Funded Researchers
Fight CRC awards research grants to talented scientists working to understand colorectal cancer
and improve the quality of care and outcomes for colorectal cancer patients.
Funded Researchers
Fight CRC awards research grants to talented scientists working to understand colorectal cancer
and improve the quality of care and outcomes for colorectal cancer patients.
Our generous donors allow Fight CRC to fund innovative research. We restrict funds for the sole purpose of supporting colorectal cancer research initiatives. When you donate to our research fund, 100% of the proceeds support our research efforts. This has led to over $1 million put toward research.
Our generous donors allow Fight CRC to fund innovative research. We restrict funds for the sole purpose of supporting colorectal cancer research initiatives. When you donate to our research fund, 100% of the proceeds support our research efforts. This has led to over $1 million put toward research.
Trevor Barlowe, MD
University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
Project: Development of a case finding definition for Lynch syndrome in administrative claims databases
Grant: 2024 Fight CRC and CGA-IGC “Early Career Award” ($15,000)
Resumen: This award was granted to Dr. Barlowe to support the development and validation of a case finding definition, or a combination of administrative codes, specific to Lynch syndrome to identify these patients in healthcare databases, allowing for researchers to better characterize Lynch syndrome at the population level.
2023
Ymke Van der Pol, PhD
Tempus Postdoctoral Research Fellow
Fight CRC committed $150,000 annually for a three-year research fellowship at Tempus, a leader in artificial intelligence and precision medicine, to support advancements in colorectal cancer treatment. This fellowship leverages Tempus’ real-world database to investigate treatment response in patients with specific biomarkers. Ymke Van der Pol, PhD, was awarded the postdoctoral research fellowship and has made tremendous contributions to key research projects investigating:
- The role of KRAS mutations in predicting outcomes in patients treated with TAS102 (tipiracil/trifluridine)
- The optimal treatment for patients with BRAF V600E microsatellite stable (MSS) colorectal cancer
Alessandro Mannucci, MD
Beckman Research Institute of City of Hope, California
Project: Development and validation of an exosome-based and machine-learning powered liquid biopsy for the detection of early onset colorectal cancer (EOCRC)
Grant: 2023 Fight CRC and CGA-IGC “Early Career Award” ($15,000)
Resumen: This award was granted to Dr. Mannucci to support the development of a noninvasive, blood-based screening test for detecting early onset colorectal cancer (EOCRC) using a panel of microRNAs.
Update: Read more about Dr. Mannucci’s work and the impact of the grant.
Timothy Yen, MD
Loma Linda University Faculty Medical Group, California
Project: Integrated electronic health record intervention to improve provider-patient communication of familial colorectal cancer risk in those advanced colorectal polyps
Grant: 2022 Fight CRC and CGA-IGC “Early Career Award” ($15,000)
Resumen: This award was granted to Dr. Yen to support the development of a standardized template for gastroenterologists performing colonoscopies to communicate familial colorectal cancer risk to patients and make appropriate follow-up recommendations after the detection of advanced polyps.
Update: Read more about Dr. Yen’s work and the impact of the grant.
Lisa Boardman, MD
The Mayo Clinic, Minnesota
Project: The Fight Colorectal Cancer PreCancer Biobank
Grant: In 2020, Ron Doornink through the Ron and Martha Doornink Foundation provided a $150,000 contribution for this project to Fight CRC. The Colon Cancer Coalition graciously matched $50,000, donated by Dan and Paula McQuillen who lost their son to colon cancer.
Resumen: This grant was awarded to Dr. Boardman to support the expansion of a biobank (a type of biorepository that stores biological samples for use in research) to include both precancerous polyp and colorectal cancer samples. These samples will be used to help researchers understand what leads the normal colon to transform into a polyp, and in some cases to progress to cancer.
Update: Read more about Dr. Boardman’s research breakthrough.
Christine Molmenti, PhD, MPH
Feinstein Institute for Medical Research, Hofstra/Northwell School of Medicine
Heather Hampel, MS, CGC
The Ohio State University
Project: A feasibility study to determine the history of advanced adenoma(s) among first-degree relatives of early onset colorectal cancer (EOCRC) patients participating in the Ohio Colorectaal Cancer Prevention Initiative
Grant: Awarded $55,000 in 2019
Resumen: This grant was awarded to Dr. Molmenti and Heather Hampel to investigate the feasibility of recruiting early onset colorectal cancer (EOCRC) patients and their first-degree relatives (FDRs) and collecting and verifying their colonoscopy results. Completion of this feasibility study will support larger-scale studies to determine the estimated prevalence of advanced adenoma(s) among first-degree relatives (FDRs) of early onset colorectal cancer (EOCRC) patients.
Update: Watch the webinar with an update from Dr. Molmenti.
Cynthia Sears, MD
Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
Project: Gut microbiome and the immune microenvironment of human primary and metastatic colorectal cancer
Grant: Awarded $400,000 in 2017 in partnership with Cancer Research Institute who contributed $200,000
Resumen: This grant was awarded to Dr. Sears to explore the role bacteria play in altering the tumor microenvironment and how they impede the immune system’s ability to target and eliminate colon cancer.
2015
Noel de Miranda, PhD
Leiden University Medical Center in the Netherlands
Project: Researching Early Onset, Late-Stage Colorectal Cancer
Grant: Awarded $100,000 in 2015 in partnership with Michael’s Mission, who contributed $50,000
Resumen: This grant was awarded to Dr. de Miranda to develop a personalized strategy to enhance the immune system’s ability to recognize and eliminate cancer cells in early onset colorectal cancer (EOCRC) using genome sequencing to determine cancer-specific proteins that may be used to stimulate an anti-cancer immune response.
2014
Ho-Chou Tu, PhD
Children’s Hospital in Boston
Project: The Pluripotency Factors LIN28A/B Promote Colorectal Cancer Progression
Grant: Awarded $50,000 in 2014
Resumen: This grant was awarded to Dr. Tu to investigate the role of LIN28A/B in colorectal cancer development with the goal of generating a late-stage colorectal cancer mouse model and developing novel targeted therapeutics for colorectal cancer treatment.
2013
Maria Pia Morelli, MD, PhD
University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Cener
Project: Refinement of predictive biomarkers and improving outcomes in metastatic colorectal cancer
Grant: Awarded $50,000 in 2013
Resumen: This grant was awarded to Dr. Morelli to examine the role tumor heterogeneity and specific mutations play in determining resistance to chemotherapy.
2012
Andrea Bertotti, MD, PhD
Istituto per la Ricerca e la Cura del Cancro, Candiolo, Italy
Project: Improving Targeted Therapy in Colorectal Cancer Through Xenopatients
Grant: Awarded $100,000 in 2012
Resumen: This grant was awarded to Dr. Bertotti to investigate treatment response in “xenopatients” – mice living with human colorectal cancer tumors – with specific biomarkers.
Update: Read the publication
2011
Jon Chung, PhD
Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
Project: Hedgehog Pathway Targeted Therapeutics for Metastatic Colorectal Cancer
Grant: Awarded $45,000 in 2011
Resumen: This grant was awarded to Dr. Chung to study the role of the Hedgehog signaling pathway in colorectal cancer and to investigate Hedgehog signaling inhibitors (drugs that turn off the signaling pathway) in treating metastatic colorectal cancer.
2010
Rona Yaeger, MD
Centro Oncológico Memorial Sloan Kettering
Project: A Translational Study of Inhibiting AKT to Treat Colorectal Cancer
Grant: Awarded $30,000 in 2010
Resumen: This grant was awarded to Dr. Yaeger to investigate how KRAS mutant and wild-type (normal) colorectal cancer tumors respond to inhibiting (turning off) the AKT signaling pathway.
2009
Jeffrey Chou, MD, PhD
Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center at the University of Washington
Project: Epigenetic Modulation of Colorectal Cancer Stem Cells for Immunotherapy
Grant: Awarded $30,000 in 2009
Resumen: This grant was awarded to Dr. Chou to study the effects of the drug decitabine on colorectal cancer cells in cell culture and mouse models, with the goal of developing a strategy to make colorectal cancer stem cells more vulnerable to the immune system and immunotherapy.
2008
Yaguang Xi, MD, PhD, MBA
University of South Alabama – Mitchell Cancer Institute
Project: MicroRNA, Novel Prognostic Biomarkers in Colorectal Cancer
Grant: Awarded $30,000 in 2008
Resumen: This grant was awarded to Dr. Xi to examine the impact specific highly expressed microRNAs have on cancer cell sensitivity to chemotherapy, with the goal of determining whether these microRNAs can potentially be targeted to increase the effectiveness of chemotherapy. This grant also aimed to identify microRNAs that may be used to predict recurrence and patient outcomes.
Trevor Barlowe, MD
University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
Project: Development of a case finding definition for Lynch syndrome in administrative claims databases
Grant: 2024 Fight CRC and CGA-IGC “Early Career Award” ($15,000)
Resumen: This award was granted to Dr. Barlowe to support the development and validation of a case finding definition, or a combination of administrative codes, specific to Lynch syndrome to identify these patients in healthcare databases, allowing for researchers to better characterize Lynch syndrome at the population level.
2023
Ymke Van der Pol, PhD
Tempus Postdoctoral Research Fellow
Fight CRC committed $150,000 annually for a three-year research fellowship at Tempus, a leader in artificial intelligence and precision medicine, to support advancements in colorectal cancer treatment. This fellowship leverages Tempus’ real-world database to investigate treatment response in patients with specific biomarkers. Ymke Van der Pol, PhD, was awarded the postdoctoral research fellowship and has made tremendous contributions to key research projects investigating:
- The role of KRAS mutations in predicting outcomes in patients treated with TAS102 (tipiracil/trifluridine)
- The optimal treatment for patients with BRAF V600E microsatellite stable (MSS) colorectal cancer
Alessandro Mannucci, MD
Beckman Research Institute of City of Hope, California
Project: Development and validation of an exosome-based and machine-learning powered liquid biopsy for the detection of early onset colorectal cancer (EOCRC)
Grant: 2023 Fight CRC and CGA-IGC “Early Career Award” ($15,000)
Resumen: This award was granted to Dr. Mannucci to support the development of a noninvasive, blood-based screening test for detecting early onset colorectal cancer (EOCRC) using a panel of microRNAs.
Update: Read more about Dr. Mannucci’s work and the impact of the grant.
Timothy Yen, MD
Loma Linda University Faculty Medical Group, California
Project: Integrated electronic health record intervention to improve provider-patient communication of familial colorectal cancer risk in those advanced colorectal polyps
Grant: 2022 Fight CRC and CGA-IGC “Early Career Award” ($15,000)
Resumen: This award was granted to Dr. Yen to support the development of a standardized template for gastroenterologists performing colonoscopies to communicate familial colorectal cancer risk to patients and make appropriate follow-up recommendations after the detection of advanced polyps.
Update: Read more about Dr. Yen’s work and the impact of the grant.
Lisa Boardman, MD
The Mayo Clinic, Minnesota
Project: The Fight Colorectal Cancer PreCancer Biobank
Grant: In 2020, Ron Doornink through the Ron and Martha Doornink Foundation provided a $150,000 contribution for this project to Fight CRC. The Colon Cancer Coalition graciously matched $50,000, donated by Dan and Paula McQuillen who lost their son to colon cancer.
Resumen: This grant was awarded to Dr. Boardman to support the expansion of a biobank (a type of biorepository that stores biological samples for use in research) to include both precancerous polyp and colorectal cancer samples. These samples will be used to help researchers understand what leads the normal colon to transform into a polyp, and in some cases to progress to cancer.
Update: Read more about Dr. Boardman’s research breakthrough.
Christine Molmenti, PhD, MPH
Feinstein Institute for Medical Research, Hofstra/Northwell School of Medicine
Heather Hampel, MS, CGC
The Ohio State University
Project: A feasibility study to determine the history of advanced adenoma(s) among first-degree relatives of early onset colorectal cancer (EOCRC) patients participating in the Ohio Colorectaal Cancer Prevention Initiative
Grant: Awarded $55,000 in 2019
Resumen: This grant was awarded to Dr. Molmenti and Heather Hampel to investigate the feasibility of recruiting early onset colorectal cancer (EOCRC) patients and their first-degree relatives (FDRs) and collecting and verifying their colonoscopy results. Completion of this feasibility study will support larger-scale studies to determine the estimated prevalence of advanced adenoma(s) among first-degree relatives (FDRs) of early onset colorectal cancer (EOCRC) patients.
Update: Watch the webinar with an update from Dr. Molmenti.
Cynthia Sears, MD
Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
Project: Gut microbiome and the immune microenvironment of human primary and metastatic colorectal cancer
Grant: Awarded $400,000 in 2017 in partnership with Cancer Research Institute who contributed $200,000
Resumen: This grant was awarded to Dr. Sears to explore the role bacteria play in altering the tumor microenvironment and how they impede the immune system’s ability to target and eliminate colon cancer.
2015
Noel de Miranda, PhD
Leiden University Medical Center in the Netherlands
Project: Researching Early Onset, Late-Stage Colorectal Cancer
Grant: Awarded $100,000 in 2015 in partnership with Michael’s Mission, who contributed $50,000
Resumen: This grant was awarded to Dr. de Miranda to develop a personalized strategy to enhance the immune system’s ability to recognize and eliminate cancer cells in early onset colorectal cancer (EOCRC) using genome sequencing to determine cancer-specific proteins that may be used to stimulate an anti-cancer immune response.
2014
Ho-Chou Tu, PhD
Children’s Hospital in Boston
Project: The Pluripotency Factors LIN28A/B Promote Colorectal Cancer Progression
Grant: Awarded $50,000 in 2014
Resumen: This grant was awarded to Dr. Tu to investigate the role of LIN28A/B in colorectal cancer development with the goal of generating a late-stage colorectal cancer mouse model and developing novel targeted therapeutics for colorectal cancer treatment.
2013
Maria Pia Morelli, MD, PhD
University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Cener
Project: Refinement of predictive biomarkers and improving outcomes in metastatic colorectal cancer
Grant: Awarded $50,000 in 2013
Resumen: This grant was awarded to Dr. Morelli to examine the role tumor heterogeneity and specific mutations play in determining resistance to chemotherapy.
2012
Andrea Bertotti, MD, PhD
Istituto per la Ricerca e la Cura del Cancro, Candiolo, Italy
Project: Improving Targeted Therapy in Colorectal Cancer Through Xenopatients
Grant: Awarded $100,000 in 2012
Resumen: This grant was awarded to Dr. Bertotti to investigate treatment response in “xenopatients” – mice living with human colorectal cancer tumors – with specific biomarkers.
Update: Read the publication
2011
Jon Chung, PhD
Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
Project: Hedgehog Pathway Targeted Therapeutics for Metastatic Colorectal Cancer
Grant: Awarded $45,000 in 2011
Resumen: This grant was awarded to Dr. Chung to study the role of the Hedgehog signaling pathway in colorectal cancer and to investigate Hedgehog signaling inhibitors (drugs that turn off the signaling pathway) in treating metastatic colorectal cancer.
2010
Rona Yaeger, MD
Centro Oncológico Memorial Sloan Kettering
Project: A Translational Study of Inhibiting AKT to Treat Colorectal Cancer
Grant: Awarded $30,000 in 2010
Resumen: This grant was awarded to Dr. Yaeger to investigate how KRAS mutant and wild-type (normal) colorectal cancer tumors respond to inhibiting (turning off) the AKT signaling pathway.
2009
Jeffrey Chou, MD, PhD
Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center at the University of Washington
Project: Epigenetic Modulation of Colorectal Cancer Stem Cells for Immunotherapy
Grant: Awarded $30,000 in 2009
Resumen: This grant was awarded to Dr. Chou to study the effects of the drug decitabine on colorectal cancer cells in cell culture and mouse models, with the goal of developing a strategy to make colorectal cancer stem cells more vulnerable to the immune system and immunotherapy.
2008
Yaguang Xi, MD, PhD, MBA
University of South Alabama – Mitchell Cancer Institute
Project: MicroRNA, Novel Prognostic Biomarkers in Colorectal Cancer
Grant: Awarded $30,000 in 2008
Resumen: This grant was awarded to Dr. Xi to examine the impact specific highly expressed microRNAs have on cancer cell sensitivity to chemotherapy, with the goal of determining whether these microRNAs can potentially be targeted to increase the effectiveness of chemotherapy. This grant also aimed to identify microRNAs that may be used to predict recurrence and patient outcomes.
