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The Emily Whitehead Foundation is thrilled to introduce Jessica Foster of Children's Hospital of Philadelphia as the inaugural Nicole Gularte Fight for Cures Embassador Award recipient!

In 2021, we established the Nicole Gularte Fight for Cures Embassador Award to honor the memory of Nicole Gularte and her mantra to “fight for cures”. This award is intended to recognize and support the work of young researchers in the field of cellular-based pediatric cancer treatments. Eligible recipients receive a $50,000 research grant, funded by the Emily Whitehead Foundation in collaboration with Cytiva, a global life sciences leader dedicated to advancing and accelerating therapeutics.

We received many remarkable applications from young researchers representing cancer centers and research institutions across the United States, and it came down to a very close decision. Jessica's application stood out to our selection committee for her focus on pediatric research, the novelty of her work developing CAR T-cell therapy to treat pediatric brain tumors, and her resonance with Nicole's story.

Watch the inaugural Nicole Gularte Fight for Cures Embassador Award presentation:

Congratulations, Jessica!

And a sincere thank you to all of our applicants for this inaugural Embassador Award. The work you are doing as young researchers in your respective fields is so important, and we are so grateful for your commitment to better understand and improve treatment options for cancer patients.

 

2021 Fight for Cures Selection Committee:

George Eastwood (San Diego Blood Bank, EWF Board Member)
Jessica Carmen (Adjuvant)
Shannon Eaker (Cytiva)
Tom Whitehead
Kari Whitehead
Emily Whitehead
Karen Andres (Nicole's mom)
Dr. Bruce Levine (Penn Medicine)
Dr. Don Siegel (Penn Medicine)

 

APPLY NOW for our 2022 Nicole Gularte Fight for Cures Embassador Award.