Local researchers share cancer treatment advancements at CCF Research Symposium

On June 4th, 2025, The Children’s Cancer Foundation, Inc. (CCF) hosted the 9^th Annual Research Symposium “Advancing Research through Collaboration,” which brought together pediatric cancer researchers with survivors, advocates, cancer care teams and community leaders to share the latest local pediatric cancer research breakthroughs.

In 2016, the CCF held its first Annual Research Symposium, developed in large part by CCF Scientific Advisory Board Chair Emeritus, Jeffrey Toretsky, M.D., of Georgetown University’s Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center. The event was founded on the belief that small local research dialogue will go a long way toward substantial research collaboration.

Unique among scientific research conferences, the symposium emphasizes local participation, an extensive poster session, research from younger investigators, and non-scientific community engagement. This one-day event encourages small group discussion and the opportunity for those in their early career to make connections and gain visibility to succeed in the underfunded field of pediatric oncology.

For the inaugural Jeffrey A. Toretsky Honorary Keynote Panel, attendees enjoyed an introduction to the role of AI in current cancer research by Taylor Sundby, M.D. , National Cancer Institute, who then moderated an in-depth discussion about each panelist’s research using machine learning as well as the potential and challenges of AI in pediatric oncology. Panelists included: Marius Linguraru, Ph.D., Children’s National Hospital; David Milewski, Ph.D., National Cancer Institute; and Joe C. Murray, M.D., Ph.D., Johns Hopkins University. Additional speakers included researchers and clinicians from the National Cancer Institute, Children’s National, and Johns Hopkins. Topics included adolescent-specific cancer care and advancements on CAR T-cell therapy.

The mid-day poster session showcased 60 local research projects, with the lab’s representative available to respond to questions about their work. This important aspect of the day invites collaboration and strengthens the relationships in the local pediatric cancer research community. Each 2024 CCF Research Grant recipient also presented their research during the session. A select number of Ph.D. program candidates or post-doctoral fellows were interviewed about their posters by local senior investigators from other institutions in order to recognize particularly promising research.

Hearing from those directly impacted by pediatric cancer is an essential part of the symposium. The participants listened intently as Holly Barton and Bella Teta shared their inspiring cancer journeys, hoping to learn ways to better meet a young person’s treatment needs.

CCF extends appreciation to the CCF Scientific Advisory Board including Chair, Brigitte Widemann, M.D. of NCI for helping make this important day possible. We also extend thanks to CCF Board member Steve Coomes and Board Chair Jerry Chadwick. Thanks to the generous support of The Kahlert Foundation, CCF was able to extend free registration to all participants.

The 10th Annual CCF Research Symposium is tentatively scheduled for June 3, 2026.

Recordings will be posted below as they become available. Some talks contain unpublished data and therefore are not shared below. The presentations can also be viewed as a playlist on the CCF YouTube Channel. More will be added throughout July.