Research
Thyroid cancer research is a critical piece of our mission.
Meet our researchers and their specific grants below.
Our Grant Fundraising Efforts
(See our researchers' photos/names below and their more in-depth information below the photos.)
Bite Me Cancer partners with The American Thyroid Association to directly fund thyroid cancer research grants. This program is geared toward budding researchers looking at new ways to approach thyroid cancer, and there is a rigorous review process for the research applicants.
​
In 2012, Bite Me Cancer set out with the goal to raise $57,500 to fund one of the grants. By the end of 2013, we did just that and became an official grant partner of ATA! Two years later in 2014, the final selection process was conducted by ATA’s review panel, and Bite Me Cancer chose a research grant.
​
Here's how it works: Bite Me Cancer sends in a check to cover one-half of the funding for the first year of the research. Research progress is reviewed after year one by ATA to determine whether year two will be funded. If approved, Bite Me Cancer also pays for the second year of research.
​
Since 2014, we have continued to raise funds each year for a research grant. You can see our researchers and their work below. We are very grateful for their efforts and that we can follow their progress directly.
​
Sometimes, Bite Me Cancer partners with ThyCa (Thyroid Cancer Survivors Association) to share a grant.
About the American Thyroid Association
Since 2012, Bite Me Cancer has been dedicated to trying to make a difference in Thyroid Cancer research with the hopes of being able to fund a 2-year grant in partnership with the American Thyroid Association (ATA).
​
The American Thyroid Association® (ATA) is dedicated to transforming thyroid care through clinical excellence, education, scientific discovery and advocacy in a collaborative community.
Timothy Erickson, PhD
ThyThera LLC in collaboration with Providence Cancer Center, Portland, OR
The research focuses on bispecific T cell engagers, specifically designed to treat medullary thyroid cancer (MTC). Bispecific T cell engagers are highly specialized proteins that function as a two-sided molecular glue, whereby one end binds to MTC tumor cells and the other end binds to highly specialized immune cells called killer T cells. These molecules form a "strong bridge" between MTC cancer cells and T cells. This "immunological synapse" activates the T cells and enables the T cells to directly lyse and kill MTC tumor cells. This is a form of synthetic immunity, which enables the immune system to directly eradicate cancer cells, which are otherwise largely invisible to the immune system. His hope is that combining bispecific T cell engagers with current FDA-approved therapies may pave the way for curative treatment regiments in MTC, as both therapies are likely to work synergistically. The current grant support is being used to increase the binding strength of first-generation T cell engagers, in order to enhance their potency and to further analyze patient tumor specimens for supportive proof-of-concept studies. Bite Me Cancer is partnering with ThyCa to fund this grant.
Dr. Thomas Szabo Yamashita, MD. Tenth Grant (Began 7/2024, 2-year grant)
Emery University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA
Dr. Alessandro Prete - Ninth Grant (Began 7/2022, 2-year grant
Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School,
Boston, MA
Dr. Eman Ali Toraih -Â Eighth Grant (Began 7/2021, 2-year grant)
Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA
Dr. Cristina Montero-Conde - Seventh Grant (Began 7/2020, 2-year grant)
Spanish National Cancer Research Center (CNIO), Madrid, Spain
Dr. Anthanasios Bikas - Sixth Grant (Began 7/2019, 2-year grant)
Brigham & Women's Hospital, MA
Dr. Wayne Miles - Fifth Grant (Began 7/2018, 2-year grant)
Assistant Professor, Molecular Genetics, The Ohio State University Medical Center
Dr. Yu Qin - Fourth Grant (Began 7/2017, 2-year grant)
Clinical Fellow, Endocrinology, MD Anderson Cancer Center, TX
Dr. Irene Min - Third Grant (Began 7/2016, 2-year grant)
Assistant Professor in Molecular Biology Researcher, Division of Endocrine Surgery, Weill Cornell Medicine, NY
Laura Boucai, MD - Second Grant (began 7/2015, 2-year grant)
Physician-Scientist, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, NY
Ramona Dadu, MD - First Grant (Began 7/2014, 2-year grant)
Assistant Professor, Department of Endocrine Neoplasia & Hormonal Disorders, M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, TX
Thyroid Cancer Research Grant Recipients
Dr. Alessandro Prete - Ninth Grant - Year Two
Endocinologist, M.D.
Dr. Alessandro Prete is an endocrinologist who graduated from the University of Pisa, MD and currently is a PhD student in endocrinology which is mentored in this study by Dr. Carmelo Nucera (MD/PhD, endocrinologist and associate professor at BIDMC/Harvard Medical School). This research focuses on the concept that pericytes are key regulators of tumor cell survival in MTC. In this study (title: Unraveling pericyte function and lineage in medullary thyroid cancer milieu) they will use mouse models of human MTC cells to assess the efficacy of the bimodal treatment with Selpercatinib and Lenvatinib. This new therapeutic strategy will effectively target both MTC cells and pericytes in the tumor microenvironment. This is the first study to unravel pericyte diversity in MTC and develop a new combined therapy for patients with this lethal thyroid cancer. Also, assessing pericyte abundance in patients with MTC might be essential for appropriate targeted therapies with TKIs.