On June 3, 2026, The Children’s Cancer Foundation, Inc. (CCF) hosted the 10th Annual Research Symposium 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 Jeffrey A. Toretsky Honorary Keynote Panel, attendees heard from Yaël P. Mossé, M.D. Professor of Pediatrics, Patricia Brophy Endowed Chair in Neuroblastoma Research, and Leader, Neuroblastoma Developmental Therapeutics Program, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. Additional speakers included researchers and clinicians from Georgetown University, the National Cancer Institute, Children’s National Hospital, and Johns Hopkins University. Topics included novel immunotherapy for both brain tumors and sarcomas, and breakthrough treatments for osteosarcoma and rhabdomyosarcoma.
The mid-day poster session showcased 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. 2025 CCF Research Grant recipients also presented their research during the session. A select number of Ph.D. program candidates and post-doctoral fellows were interviewed about their posters by local senior investigators from neighboring institutions in order to recognize particularly promising research. All publicly approved videos are available on our YouTube channel’s Playlist.
Hearing from those directly impacted by pediatric cancer is an essential part of the symposium. Participants listened intently as Paisley Ramarge and Tasha Manigo-Bizzell shared their inspiring cancer journeys, with many who largely work in the lab expressing appreciation for meeting those who benefit from their research.
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 members Steve Coomes, Matt Cimino, Annabel Park, 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 11th Annual CCF Research Symposium is tentatively scheduled for June 9, 2027.
CCF Research Symposium Schedule
- Brian Rood, M.D., Kurt D. Newman MD Professor of Pediatric Neuro-Oncology and Director, Molecular Biology and Data Science, Brain Tumor Institute, Children’s National Hospital, “IMPACT: Immunotherapy for Malignant Pediatric brain tumors employing Adoptive Cellular Therapy”
- Paisley Ramarge, Ewing Sarcoma survivor
Introduction by Christine Pratilas, M.D., Johns Hopkins University - Alice Browne, Ph.D., National Cancer Institute, “Targeting Hyaluronan-Mediated Stromal Barriers Enhances Therapeutic Response in Pediatric Sarcomas”
- Nikola Knoll, Georgetown University, “PAX3::FOXO1-targeting PROTACs in fusion-positive rhabdomyosarcoma”
- Tasha Manigo-Bizzell, Wilms Tumor Survivor
The Jeffrey A. Toretsky Honorary Keynote
- Yaël P. Mossé, M.D., Professor of Pediatrics, Patricia Brophy Endowed Chair in Neuroblastoma Research, and Leader, Neuroblastoma Developmental Therapeutics Program, “Turning Science into Survival: From ALK Discovery to Therapeutic Promise in Neuroblastoma”
Afternoon Session
- Challice Bonifant, M.D., Ph.D., Associate Professor of Oncology, Johns Hopkins University, “Engineered Precision, Innate Power: CAR-NK cells as anti-cancer immunotherapy”
- Xingyu Liu, Ph.D., National Cancer Institute, “Barcoded Cell State-Specific Transcription Factor Screen Identifies SIX1 as a Critical Regulator of Neuroblastoma Plasticity and Drug Resistance“
- Layla Hasanzadah, National Cancer Institute, “Loss of SPPL3 modulates cell-state plasticity as a tumor-intrinsic mechanism of CAR T-cell resistance in neuroblastoma” – not publicly available
- Kaushal Sharma, Ph.D., Johns Hopkins University, “Viral mimicry-mediated reprogramming of the immune landscape in patients with advanced-stage osteosarcoma”
- Lynne El-Ghorayeb, Pharm.D., Children’s National Hospital, “From Design to DEFEAT: Optimizing Dual-Target B7H3/GPC2 CAR T Cells for Pediatric Brain Tumors”
