The Cholangiocarcinoma Foundation (CCF) announced the recipients of the 2024 Innovation Grant, generously funded by the Bachrach Family Foundation.
Since 2015, the CCF has awarded more than $5.02 million for innovative, high-quality research. Based on the foundation’s research philosophy, the CCF supports promising projects less likely to get traditional funding.
Ed Bachrach, retired chairman and chief executive officer of Bachrach Clothing, Inc., a nationwide retailer of men’s fashion, and founder and president of the Center for Pension Integrity, became engaged with CCF when his son-in-law was diagnosed with cholangiocarcinoma (CCA).
Bachrach’s foundation is focused on medical and scientific research and supports promising, early-stage research to prepare it for large-scale applicability across populations. The CCF’s and the Bachrach Family Foundation’s missions align in a way that helps unravel complex medical questions and provides solutions to those who treat patients with CCA.
The CCF announced a request for proposals for the 2024 Innovation Grant, asking applicants to examine the complex immunological dynamics underlying acquired resistance to immunotherapy. The foundation received 12 letters of intent, and the Bachrach Family Foundation committed to funding the top-scored application with $250,000 for 1 year.
After a thorough review process, the CCF selected Robin Katie Kelley, MD, of the University of California, San Francisco, and Tim F. Greten, MD, of the National Cancer Institute as the awardees for their project, “Understanding Molecular and Immunological Mechanisms of Acquired Resistance in Cholangiocarcinoma.”
CCA, which is rare and often fatal, presents significant challenges in treating it and understanding its underlying mechanisms. Dr Kelley and Dr Greten’s project addresses this by investigating the hypothesis that tumor-derived signals, particularly those influencing CD14+ monocytes, play a crucial role in mediating acquired resistance to immunotherapy in CCA.
Their innovative approach will involve examining clinical cohorts and utilizing mouse models and cell-based studies to delve into the disease’s molecular and immunological complexities.
The grant committee, chaired by Ben Stanger, MD, PhD, Hanna Wise Professor in Cancer Research at the University of Pennsylvania and co-chair of the CCF’s Scientific and Medical Advisory Board, noted the investigative team’s strength and track record, the focused hypothesis, and the utilization of dynamic models.
The committee noted that the fact that many samples are already in hand is a significant advantage. It also commended Dr Kelley and Dr Greten’s efforts to devise strategies that separate chemoresistance from immunoresistance for parallel construction, recognizing it as a crucial aspect of their project.
“The emphasis on unraveling the molecular and immunological mechanisms of acquired resistance in cholangiocarcinoma represents a significant step forward in advancing understanding of this challenging disease,” said Juan W. Valle, MB ChB, MSc, FRCP, CCF’s chief medical officer. “Dr Kelley and Dr Greten’s project provides the potential for improving treatment outcomes and benefiting patients and their families affected by CCA.”
The project provides promise to patients worldwide and underscores the importance of donor support for historically underfunded research projects that advance health and understanding of cancer treatment options across diverse populations when traditional mechanisms are limited.
“We are humbled by the support from the Bachrach Family Foundation,” said Kourtney Sanchez, the CCF’s chief development officer. “Ed and his team’s belief in CCA researchers’ work is making a profound difference, bringing us closer to more effective treatments and, ultimately, a cure. Working together on this is an exciting endeavor, and we look forward to collaborating more to benefit the patient community.”
For more information about the Innovation Grant and the CCF’s mission, visit curecca.org.
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