$850,000 in research grants funded by the Cholangiocarcinoma Foundation 

Research grants support early-career, innovative researchers worldwide who are focused on studying cholangiocarcinoma at renowned institutions

SALT LAKE CITY, UT – The Cholangiocarcinoma Foundation, a nonprofit organization funding novel research for cholangiocarcinoma (a rare cancer of the bile ducts), has awarded the twelfth cycle of funding for its Research Fellowship Program. 

Since 2015, our Research Fellowship program has invested over $4.68 million, supporting 81 promising Research Fellowships to drive innovation and advance scientific discovery. In accordance with the Foundation’s research philosophy, the organization supports promising projects that are less likely to get traditional funding. This year, we are proud to announce 10 new awards to further support groundbreaking studies in cholangiocarcinoma.

“The Foundation’s Research Fellowship Program plays a critical role in supporting research in cholangiocarcinoma by driving critical discoveries and advancing our understanding of the disease,” said Juan Valle, Chief Medical Officer at the Cholangiocarcinoma Foundation. “It’s an honor to support this year’s fellows as they pursue innovative research that has the potential to change lives. Their work carries forward the legacy of those for whom these grants are named, ensuring meaningful progress for patients and the scientific community.”

This year, 81 letters of intent were received from academic, medical, or research institutions worldwide. Postdoctoral fellows, instructors with an MD, Ph.D., Pharm.D., or DVM, and junior faculty within the first four years of appointment at the time of application were eligible to apply.

The grant review committee is composed of experienced clinicians and scientists in the field of cholangiocarcinoma, as well as seasoned research advocates who reviewed the proposals and selected the awardees. 

The Research Fellowship awardees are listed below.

Mark R. Clements Memorial Research Fellowship:
Hioshi Kondo at Massachusetts General Hospital

Overcoming Resistance to Mutant IDHI Inhibition in intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma by targeting cytokine-response checkpoints and epigenetic repression modules

In memory of the Cholangiocarcinoma Foundation’s Co-founder, Mark R. Clements, who passed away from the disease in 2007, CCF is supporting the Mark R. Clements Memorial Research Fellowship grant. This year’s grant is awarded to Hioshi Kondo from Massachusetts General Hospital. Hioshi will investigate strategies to overcome resistance to mutant IDHI inhibition in intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma by targeting cytokine-response checkpoints and epigenetic repression modules.

Hope in Research: CCF Community-Funded Research Fellowship 
Melis Uysal at Cleveland Clinic Foundation

Development and Evaluation of TN-MUC1-Targeted CAR-T Cells in Patient-Derived Models of Cholangiocarcinoma

The Community-Funded Research Fellowship was fully supported by 150 individual donations. This groundbreaking initiative reflects the core values that drive our work: Strength in Community, Hope in Research. This year’s grant is awarded to Melis Uysal from the Cleveland Clinic Foundation. Melis will investigate the development and evaluation of TN-MUC1-targeted CAR-T cells in patient-derived cholangiocarcinoma models.

AstraZeneca/CCF Research Fellowship
Enis Ozmert at Mayo Clinic

Targeting Bile Acid-TGR5 Signaling as an Innovative Immunotherapeutic Approach in Cholangiocarcinoma

Supported by AstraZeneca, the AstraZeneca/CCF Research Fellowship grant focuses on the important role of scientific research in expanding knowledge of cholangiocarcinoma. This year’s grant is awarded to Enis Ozmert from Mayo Clinic. Enis will investigate targeting bile acid-TGR5 signaling as an innovative immunotherapeutic approach in cholangiocarcinoma.

Julienne Morriss Callaway Memorial Research Fellowship
Piya Prajumwongs at Kong Kaen University

Large-Scale Discovery and Independent Validation of Serum Peptide Biomarkers for Cholangiocarcinoma Using MALDI-TOF MS and Targeted LC-MS/MS

In memory of Julienne Morriss Callaway, who passed away from the disease in 2019, Jack Callaway and the Callaway family established the Julienne Morriss Callaway Research Fund, which supports a Memorial Research Fellowship in her name. This year’s grant is awarded to Piya Prajumwongs from Kong Kaen University. Piya will investigate large-scale discovery and independent validation of serum peptide biomarkers for cholangiocarcinoma using MALDI-TOF MS and targeted LC-MS/MS.

Stewart Mather Memorial Research Fellowship
Yu Zhao at Mayo Clinic

BAPI Loss-Induced Metabolic Alterations Drive Immune Escape in Cholangiocarcinoma

In memory of Stewart Mather, who passed away from the disease in 2020, Colleen Mather and the Mather Family Foundation are supporting the Stewart Mather Memorial Research Fellowship. This year’s grant is awarded to Yu Zhao from Mayo Clinic. Yu will investigate BAPI loss-induced metabolic alterations drive immune escape in cholangiocarcinoma.

Jonah Gruda Memorial Research Fellowship
Vindhya Vijay at Massachusetts General Hospital

Lineage-Specific Regulatory Programs as Drivers of Therapeutic Vulnerabilities in Cholangiocarcinoma

Supported by generous donations to the “Because Jonah Would” Fundraising efforts in memory of Jonah Gruda, who passed away in June 2025 at the age of 45 from cholangiocarcinoma, this grant honors both his life and his commitment to supporting others facing this devastating disease. This year’s grant is awarded to Vindhya Vijay from Massachusetts General Hospital. Vindhya will investigate lineage-specific regulatory programs as drivers of therapeutic vulnerabilities in cholangiocarcinoma.

Michelle McDonald Memorial Research Fellowship 
Nakul Shah at the University of Texas and the MD Anderson Cancer Center

Impact of Metabolic Risk Factors on the Tumor Microenvironment and Neoadjuvant Chemo-immunotherapy Outcomes in Intrahepatic Cholangiocarcinoma

In memory of Michelle McDonald, who passed away, aged 47, from CCA in 2017, seven months into her marriage to the love of her life, John. John is supporting the Michelle McDonald Memorial Research Fellowship to help future CCA patients. This year’s grant is awarded to Nakul Shah from the University of Texas and the MD Anderson Cancer Center. Nakul will investigate the impact of metabolic risk factors on the tumor microenvironment and neoadjuvant chemo-immunotherapy outcomes in intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma.

Team Cure Cholangio Research Fellowship Grant Honoring Steve Wilger and Hayes Calvin.
Xue Wang at the University of Hawaii Cancer Center

YAP Inhibition-Based Combination Immunotherapy for Intrahepatic Cholangiocarcinoma

Supported by Team Cure Cholangio in memory of Steve Wilger and Hayes Calvin. This year’s grant is awarded to Xue Wang from the University of Hawaii Cancer Center. Xue will investigate YAP inhibition-based combination immunotherapy for intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma.

Lorrie Schwem Memorial Fellowship
Ankur Sheel at Ohio State University

Transforming First-Line Therapy Strategies in Cholangiocarcinoma- Interrogation of FGFR2 Mediated DNA Damage Repair and Tumor Immune Evasion

In memory of Lorrie Schwem, Jackie and Matthew Fowler created the Lorrie Schwem Memorial Research Fellowship to honor Lorrie’s life, memory and commitment to caring for others. Lorrie passed away in 2021 after a courageous battle with CCA. This year’s grant is awarded to Ankur Sheel from Ohio State University. Ankur will investigate transforming first-line therapy strategies in cholangiocarcinoma- interrogation of FGFR2 mediated DNA damage repair and tumor immune evasion.

Maria Vandervoort Memorial Research Fellowship
Daniel Zabransky at Johns Hopkins University

D2HG-Induced Lipid Metabolic Rewiring of the Tumor Microenvironment in IDHI-Mutant Cholangiocarcinoma

This research grant is in memory of Maria Vandervoort, who passed away from the disease in 2022. Glen Vandervoort supports the Maria Vandervoort Memorial Research Fellowship, which is dedicated to scientific inquiry and honors her legacy. This year’s grant is awarded to Daniel Zabransky from Johns Hopkins University. Daniel will investigate D2HG-Induced Lipid Metabolic Rewiring of the Tumor Microenvironment in IDHI-Mutant Cholangiocarcinoma.

Congratulations to this year’s 2026 Poster Awardees! Honors were awarded to Jayla Millender, Muhammed Aksu, Ankur Sheel, Ghassan K Abou-Alfa, and Adel Kardosh. We are grateful to them for their dedication to the study of this difficult-to-treat disease.

For more information on CCF’s research initiatives, visit curecca.org.

About the Cholangiocarcinoma Foundation:
Founded in 2006, the Cholangiocarcinoma Foundation is a global 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. Its mission is to find a cure and improve the quality of life for those affected by cholangiocarcinoma. For more information, please visit our website at cholangiocarcinoma.org. You may also contact the CCF Director of Communications, Karen Temleton, at [email protected].

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Karen Templeton
Director of Communications
205-641-2016
karen.templeton@cholangiocarcinoma