Summer 2026
By Jane Anderson
Founded by sports broadcasting network ESPN and the late Jim Valvano, a legendary North Carolina State University basketball coach and ESPN commentator, the V Foundation is dedicated to the relentless pursuit of progress in cancer research. To date, the foundation has given more than $458 million in grants to support the world’s best cancer scientists, including $2.8 million in recent grants to four brilliant Dana-Farber Cancer Institute investigators: William Freed-Pastor, MD, PhD, Emily Heikamp, MD, PhD, MSc, Jared Rowe, MD, PhD, and Xin Zhou, PhD.
Freed-Pastor is leveraging his grant to develop new immunotherapy strategies for pancreatic cancer. After discovering that a type of protein fragment called “cryptic” peptides are present in high numbers in pancreatic cancer, are often found only on cancer cells, and can activate the immune response, Freed-Pastor is working to discover which cryptic peptides can most effectively trigger the immune system. This work is an important first step toward developing improved immunotherapies in pancreatic cancer.
Heikamp is studying an aggressive subtype of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) driven by NUP98-fusion proteins. These fusion proteins trap cells in an immature, stem cell-like state, allowing them to multiply indefinitely. Heikamp found that NUP98-fusion AML relies on the KAT6A and KAT7 proteins for survival, and targeting these proteins could trigger cancer death. Heikamp is studying KAT6A and KAT7 to learn more about their functions in AML, with the goal of creating new treatment options.
Rowe is studying neuroblastoma, a leading cause of pediatric cancer-related mortality. In infants, the tumor often disappears without treatment, which may be linked to functional differences in infant immune cells known as T cells. In infants, T cells process the nutrient pyruvate in a unique way that controls their function. Rowe is working to understand how targeting pyruvate metabolism can make T cells better at fighting cancer. Ultimately, he hopes to leverage the natural strengths of the infant immune system to develop better cancer treatments.
We are honored to fund the best and brightest scientists at leading institutions like Dana-Farber and are proud to support these grantees as they pursue bold ideas. It is inspiring to see how their work will transform the research landscape and accelerate Victory Over Cancer®.
Kara Coleman, PhD, Vice President of Research and Grants, V Foundation
Zhou is studying antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs), which combine the targeting ability of antibodies with the potency of cytotoxic drugs. Zhou aims to create a novel class of ADCs that can “pull” cancer-fighting drugs inside the cell more efficiently. With support from this grant, Zhou will identify an ADC candidate for triple-negative breast cancer and lung cancer, uncover the mechanisms of these molecules, and lay the groundwork for similar approaches in other intractable cancers.
“We are honored to fund the best and brightest scientists at leading institutions like Dana-Farber and are proud to support these grantees as they pursue bold ideas,” said Kara Coleman, PhD, Vice President of Grants and Research at the V Foundation. “It is inspiring to see how their work will transform the research landscape and accelerate Victory Over Cancer®.”