At the Cancer Research Institute (CRI), we believe the next big breakthroughs in cancer care come from asking bold questions—and funding the people daring enough to pursue them. This year’s Clinical Innovator Award recipients are doing just that, launching early-phase trials designed to change the way cancer is prevented and treated.
These three studies span continents, tackle tough cancers, and share one goal: to harness the immune system in ways that rewrite what’s possible for patients.
Discover how CRI is backing bold clinical trials that could transform cancer treatment by unlocking the full power of immunotherapy. Meet the visionary researchers driving this next wave of innovation and hope.
A Scalable Vaccine for Bladder Cancer
Nina Bhardwaj, MD, PhD (Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai) and co-investigators Jonathan Anker, MD, PhD; Mesude Bicak, PhD; Marcio Diniz, PhD; Matthew Galsky, MD; Mansi Saxena, PhD; John Sfakianos, MD are testing a new “off-the-shelf” vaccine targeting FGFR3 mutations common in non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC). Paired with TAR-210, a slow-release FGFR3 inhibitor, this study could make targeted immunotherapy more durable, accessible, and effective for NMIBC patients worldwide.
Stopping Oral Cancer Before It Starts
Paolo Bossi, MD (IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, Italy) and his team—including Luigi Lorini, MD; CRI Lloyd J. Old STAR Enrico Lugli, PhD; Giuseppe Mercante, MD; Alberto Paderno, MD, PhD; Maria Rescigno, PhD—are leading the APHRODITE Trial. Using mitazalimab, a CD40-activating immunotherapy, they aim to prevent high-risk oral lesions from turning cancerous. If successful, this approach could spare patients invasive surgeries and transform oral cancer prevention.
Turning the Tide in Pancreatic Cancer
Rachael Safyan, MD (University of Washington) is teaming up with E. Gabriela Chiorean, MD and Venu Pillarisetty, MD to take on one of the deadliest cancers. Their trial combines two immunotherapy drugs—cemiplimab (PD-1 inhibitor) and motixafortide (CXCR4 inhibitor)—with standard chemotherapy before surgery. The goal: break through the tumor’s defenses, improve surgical outcomes, and prevent relapse in pancreatic cancer patients.
These innovators—and their fearless teams—are rewriting the playbook for cancer care. With CRI’s support, they’re not just running trials; they’re opening doors to a future where cancer is intercepted, treated smarter, and beaten more often.
Stay tuned as these studies unfold and reveal what’s next in the fight for a world immune to cancer.
