CCF Funding Part of Important Study and Publication

Nabeel M. Bardeesy, PhD, is a prominent figure in cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) cancer research. He is the John R. Gallagher III and Katherine A. Gallagher Endowed Chair in Gastrointestinal Cancer Research at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH), Boston, and associate professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School, Boston.

Dr Bardeesy has contributed significantly to understanding and treating CCA, a rare and aggressive cancer of the bile ducts. He has worked with the Cholangiocarcinoma Foundation (CCF) in multiple capacities, is a CCF Science and Medical Advisory Board emeritus member, and is currently participating in the Cure Cholangiocarcinoma Think Tank (C²T²).

As the leader of the Bardeesy Lab at MGH’s Krantz Family Center for Cancer Research, Dr Bardeesy and his team have published numerous influential studies, including their recent groundbreaking work in the prestigious journal Science titled “Mutant IDH1 inhibition induces dsDNA sensing to activate tumor immunity.” This study highlights the innovative nature of his research and its potential to revolutionize CCA treatment by harnessing tumor immunity. Researching rare cancer and having that work published in Science is a significant achievement for basic scientists because it highlights the groundbreaking nature and high quality of their research and brings critical attention and validation to understudied diseases, potentially accelerating advancements in understanding and treatment.

Dr Bardeesy has become a key advocate for increasing awareness and advancing scientific understanding of this challenging disease through his dedication to CCA research. His efforts inspire the next generation of researchers and drive progress toward more effective treatments for patients with CCA.

Investing in research is vital, and CCF is proud this study was funded partly through C²T², the CCF Collaboration Award, and the CCF Christopher J. Wilke Memorial and Kathleen and Paul Sidenblad research fellowships. The CCF Research Fellowship Program supports early-career researchers focusing on studies in CCA. Since 2015, the foundation has awarded 60 research fellowships totaling $3.1 million in seed funding to raise awareness about CCA and inspire innovative, high-quality research. Learn more about the fellowship recipients.

The funding CCF donors provide kick-start projects that produce good data and results and attract further investment from bigger funding sources like federal or private foundation grants. This leads to significant discoveries, publications, and collaborative opportunities.