Five Early-Career Cancer Researchers Selected as Pew-Stewart Scholars

PHILADELPHIA—The Pew Charitable Trusts and the Alexander and Margaret Stewart Trust announced today the 2016 class of Pew-Stewart scholars for cancer research.

Five scientists from top research institutions in the United States were selected for their dedication to pursuing innovative leads aimed at finding a cure for cancer. Each will receive four years of flexible funding to conduct their work.

“Cancer is a devastating disease, causing pain for millions of patients and their loved ones across the world,” said Rebecca W. Rimel, president and CEO of The Pew Charitable Trusts. “We expect that these scientists and their cutting-edge work will contribute greatly to the fight against this illness.”

For three years, Pew has partnered with the Alexander and Margaret Stewart Trust to support early-career researchers. The initiative has allowed for the Pew Scholars Program in Biomedical  Sciences, a three-decade-old scholarship program for promising, young scientists, to expand its reach while also supporting an area of great need—cancer research. The 2016 Pew-Stewart scholars’ work includes studying what drives recurrence of medulloblastoma, an aggressive pediatric brain tumor, and engineering new immune therapies against pancreatic cancer.

“These scientists are truly exceptional—they meet our committee’s expectations for excellence and diligence in every way. Their efforts will be critical to unraveling the mysteries of cancer in the years to come,” said Peter M. Howley, M.D., chair of the Pew-Stewart national advisory committee.

In addition to the 2016 class of Pew-Stewart scholars, the new classes of Pew biomedical scholars and Latin American fellows were also announced today.

The 2016 Pew-Stewart scholars for cancer research are:

Stephanie K. Dougan, Ph.D.
Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
Cancer immunology

Dirk Hockemeyer, Ph.D.
University of California, Berkeley
Molecular biology

Paul A. Northcott, Ph.D.
St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital
Genetics; cancer biology

Richard L. Possemato, Ph.D.
New York University Langone Medical Center
Molecular biology; metabolism

Ömer H. Yilmaz, M.D., Ph.D.
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Molecular biology

Visit the program page to read the scholars’ full abstracts and learn more about the program.   

The Pew Charitable Trusts is driven by the power of knowledge to solve today’s most challenging problems. Learn more at www.pewtrusts.org.

The Alexander and Margaret Stewart Trust, established in 1947, is a charitable foundation supporting nonprofit organizations that research, treat, and prevent cancer and pediatric illnesses. Learn more at www.stewart-trust.org.