Congratulations to Pete Hendrickson, MD, PhD, who is one of five faculty members from the Duke University School of Medicine to receive a 2025 Physician-Scientist Strong Start award. Dr. Hendrickson will receive $120,000 annually for three years to support his research on sarcomas, a diverse and complex cancer type that are among some of the most challenging cancers to diagnose and treat.
"My research focuses on a particularly devastating and under-researched sarcoma subtype driven by a novel gene fusion called CIC::DUX4 sarcoma," said Dr. Hendrickson. "This award will support efforts to develop genetically engineered mouse models of this rare cancer and to characterize novel tumor-specific genetic vulnerabilities that leverage oncogenic hyperactivation. Ultimately, these initiatives will uncover new targets for precision therapy in pediatric sarcoma and provide a platform for rapid and effective clinical translation."
Read more about the Strong Start program and the 2025 awardees.