included clinical trials and translational research to enhance current therapies.
Dr. Mignon Loh at Seattle Children’s Hospital focuses on pediatric leukemia, specifically understanding the genetic factors that influence treatment response. She works to develop personalized therapies, tailoring treatments to individual patients to improve outcomes and reduce side effects.
Dr. Julia Glade Bender at Memorial Sloan Kettering (MSK) leads early-phase clinical trials for children with relapsed or hard-to-treat cancers, focusing on bringing innovative therapies to pediatric patients. Her research aims to improve treatment options and outcomes for children facing challenging cancers.
Female Researchers Leading the Fight Against Pediatric Cancer
St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital
Dr. Elizabeth Stewart is focused on high-risk pediatric solid tumors, developing patient-derived models to better understand tumor behavior and improve preclinical testing of new therapies.
Texas Children’s Cancer Center
Dr. Meena Hegde’s research focuses on using CAR T-cell therapy to treat ependymoma, a brain tumor. She is leading a clinical trial to assess CAR T-cells targeting HER2, aiming to prevent recurrence and improve survival.
Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP)
Dr. Yael Mossé particularly focuses on the ALK gene and its role in the development of this aggressive cancer. Her work also includes developing a liquid biopsy to detect tumor DNA in blood samples, allowing for earlier diagnosis and monitoring of treatment response in neuroblastoma patients.
Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
Dr. Rani George studies the molecular mechanisms of neuroblastoma and other pediatric cancers, working to identify new therapeutic targets. Dr. Kim Stegmaier uses genomic approaches to discover new drug targets and speed up the development of more effective therapies for pediatric cancers, aiming to improve treatment outcomes for children.
Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC)
Dr. Kim Kramer specializes in developing new strategies to treat pediatric brain tumors, working to improve both the effectiveness of treatments and the quality of life. Her research focuses on advancing clinical trials and therapies for brain cancer.
These women are changing the landscape of pediatric cancer research—one breakthrough at a time. This Women’s History Month, we honor their dedication and celebrate the hope they bring to families everywhere. 🧡