Parker Institute Awards $525,000 to Advance Diverse Talent in Cancer Research

Donor-powered initiative fuels next generation of scientific innovators, expands equity in cancer research 

The Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy (PICI), a collaborative consortium of the world’s leading immuno-oncology experts, today announced its inaugural 2024 class of Representation in SciencE (RISE) Scholar award recipients. Selected through PICI’s Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging (DEIB) Program, these seven outstanding researchers are pursuing innovative immunotherapy projects that could transform cancer treatment. 

The RISE Scholar program is made possible by an anonymous donor whose commitment to advancing diversity and innovation aligns with PICI’s dedication to supporting the next generation of scientific pioneers. A total of $525,000 will support this year’s scholars, with each researcher receiving $75,000 to advance their innovative research. Their projects target critical challenges in immunotherapy, including:

• Enhancing CAR T-cell treatments for solid tumors
• Novel approaches to overcome immunotherapy resistance
• Advancing T cell engineering
• Understanding tumor microenvironments

“The 2024 RISE Scholars embody the fresh thinking and bold approaches needed to drive future breakthroughs,” said Shane Corcoran, MD, MBA, Senior Vice President of Strategy and Operations at PICI. “Through the support of visionary donors, we’re amplifying diverse voices and perspectives – essential drivers of innovation – as we work to make all cancers curable.”

As part of PICI’s commitment to these up-and-coming investigators, RISE Scholars receive critical funding and access to PICI’s collaborative network of globally renowned immunotherapy researchers.

Meet the 2024 RISE Scholars: 

• Sofía Castelli, PhD Candidate, University of Pennsylvania: Pioneering new approaches to enhance CAR T-cell therapy through innovative cytokine signaling, Castelli’s work could improve treatment outcomes for solid tumors. 

• Maggie Colton Cove, PhD Candidate, University of California, San Francisco: Developing an innovative synNotch-CAR T circuit to overcome the hostile environment of Group 3 medulloblastoma, addressing a critical challenge in pediatric brain cancer treatment. 

• Javier Gonzalez Vaz, PhD, University of California, Los Angeles: Advancing strategies for T cells to adapt to and overcome harsh tumor microenvironments, potentially improving immunotherapy success rates across multiple cancer types.

• Rosmely Hernandez, PhD, Gladstone Institutes: Leveraging sophisticated CRISPR screening approaches to enhance T cell therapies, working toward more effective and precisely targeted treatments. 

• Jee Hye Kang, PhD Candidate, Weill Cornell Medicine: Studying and manipulating regulatory T cells to enhance the immune system’s natural ability to fight cancer, potentially unlocking new therapeutic strategies.

• Corey Perkins, PhD, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute: Investigating pre-metastatic events in pancreatic cancer progression to identify new therapeutic windows and treatment strategies. 

• Grayson Rodriguez, PhD, Stanford Medicine: Engineering cytokines to manipulate STAT signals on immune cells, working to simplify immunotherapy delivery while improving efficacy.

The RISE Scholars program exemplifies PICI’s approach to research: accelerating scientific breakthroughs by bringing diverse perspectives to cancer’s toughest challenges. This donor-powered initiative demonstrates how strategic partnerships can advance both innovation and equity in science.

The RISE Scholarship is one part of PICI’s DEIB program, which also funds researchers from underrepresented backgrounds and scientific research focused on improving cancer outcomes in underserved communities.

To hear more from the RISE Scholars about how the RISE awards will help advance their research, view more information below. To learn more about how to support PICI, visit parkerici.org/donate.

Meet the RISE Scholars

Sofia Castelli, PhD Candidate, University of Pennsylvania: Pioneering new approaches to enhance CAR T-cell
therapy through innovative cytokine signaling, Castelli’s work could improve treatment outcomes for solid tumors. “Being named a RISE Scholar is incredibly meaningful to me, as it recognizes the importance of my work on enhancing CAR T-cell therapy for solid tumors,” Castelli shares.

“With the support from this award, I will gain access to valuable resources and opportunities for collaboration with other researchers, which will be instrumental in advancing my project.”

Maggie Colton Cove, PhD Candidate, University of California, San Francisco:
Developing an innovative synNotch-CAR T circuit to overcome the hostile environment of Group 3 medulloblastoma, Cove is addressing a critical challenge in pediatric brain cancer treatment. 

“Ground-breaking science cannot be done in a vacuum, and access to this expertise will improve my research in ways I can’t even fully predict now,” notes Cove. “As a gay woman, I also look forward to helping further PICI’s diversity initiatives and the opportunity to foster an inclusive research community where every scientist has a voice.”

Javier Gonzalez Vaz, PhD, University of California, Los Angeles: Advancing strategies for T cells to adapt to and overcome harsh tumor microenvironments, Vaz’s
work could improve immunotherapy success rates across multiple cancer types.

“This award connects me with an outstanding network of scientists whose contributions to the field are not only significant but also highly motivating,” explains Vaz. 

“Establishing connections with these researchers and hearing their insights will influence the development of my scientific career, generating and refining ideas to continue advancing in the field of cancer immunotherapy.” 

Rosmely Hernandez, PhD, Gladstone Institutes: Leveraging sophisticated CRISPR screening approaches to enhance T cell therapies, Hernandez is working toward more effective and precisely targeted treatments.

“Leveraging cutting-edge CRISPR technology, I aim to identify gene targets that can make T cell therapies more effective in challenging tumor environments,” said Rosmely. “This award supports my ongoing work in conducting comprehensive genetic screens and advancing the development of novel T cell modifications, ultimately contributing to better outcomes for patients with complex cancers.” 

Jee Hye Kang, PhD Candidate, Weill Cornell Medicine: Studying and manipulating regulatory T cells to enhance the immune system’s natural ability to fight cancer, Kang is unlocking new therapeutic strategies.

“Being a RISE Scholar validates the importance of my work in cancer immunotherapy and reinforces my commitment to advancing how we can use the immune system to fight cancer more effectively,” Kang shares. “This award will help accelerate my research, from funding key experiments to expanding collaborations through PICI network scientists.” 

Corey Perkins, PhD, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute: Investigating pre-metastatic events in pancreatic cancer progression to identify new therapeutic windows and treatment strategies. 

“The award is validation that the work I am pursuing is meaningful and is capable of making an impact in the field of immunotherapy,” Perkins says. “The mission of this award carries great value to me, in which it aims to promote representation in both the realms of immunotherapy and cancer research.” 

Grayson Rodriguez, PhD, Stanford Medicine: Engineering cytokines to manipulate STAT signals on immune cells, Rodriguez is working to simplify immunotherapy delivery while improving efficacy.

 “The RISE award reflects the values of PICI by supporting scientists from underrepresented backgrounds,” Rodriguez shares. “As a Latina woman and the first in my family to earn a four-year degree—and now a graduate degree—I am deeply grateful for awards like RISE, which have personally and financially invested in my education and my research.”

About the Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy
The Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy (PICI) is radically changing how cancer research is done. Founded in 2016 through a $250 million gift from Silicon Valley entrepreneur and philanthropist Sean Parker, with an additional $125 million commitment announced in 2024, the San Francisco-based nonprofit is an unprecedented collaboration between the country’s leading immunotherapy researchers and cancer centers. PICI Network research institutions include Stanford Medicine; the University of California, Los Angeles; the University of California, San Francisco; the University of Pennsylvania; Dana-Farber Cancer Institute; Gladstone Institutes; and Weill Cornell Medicine. PICI also supports top researchers at other institutions, including The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, City of Hope, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai and Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis. By forging alliances with academic, industry and nonprofit partners, PICI makes big bets on bold research to fulfill its mission: to accelerate the development of breakthrough immunotherapies to turn all cancers into curable diseases. Find out more at parkerici.org and follow us on LinkedIn, X, Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

Contacts

Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy (PICI)
Eric McKeeby
emckeeby@parkerici.org

1AB
Dan Budwick
dan@1abmedia.com