The Neuroendocrine Tumor Research Foundation (NETRF), in partnership with the North American Neuroendocrine Tumor Society (NANETS), is proud to announce Victor Santoro Fernandes, PhD, as the recipient of the 2024 NANETS Basic/Translational Science Investigator Award (BTSI).
The two-year, $100,000 research grant will support Dr. Fernandes’ innovative project to develop a robust predictive model to identify which NET patients will benefit most from peptide receptor radionuclide therapy (PRRT). This approach holds the potential to improve clinical decision-making by reducing ineffective treatments and minimizing side effects, ultimately leading to better patient outcomes. His work could also influence future clinical trials, such as NETTER-1 and NETTER-2, and help guide personalized treatment strategies for rare and difficult-to-treat NETs.
“NETRF is excited to collaborate with NANETS to support Dr. Fernandes’ research,” said Elyse Gellerman, CEO of NETRF. “This project has the potential to transform how we approach treatment for NET patients by identifying those most likely to benefit from PRRT.”
Dr. Fernandes is a fellow at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and is also the recipient of the Department of Medical Physics’ postdoctoral entrepreneurial fellowship, recognizing his potential to lead groundbreaking advancements in technology and research. Under the mentorship of Dr. Robert Jeraj, his doctoral research focused on automating biomarker extraction and assessing disease response in cancers like melanoma and neuroendocrine tumors. His BTSI award-funded research will be guided by Dr. Jeraj and Dr. Renuka Iyer of Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center.
The NANETS BTSI Award, funded by NETRF, empowers early-career scientists to advance research in neuroendocrine tumors. Each year, the award recipient is selected by the NANETS Scientific Review & Research Committee, which establishes the award criteria and independently reviews applications.