$50,000 Grant Recipients for 2024
We are proud to announce our 2024 Sky Grant recipients. The process to achieve these awards is rigorous. Our esteemed Sky Scientific Advisory Committee makes the final recommendations to the Sky Governing Board for approval.
Dr. Peter Wang, Massachusetts General Hospital/Harvard University
Post Doctoral Tenure
Research Title: Deciphering How Cancer-Induced Nerve Injury Affects Immune Responses in PDAC
Learn more about Dr. Wang’s research & bio here
Dr. Jiao Shen, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute/Harvard University
Postdoctoral/Non-tenure
Research Title: Identification of KRAS-specific TCRs from Human Peripheral Blood
Learn more about Dr. Shen’s research & bio here
Dr. Jurgis Alvikas, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center
Postdoctoral/Non-tenure
Research Title: Platelet RNA Signatures for Early Detection of Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma
Learn more about Dr. Alvika’s research & bio here
SKY’S MISSION
Sky Foundation awards seed-money grants to scientists and clinicians from coast to coast who are pursuing research of great promise in the areas of early detection, prevention or treatment of pancreatic cancer. This start-up funding helps researchers get to the point in their work where they can successfully attract financial support from the National Institutes of Health and other national funding sources, and ultimately, be able to make a positive impact on the outcomes for pancreatic cancer patients.
Since its inception, Sky Foundation has funded over one million dollars in seed fund grants. Every year our researchers update us on the progress and their hope for the future.
Sky’s Impact on the Future
“Sky Foundation has been invaluable in enabling key aspects of my research. This support was crucial in uncovering the mechanisms behind cancer progression and metastasis. The grant has also been instrumental in preparing me for a career as an independent investigator, allowing me to oversee the entire experimental process. It has also paved the way for new research directions and the development of potential therapeutic targets, with two manuscripts now in preparation for publication.” – Despina Kalfakakou, PhD, 2023 Sky Grant Recipient
For more information on these researchers and all Sky researchers who are paving the way for the future, click here. Also visit the Stars in Our Sky.