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.
2024 Grant Awards

George Annor, Ph.D.
National Cancer Institute at NCI
Malignant Peripheral Nerve Sheath Tumors

Robyn Gartrell, M.D.
Johns Hopkins Medicine
Diffuse Midline Glioma

Joanna Kitlinska, Ph.D.
Georgetown University
Ewing Sarcoma

David Milewski, Ph.D.
National Cancer Institute at NCI,
NextGen Awardee
Osteosarcoma

Kathleen Mulvaney, Ph.D.
Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC/Children’s National Research Institute
Glioblastoma

Aykut Üren, M.D.
Georgetown University
Ewing Sarcoma
2023 Grant Awards

Chris Albanese, Ph.D.
Georgetown University
Medulloblastoma

Curt Civin, M.D.
University of Maryland
Acute Myeloid Leukemia, ALL, and infant Leukemias

Charles Eberhart, M.D., Ph.D.
Johns Hopkins Medicine
Retinoblastoma

Yiouli P. Ktena, M.D.
Johns Hopkins Medicine,
NextGen Awardee
Leukemia and Lymphoma

Gary Kupfer, M.D.
Georgetown University
Head and neck cancers

Nicolas Llosa, M.D.
Johns Hopkins Medicine
Rhabdomyosarcoma

Chase McCann, Ph.D.
Children’s National Hospital
Multiple (Hematologic, solid, Brain)

Anandani Nellan, M.D.
National Cancer Institute
Glioblastoma/Central nervous system

James Cronk, M.D.
National Cancer Institute
Glioblastoma/Central nervous system

Patience Odeniyide, M.D., Ph.D.
Johns Hopkins Medicine
Rhabdomyosarcoma

Nirali Shah, M.D.
National Cancer Institute
B-cell-ALL, B-cell Lymphoma

Aykut Üren, M.D.
Georgetown University
Osteosarcoma
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