b'FROM EMERGING INVESTIGATOR TOFUELING THE FUTURE OF PEDIATRIC ONCOLOGY BREAKTHROUGH LEGACY RESEARCHER THROUGH EMERGING INVESTIGATOR RESEARCHIn 2014, PCRF awarded one of its earliest Emerging Investigator grants to Dr. Brian Crompton, a physicianscientist at Dana-Farber CancerFor nearly 20 years, Dr. Cody Nesvick, an assistant professor of neurological surgery and director of the laboratory of Institute. At the time, his ideathat small fragments of tumor DNA circulating in the blood could be used as biomarkers for childhoodapplied epigenomics at the University of Pittsburgh, has been studying atypical teratoid rhabdoid tumor (ATRT), a rare cancerswas new and uncertain. PCRFs early investment gave him the chance to prove it could work. and aggressive form of pediatric brain cancer. ATRT is unique among childhood cancers in that most cases share only one unifying molecular feature: a loss or mutation of SMARCB1, a gene that encodes subunits of the SWI/SNF chromatin Pediatric cancer circulating tumor DNA modeling complex that helps regulate gene expression.In 2023, Dr. Nesvick received an Emerging Investigator grant from PCRF for his work studying how SWI/SNF interacts with cell transcription factors, the proteins that activate cell differentiation. In 2025, Dr. Nesvicks findings were published in the journal Neuro-Oncology. What he discovered could help revolutionize the way ATRT is treated.What we found is that these two classes of molecular complexes, SWI/SNF and transcription factors, are actually both necessary to activate the gene expression changes necessary for a cell to differentiate. This is important because it changes the different ways that we can potentially treat these tumors, as these transcription factors are still expressed even in the absence of SMARCB1, Nesvick explained. A decade later, Dr. Cromptons research has laid the foundation for BrightSeqa collaborative initiative with Dana-Farber, BostonChildrens Hospital, and Broad Clinical Labs that is transforming how pediatric cancers are diagnosed. His pioneering work with liquid biopsies is changing the standard of care: providing a less invasive way to detect cancer, monitorIn the absence of SMARCB1, those recurrence earlier, and potentially tailor treatment so children can be cured with less toxic therapy. transcription factors get recruited to genes that are necessary for cellsurvival, and therefore they might be PCRFs early support allowed me to pursue an ideatherapeutically targeted.that many thought was too risky. That seed funding made all the difference in turning research into real progress for kids with cancer.Nesvicks findings represent a significant step forward in sciences understanding of how ATRT functions, identifying By investing early, PCRF is helping to expand the boundaries of pediatric cancera vulnerability that could be used to better treat, and perhaps someday even cure, children with ATRT. We are proud knowledge and facilitate life-changing, cutting-edge research. Throughof the positive impacts made by Dr. Nesvick and other emerging investigators who have received PCRF funding. supporting emerging investigators, weve been able to launch the careersInnovative research such as theirs is essential to growing and strengthening the pediatric oncology research pipeline. of a new generation of medical professionals while fueling discoveriesPCRF will continue driving progress via research investments that facilitate new discoveries and potentially life-saving that bring brighter futures to children and families impacted bybreakthroughs.cancer.13'