RANKINE FAMILY FELLOWSHIP IN NF1

Thanks to the generosity of Duck & Dodge supporters, the Rankine Family Fellowship in NF1 is paving the way for innovative research by training the next generation of pioneering scientists in the field of neurofibromatosis (NF1). 

Your generosity fuels NF1 breakthrough: Slowing cell division may stop cancer

In a study spearheaded by Rankine Family Fellow, Dr. Danian Chen, a groundbreaking discovery was recently published in Nature — garnering international attention, including coverage in Le Figaro, one of France’s most widely read and respected daily newspapers, highlighting the global significance of this work.

One of the study’s central aims was to understand a longstanding puzzle: why does the loss of the NF1 gene — which activates RAS proteins linked to cancer — only trigger cancer in some cell types while others remain resistant? Answering this question is key to identifying how to protect vulnerable cells before disease develops.

Dr. Rod Bremner and Dr. Chen, together with co-author Dr. Daniel Schramek, discovered that the speed at which cells divide — known as the cell cycle length — is a critical factor. Both cancer-prone and cancer-resistant cells begin dividing abnormally after NF1 loss and RAS/BRAF activation. But the cancer-prone cells divide just a little faster, and that subtle acceleration is enough to tip the balance toward cancer.

Even more compelling, the team showed that slowing down this division can actually prevent cancer from developing, offering a potential new strategy for early intervention.

This work reframes how scientists think about cancer susceptibility. It suggests that interventions which lengthen the cell cycle could strengthen the body’s natural defenses and potentially prevent cancer in high-risk individuals, including those living with NF1 mutations.

In 2024, Dr. Chris Lowden, Rankine Family Fellow, received a prestigious postdoctoral fellowship from the Canadian Cancer Society — one of the most competitive and respected awards in oncology research. This national recognition underscores his promise as a rising leader in the field.

At the same time, the lab expanded its capacity by welcoming lab technician Evgenija Serafimova, whose expertise is accelerating the large-scale application of groundbreaking CRISPR-StAR technology. This powerful approach systematically screens cells with NF1-Ras-MAPK mutations to uncover novel vulnerabilities that could inform future treatment strategies.

Already, this work is beginning to expose the “Achilles’ heel” of NF1-driven cancers, weaknesses that may be exploited to develop therapies that were unimaginable just a few years ago. With their genome-wide screens expected to conclude this year, the team is poised to take the next leap forward in drug discovery.

Your generosity is what makes discoveries like this possible. The Rankine Family Fellowship is creating opportunities for brilliant scientists like Dr. Chen and Dr. Lowden to collaborate with world-leading experts, tackle the most complex questions in NF1 research, and translate those insights into strategies that could one day protect children and families everywhere from cancer.