Research Interests
Basic cancer biology of rhabdomyosarcoma
- Roles of oncogenes and tumor suppressors
- Identification of novel therapeutic targets
- Developmental pathways (Hippo, Notch, Wnt)
- Plasticity of rhabdomyosarcoma stem cells
- Children's Oncology Group
- International INSTRuCT Soft Tissue Sarcoma Consortium
- National Institutes of Health Fusion Oncoprotein Moonshot Consortium (FusOnC2)
Selected Grants
Identification and targeting of essential regions of driver fusion oncoproteins in rhabdomyosarcoma
ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by V Foundation for Cancer Research · 2025 - 2030Pharmacological Sciences Training Program
Inst. Training Prgm or CMEPreceptor · Awarded by National Institutes of Health · 2025 - 2030Unified Program for Therapeutics in Children
Inst. Training Prgm or CMEPreceptor · Awarded by National Institutes of Health · 2025 - 2030Validation of UM1 candidate targets in fusion-positive rhabdomyosarcoma preclinical models
ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by Massachusetts Institute of Technology · 2024 - 2029Identification of Oncofusion-Interacting Proteins as Essential Drug Targets for Common and Rare Oncofusions in Rhabdomyosarcoma
ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by Department of Defense · 2025 - 2028The Duke Preparing Research scholars In bioMEdical sciences (PRIME): Cancer Research Program
ResearchPreceptor · Awarded by National Cancer Institute · 2023 - 2028Defining and targeting CIC::DUX4-dependent survival in fusion-positive sarcomas
FellowshipCollaborator · Awarded by National Institutes of Health · 2025 - 2028ZEB2 as a cell fate switch in fusion-positive rhabdomyosarcoma
ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by Hyundai Hope on Wheels · 2024 - 2026Targeting the Macro lncRNA KCNQ1OT1 in Rhabdomyosarcoma Tumorigenesis
ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by Department of Defense · 2024 - 2026Cell and Molecular Biology Training Program
Inst. Training Prgm or CMEMentor · Awarded by National Institute of General Medical Sciences · 2021 - 2026Duke Center for Advancement of Child Health (CAtCH).
Inst. Training Prgm or CMECo-Principal Investigator · Awarded by Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development · 2021 - 2026Hyperactivating oncogenic ETS factors to selectively target CIC-rearranged sarcomas
ResearchMentor · Awarded by Alex's Lemonade Stand · 2025 - 2025Pre-clinical studies of CDK8 human fusion-positive rhabdomyosarcoma
ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by Ryvu Therapeutics · 2022 - 2025Targeting p53 in childhood rhabdomyosarcoma
ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by Massachusetts General Hospital · 2022 - 2025Defining and targeting the molecular vulnerabilities of the PAX3-FOXO1 protein in rhabdomyosarcoma
ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by National Institutes of Health · 2019 - 2025Committee Leadership: COG NCTN Network Group Operations Center
ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by Public Health Institute · 2024 - 2025Committee Leadership: COG NCTN Network Group Operations Center
ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by Public Health Institute · 2023 - 2025ASPET SURF Institutional Award
Inst. Training Prgm or CMEParticipating Faculty Member · Awarded by American Society for Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics · 2018 - 2025Vulnerabilities in the transcriptional program of fusion-positive rhabdomyosarcoma
ResearchMentor · Awarded by Department of Defense · 2023 - 2024COG BIQSFP Y10 Carryover Work Order
ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by Public Health Institute · 2022 - 2024Targeting CDK8 in fusion-positive rhabdomyosarcoma
ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by Rally! Foundation · 2021 - 2023Role of the macro lncRNA KCNQ1OT1 in embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma tumorigenesis
ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by Kate Amato Foundation Inc. · 2019 - 2023Role of the macro lncRNA KCNQ1OT1 in embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma tumorigenesis
ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by Alex's Lemonade Stand · 2019 - 2023Committee Leadership: COG NCTN Network Group Operations Center
ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by Public Health Institute · 2022 - 2023Generating a mouse model of CIC-rearranged Ewings-like sarcoma
ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by Alex's Lemonade Stand · 2022 - 2023Faces of Research 2020
ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by Alex's Lemonade Stand · 2021 - 2022Translational Research in Surgical Oncology
Inst. Training Prgm or CMEMentor · Awarded by National Institutes of Health · 2002 - 2022Therapeutic potential and use of novel CRISPR technology for lncRNA knockdown in rhabdomyosarcoma
FellowshipPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by Alex's Lemonade Stand · 2022 - 2022Development of RNAi-based therapeutics to target oncogenic lncRNAs in rhabdomyosarcoma
ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by Alex's Lemonade Stand · 2022 - 2022Committee Leadership: COG NCTN Network Group Operations Center
ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by Public Health Institute · 2021 - 2022Study Chair: COG NCTN Network Group Operations Center
ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by Public Health Institute · 2021 - 2022Investigating co-activator TAZ as a regulator of PAX3-FOXO1, cancer cell stemness, and chemoresistance in fusion-positive rhabdomyosarcoma
ResearchMentor · Awarded by V Foundation for Cancer Research · 2018 - 2021Novel regulators of checkpoint adaptation in fusion-positive rhabdomyosarcoma
FellowshipPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by Alex's Lemonade Stand · 2021 - 2021Role of MST/Hippo kinase inactivation in driving fusion-positive rhabdomyosarcoma
FellowshipPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by National Institutes of Health · 2020 - 2021COMMITTEE LEADERSHIP: NIH National Clinical Trials Network (NCTN) Grant
ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by Children's Hospital of Philadelphia · 2017 - 2021STUDY CHAIR: NIH National Clinical Trials Network (NCTN) Grant
ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by Children's Hospital of Philadelphia · 2014 - 2021Identification and validation of the PAX3-FOXO1 protein interactome
ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by St. Baldrick's Foundation · 2018 - 2020Targeting the Hippo pathway in Ras-driven rhabdomyosarcoma
ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by V Foundation for Cancer Research · 2016 - 2020Organization and Function of Cellular Structure
Inst. Training Prgm or CMEMentor · Awarded by National Institutes of Health · 1975 - 2020Pharmacological Sciences Training Program
Inst. Training Prgm or CMEParticipating Faculty Member · Awarded by National Institutes of Health · 1975 - 20202018 ALSF Million Mile Grant
ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by Alex's Lemonade Stand · 2018 - 2019Investigating the role of Hippo/MST kinases in alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma cancer cell stemness
ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by St. Baldrick's Foundation · 2018 - 2018A Novel Hippo-Notch axis controlling embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma tumorigenesis
ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by V Foundation for Cancer Research · 2016 - 2018St. Baldrick's Summer Fellow Grant
FellowshipCo-Principal Investigator · Awarded by St. Baldrick's Foundation · 2017 - 2018The role of MST1 in non-canonical Hippo signaling in rhabdomyosarcoma
ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by Alex's Lemonade Stand · 2015 - 2018The role of MEST (mesoderm specific transcript) in rhabdomyosarcoma
ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by St. Baldrick's Foundation · 2015 - 2016Validating a mouse model of rhabdomyosarcoma
ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by Alex's Lemonade Stand · 2016 - 2016Cancer Biology Training Grant
Inst. Training Prgm or CMEMentor · Awarded by National Cancer Institute · 1993 - 2016The secreted protein SFRP3 as a therapeutic target in rhabdomyosarcoma
ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by V Foundation for Cancer Research · 2015 - 2016Feasibility of a Couple-based Intervention for Parents of Children with Cancer
ResearchCo Investigator · Awarded by National Institutes of Health · 2012 - 2014Molecular Modeling of Pediatric Skeletal Muscle Tumors
ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by National Institutes of Health · 2009 - 2013External Relationships
- Grid Therapeutics, LLC
- LabCorp (Laboratory Corp of America)
- Ryvu Therapeutics
- Thermo Fisher Scientific, Inc.
This faculty member (or a member of their immediate family) has reported outside activities with the companies, institutions, or organizations listed above. This information is available to institutional leadership and, when appropriate, management plans are in place to address potential conflicts of interest.