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.
2026 Grant Awards
Michael Goldstein, M.D., Ph.D.
NEXT GEN AWARD
Johns Hopkins University
Ependymoma
$75,000
Joanna Kitlinska, Ph.D.
Georgetown University
Ewing Sarcoma
$50,000
Brian Ladle, M.D., Ph.D., and Dara Kraitchman, Ph.D., V.M.D.
Johns Hopkins University
Osteosarcoma
$50,000
Eric Raabe, M.D., Ph.D.
Johns Hopkins University
Malignant rhabdoid tumors
$50,000
Karisa Schreck, M.D., Ph.D.
Johns Hopkins University
High-grade gliomas
$50,000
Aykut Üren, M.D
Georgetown University
Ewing Sarcoma
$50,000
Marielle Yohe M.D., Ph.D., and Michael Sargen, M.D.
National Cancer Institute
Melanoma
$50,000
Past Grant Awardees
Alice Browne, Ph.D., National Cancer Institute, Osteosarcoma and Rhabdomyosarcoma, $50,000
Ryan Corbett, Ph.D., NEXT GEN AWARDEE, Children’s National Hospital, High-Grade Gliomas, $75,000
Alan D. Friedman, M.D., Johns Hopkins University, Neuroblastoma, $50,000
Sabina Kaczanowska, Ph.D., National Cancer Institute, Osteosarcoma, $50,000
Patience Odeniyide, M.D., Ph.D., Johns Hopkins University, Rhabdomyosarcoma, $50,000
Jun S. Wei, Ph.D., JULIANA CARVER HONOREE, National Cancer Institute, Rhabdomyosarcoma, $50,000
George Annor, Ph.D., National Cancer Institute at NIH, Malignant Peripheral Nerve Sheath Tumors, $50,000
Robyn Gartrell, M.D., Johns Hopkins Medicine, Diffuse Midline Glioma, $50,000
Joanna Kitlinska, Ph.D., Georgetown University’s Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, Ewing sarcoma, $50,000
David Milewski, Ph.D., NEXTGEN Awardee, National Cancer Institute at NIH, Osteosarcoma, $75,000
Kathleen Mulvaney, Ph.D., VA Tech, Fralin Biomedical Research Institute/Children’s National Research, Glioblastoma, $50,000
Aykut Uren, M.D., Georgetown University’s Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, Ewing sarcoma, $50,000
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
