In today’s episode of Game Over: c*ncer, we explore one of the greatest superpowers in pediatric cancer research: collaboration. From co-funding grants to global scientific networks, teamwork is driving lifesaving breakthroughs, especially for the rarest and hardest-to-treat childhood cancers.
Hosted by Val Solomon (Director of Program Impact) and Dana Nichols (Executive Director of CKc), this episode features an inspiring conversation with Dr. Anirban Das, a pediatric neuro-oncologist and cancer geneticist at SickKids Hospital in Toronto and assistant professor at the University of Toronto.
Dr. Das is a 2024 Cannonball Kids’ Cancer Young Investigator, a grant co-funded with
Kindred Foundation, supporting his groundbreaking work on DNA replication repair deficiency and central nervous system tumors. His research not only spans advanced biology and immunotherapy but also reaches families across the world, including low- and middle-income countries, through the International Replication Repair Deficiency Consortium, which now includes more than 50 countries.
What We Cover in This Episode:- How Dr. Das unexpectedly found his path into pediatric neuro-oncology
- Why early-career funding (like CKc Young Investigator grants) is critical to innovation
- How collaboration between foundations accelerates research for rare cancers
- The global consortium bringing efficiency, shared data, and evidence-based care to families worldwide
- What makes replication repair deficiency tumors unique, and why they were once considered “rare”
- The reality of the research pipeline: grant writing, mentorship, and the challenges young investigators face
- How CKc and Kindred partnered to fuel the next generation of cancer breakthroughs
- Why teamwork is not just helpful in pediatric cancer, it’s essential
If this conversation moves you, please like, comment, and share to help us educate for change. Leaving a review helps more families find tangible hope.
To learn more about Kindred Foundation, visit
www.kindredfoundation.caTune in to hear this inspiring and informative conversation. Don’t forget to subscribe, leave a review, and join the fight to make Game Over: c*ncer a reality.
----------------------------------Connect with Dana: https://www.linkedin.com/in/danaknichols/Connect with Val: https://www.linkedin.com/in/valerie-solomon/
Upcoming Ckc Events: https://cannonballkidscancer.org/category/make-an-impact/events/
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Podcast Produced by Hi Hello Labs: Website: https://www.hihellolabs.com/
