NETRF/NANETS Names First BTSI Researcher

Dr. Christopher Heaphy of Johns Hopkins University has been selected as the first Basic Translational Science Investigator, through a collaboration between NETRF and The North American Neuroendocrine Tumor Society (NANETS). The two-year award to Dr. Heaphy was announced at NANETS’ annual meeting in Wyoming in September.

NETRF is providing funding to NANETS for this award, which is made possible through the generous support of the Margie and Robert E. Petersen Foundation. The purpose of the grant is to encourage scientists at the end of their fellowship or beginning of their faculty appointment to pursue basic and/or translational research focused on NETs. “This is an exciting and important partnership to encourage outstanding young researchers to make a career commitment to neuroendocrine research,” says Ron Hollander, NETRF Executive Director. “We are excited that Dr. Heaphy’s project will be a follow-up to earlier research funded by NETRF.” In that project, a team at Johns Hopkins identified DAXX/ATRX gene mutations in pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors. The work was published in the journal Science in 2011.

Heaphy BTSI Award Presentation September 2016
Pictured from left, Dr. Pam Kunz, Dr. Christopher Heaphy, Ron Hollander, and Dr James Howe.