Cancer Research Foundation

Meet CRF 2026 Young Investigator Felipe Almeida de Pinho Ribeiro, PhD, Assistant Professor of Dermatology at

Through support from CRF's Young Investigator Award, Dr. Ribeiro is pursuing a bold idea that could reshape our understanding of how cancer spreads.

His research investigates whether metastatic cancer cells can hijack the body's own nerve repair systems to help them survive and grow in new locations. Early findings suggest that cancer cells may physically connect to sensory nerves and receive signals that mimic the body's natural healing response - creating an environment that supports metastatic growth.

By exploring how the nervous system influences cancers such as melanoma and lung cancer, Dr. Ribeiro hopes to uncover new therapeutic targets that could help prevent metastasis before it takes hold.

At CRF, we're proud to support early-career scientists like Dr. Ribeiro whose innovative ideas have the potential to drive the next generation of cancer breakthroughs.

We’re excited to introduce another of our 2026 Young Investigator Award recipients: Brandon Jackson Baird, MD, of University of Chicago.

Dr. Baird is exploring how artificial intelligence and voice analysis could help detect laryngeal cancer earlier, potentially before symptoms become more serious. Laryngeal cancer is the second most common head and neck cancer in the United States, and early diagnosis is critical for both survival and preserving a patient’s voice and quality of life.

His research aims to develop a lower-cost, more accessible screening tool that can analyze subtle voice changes associated with early vocal cord cancer. Using advanced AI modeling and a large dataset of voice recordings, early versions of his system were able to distinguish between patients with cancer and those with healthy vocal folds nearly 80% of the time.

Building on these promising findings, Dr. Baird will continue refining this technology with the goal of improving access to screening, supporting earlier detection, and helping physicians monitor patients after treatment.

Research like Dr. Baird’s is helping advance innovative, patient-centered approaches to cancer detection and care, exactly the kind of bold science the Cancer Research Foundation is proud to support.

We're pleased to introduce another of our 2026 Young Investigator Award recipients: Lillian Eichner, PhD, of Northwestern Medicine.

Dr. Eichner is studying LKB1 mutant lung adenocarcinoma, an aggressive form of lung cancer associated with poor outcomes and limited treatment options. Her research explores senescence, a natural process that stops damaged cells from continuing to grow, and how it might be harnessed to fight cancer.

Her lab recently identified a protein that appears to suppress genes involved in senescence in lung tumors. Building on this discovery, Dr. Eichner’s team developed a new mouse model to study how senescence can be reactivated, with early findings pointing to promising new therapeutic strategies.

Research like Dr. Eichner’s is helping push the boundaries of how cancer may one day be treated and prevented, exactly the kind of innovative science the Cancer Research Foundation is proud to support.

Meet one of our 2026 Young Investigator Award recipients: Dr. Ryan B. Day of Washington University in St. Louis 👏

As an early-career physician-scientist, Dr. Day is tackling acute myeloid leukemia (AML) - an aggressive blood cancer with limited survival rates in adults. His research explores how disruptions in key proteins may give leukemia cells a dangerous advantage, opening the door to potential new treatments and earlier interventions.

This is exactly the kind of bold, innovative science the Young Investigator Award is designed to support. We’re proud to fund a record number of researchers pushing boundaries in cancer research.

Stay tuned as we introduce more of this year’s inspiring awardees in the coming weeks. 💡

Our team recently participated in our annual Day of Service at Ronald McDonald House (Central DuPage Hospital).

Spending time with an organization that provides comfort, care, and support to families during challenging times was a meaningful reminder that community is built through both mission and showing up for one another.

Thank you to Ronald McDonald House Charities for the important work you do and for welcoming our team. We’re grateful for the opportunity to serve.

We are proud to announce the 2026 Young Investigators.

Our Young Investigator Award (YIA) supports early-career scientists with $100,000 grants over two years, helping them build the data and momentum needed for larger breakthroughs.

This year, we funded 10 investigators across 3 institutions, the most we've ever awarded.

In a time of uncertainty for many in the research community, we are proud to remain a consistent and long-term partner to scientists working on behalf of patients everywhere.

We will share more information about each recipients in the coming weeks. See comments for the link to the announcement.

Breakthroughs in cancer research are accelerating—and the impact is real. The 5-year survival rate for all cancers combined has now reached 70%, a milestone made possible by decades of research investment.

At CRF, we’re preparing to announce our 2026 Young Investigator Awards, funding a record number of early-career scientists whose ideas will shape the future of cancer research.

Yet, only 1 in 5 promising basic science projects receives funding. These early discoveries are where breakthroughs begin—and where support is needed most.

With our fiscal year ending March 31, we’re working to raise $25,000 to keep critical research moving forward.

If you’re able, please consider supporting the next generation of cancer breakthroughs.

🔬✨ Celebrating Women in Science this International Women’s Day!
Today we honor three scientists who are pushing boundaries and improving lives — and we’re proud to have supported their work.

👩‍🔬 Dr. Janet Rowley — Revolutionized how we understand cancer genetics.
📍 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Janet_Rowley

👩‍⚕️ Dr. Lucy Godley — Leading leukemia research toward personalized therapies.
📍 https://www.cancerresearchfdn.org/recipient/lucy-godley/

🧬 Dr. Abby Green — Advancing targeted cancer treatments with precision and heart.
📍 https://siteman.wustl.edu/doctor/green-abby/

Support more research like this: https://www.cancerresearchfdn.org/donate/

✨ When women scientists thrive, we all benefit.

You’re invited!
Join the Cancer Research Foundation for a Virtual Lunch & Learn featuring Dr. David Y. Chen, a 2022 CRF grant recipient from Washington University in St. Louis.

Dr. Chen’s research looks at how aging skin cells differ from younger cells — and how those changes may contribute to skin cancer. His work could help lead to new ways to treat and prevent skin cancers.

📅 Wednesday, February 18
🕛 12:00–1:00 PM
💻 Virtual (Zoom)
👉 RSVP to receive the link

January is month! Did you know? Cervical cancer is preventable! One common way of screening is known as a Pap test. The American Cancer Society recommends getting your first Pap test at age 21, then again every three years.

If you want to help spread the word, we've created some social media friendly graphics over on our website. Download them here: https://www.cancerresearchfdn.org/social-media-graphics/