Although the types of cancer are vastly different, the research of each of the awardees aims for more effective and less toxic ways to treat cancer in children. CCF is proud to support these innovators as we push ahead to a world of cancer treatment that is unique to the individual and eradicates the cancer cells exclusively, without the long, devastating side effects impacting children.
Research grants are one-year and can be up to $75,000, and the NextGen Award is typically $100,000, but grant levels will vary depending on funds raised from the community and the number of applications received.
2025 Grant Awards
Alice Browne, Ph.D.
National Cancer Institute
Osteosarcoma and Rhabdomyosarcoma
Ryan Corbett, Ph.D.
Children’s National Hospital
NEXT GEN AWARD
High-Grade Gliomas
Alan D. Friedman, M.D.
Johns Hopkins Hospital
Neuroblastoma
Sabina Kaczanowska, Ph.D.
National Cancer Institute
Osteosarcoma
Patience Odeniyide, M.D., Ph.D.
Johns Hopkins Hospital
Rhabdomyosarcoma
Jun S. Wei, Ph.D.
National Cancer Institute
Rhabdomyosarcoma
Past Grant Awardees
George Annor, Ph.D., National Cancer Institute at NIH, Malignant Peripheral Nerve Sheath Tumors
Robyn Gartrell, M.D., Johns Hopkins Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Diffuse Midline Glioma
Joanna Kitlinska, Ph.D., Georgetown University’s Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, Ewing sarcoma
David Milewski, Ph.D., National Cancer Institute at NIH, Osteosarcoma
Kathleen Mulvaney, Ph.D., VTC, Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at Children’s National, Glioblastoma
Aykut Uren, M.D., Georgetown University’s Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, Ewing sarcoma
Chris Albanese, Ph.D., Georgetown University’s Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, Medulloblastoma
Curt I. Civin, M.D., University of Maryland School of Medicine, Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML), Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL) and infant leukemias
Charles Eberhart, M.D., Ph.D., Johns Hopkins Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Retinoblastoma
Yiouli P. Ktena, M.D., Giant Food CCF NextGen Awardee, Johns Hopkins Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Leukemia/Lymphoma
Gary Kupfer, M.D., Georgetown University’s Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, Head and Neck Cancer
Nicolas Llosa, M.D., Johns Hopkins Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, rhabdomyosarcoma
Chase McCann, Ph.D., Children’s National Hospital, T-cell therapy enhancement
Anandani Nellan, M.D. and James Cronk, M.D., National Cancer Institute at NIH, Glioblastoma
Patience Odeniyide, M.D., Ph.D., Johns Hopkins Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Rhabdomyosarcoma
Haneen Shalabi, D.O. (Nirali Shah, M.D.), National Cancer Institute at NIH, B-cell ALL, B-cell Lymphoma
Aykut Üren, M.D., Georgetown University’s Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, Rhabdomyosarcoma
Curt I. Civin, M.D. University of Maryland School of Medicine, Acute Myeloid Leukemia
Joanna Kitlinska, Ph.D. Georgetown Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, Ewing sarcoma
David Milewski, Ph.D. National Cancer Institute at NIH for Osteosarcoma
Rosa Nguyen, M.D., Ph.D. National Cancer Institute at NIH, CCF Giant Food NextGen Awardee, Neuroblastoma
Patience Odeniyide, M.D. Johns Hopkins Medicine, Rhabdomyosarcoma
Christine Pratilas, M.D. Johns Hopkins Medicine, Rhabdomyosarcoma, Juliana Carver Honorary Award
Nirali Shah, M.D. National Cancer Institute at NIH, Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia
Jeffrey Toretsky, M.D. Georgetown Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, Ewing sarcoma, CCF Professor Award
Aykut Üren, M.D. Georgetown Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, Osteosarcoma
Todd Waldman, M.D., Ph.D. Georgetown Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, Ewing sarcoma
Jia-Ray Yu, Ph.D. Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC/Children’s National Hospital, Acute Myeloid Leukemia and Diffuse Midline Glioma
Julie Asare, M.D., Johns Hopkins Medicine, B-cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia
Miriam Bornhorst, M.D., Children’s National Hospital, Brain tumors
Miranda Clements, M.D. and Liny John, M.D., National Cancer Institute at NIH, Chordoma
Charles Eberhart, M.D., Ph.D., Johns Hopkins Medicine, Retinoblastoma
Nicolas Llosa, M.D. and Christine A. Pratilas, M.D., Johns Hopkins Medicine, Malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors
Patience Odeniyide, M.D., Johns Hopkins Medicine (Juliana Carver Research Honoree), Rhabdomyosarcoma
Jeffrey Rubens, M.D., Johns Hopkins Medicine, atypical teratoid/rhabdoid tumors (AT/RT)
Keri Toner, M.D., Children’s National Hospital (CCF Giant Food NextGen Award), Acute Myeloid Leukemia
Aykut Üren, M.D., Georgetown Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, Osteosarcoma
Kristen Wessel, M.D., National Cancer Institute at NIH, Osteosarcoma
Todd Waldman, M.D., Ph.D., Georgetown Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, Ewing sarcoma
Hema Dave, M.D., Children’s National Health System, Hodgkin Lymphoma/Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma
Yong Yean Kim, M.D., Ph.D. National Cancer Institute at NIH, Rhabdomyosarcoma, 2020 Juliana Carver Research Honoree
Christine Pratilas, M.D. and Nicolas Llosa, M.D. Johns Hopkins Medicine, malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors
Brian Rood, M.D. Children’s National Health System, Medulloblastoma
R. Taylor Sundby, M.D. National Cancer Institute at NIH Neurofibromatosis, CCF Giant Food NextGen Awardee
Aykut Üren, M.D., Georgetown University’s Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, Ewing Sarcoma
Charles Eberhart, M.D., Ph.D. Johns Hopkins Hospital, High-Grade Glioma
Joanna Kitlinska, Ph.D., Georgetown University’s Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer, Ewing sarcoma
Yanxin Pei, Ph.D., Children’s National Health System, Medulloblastoma
Lei Peng, M.D., Johns Hopkins Hospital, Acute Myeloid Leukemia, CCF Giant Food NextGen Award
Eric Raabe, M.D., Ph.D., Johns Hopkins Hospital, Atypical Teratoid/Rhabdoid Tumors
Cara Rabik, M.D., Ph.D., Johns Hopkins Hospital, B-cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia
Nirali Shah, M.D. National Cancer Institute at NIH, Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia
Jeffrey Toretsky, M.D., Georgetown University’s Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer, (4th Annual Force 3 Fellowship Award), Ewing sarcoma
Ayküt Uren, M.D., Georgetown University’s Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer, Rhabdomyosarcoma
