Robert Connor Dawes Foundation & University of Wisconsin–Madison Fellowship Media Release
Robert Connor Dawes Foundation together with the University of Wisconsin–Madison Welcomes New Fellow, Dr. Portia Smith, to Undertake Novel Immunotherapy Research for Pediatric Brain Cancer.
The Robert Connor Dawes (RCD) Foundation and the University of Wisconsin–Madison are excited to announce a new Fellowship focused on accelerating immunotherapy research using chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells. This approach harnesses and enhances the natural immune system’s ability to target and destroy the tumour cells. The recipient, Dr. Portia R. Smith will investigate and engineer novel CAR T cells targeting multiple molecules which are highly expressed on paediatric high-grade gliomas (HGGs) including difficult to treat diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (DIPG) and glioblastomas (GBM) using novel manufacturing processes.
Dr. Smith will be based at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, working in Dr. Christian Capitini’s laboratory in the Department of Pediatrics at the Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health. Originally from Vermont, Dr. Smith recently completed her PhD in Comparative Biomedical Sciences at UW-Madison, focusing on developing stem cell-derived cellular immunotherapies for treating solid tumors. Her passion to advance kids’ cancer research is now firmly focused on brain cancer for the next three years. “To me, biomedical scientific research means much more than just the data we gather in the lab; it’s about the real impact we can have on people’s lives through the rigorous, yet creative, work we do. I’m honored to be developing novel therapeutics for such a meaningful cause,” says Dr. Portia Smith.
The laboratory head Dr. Christian Capitini, a senior clinician researcher says, “This project has the potential to generate novel personalized treatments for pediatric brain tumors that have limited options at this time. We look forward to building on Portia’s expertise to create CAR T cells using platforms that can be translated to the clinic.”
This is the first time the RCD Foundation and the University of Wisconsin–Madison have co-funded such a position.
“My husband Scott and I are proud alumni of UW–Madison, and with our son Connor born in Wisconsin, it holds a special place in our hearts. We’re honored to support Dr. Portia Smith as she embarks on this vital research journey,” said Liz Dawes, CEO and Founder of the Robert Connor Dawes Foundation. “Her work perfectly aligns with our mission to advance pediatric brain cancer research and foster collaboration between the United States and Australia. We believe this fellowship will drive progress and bring hope to countless families.”
Gillian Fink, the Senior Director of Development – Corporate and Foundation Relations at the Wisconsin Foundation and Alumni Association says, “We are proud of our collaboration with the RCD Foundation to support early-career cancer researchers and advance pediatric brain cancer research both here in Wisconsin and globally. Together, we are excited to write the next chapter, harnessing this cutting-edge research, offering hope to children with brain cancer.”
The Fellowship was awarded in January this year and will commence this February. Funding is over three years and builds upon RCD’s previous investments in immunotherapy research with Professor Misty Jenkins laboratory in Melbourne and separately, Professor Brandon Wainwright’s laboratory in Queensland laboratory.
The RCD Foundation acknowledges the generous support of major donors Kim and John Schlifske, Colleen and Gene Jacobus, and The Jacobus Foundation for helping make this important initiative possible.
Media Contacts:
Gillian Fink
Wisconsin Foundation and Alumni Association
+1 608 219 8770
gillian.fink@supportuw.org
Charlotte Westover
Robert Connor Dawes Foundation
+61 421 906 419
charlotte@rcdfoundation.org
