b'Vina Oncologys FounderFrom Venkataramans perspective, ColoradoEven if one Honors Her Son with Pediatricis exactly where this work belongs. Brain Cancer Innovations Colorado is a fantastic place because of itschild is cured, cutting-edge research and collaborative envi-For Sujatha Venkataraman, Ph.D., the decisionronment, Venkataraman said. The UniversityIll feel I have to dedicate her career to pediatric brain cancerof Colorado Cancer Center, Childrens Hospital began in a hospital room.of Colorado, Colorado State University, and CUfulfilled my In 2003, she watched her young son Rishi fightAnschutz work closely to translate scientific neuroblastoma. When he passed away afterdiscoveries into patient care. purpose.undergoing a plethora of treatments, includingThat spirit of translation led her to co-found surgery, radiation, chemotherapy, and a stemVina Oncologynamed for the Sanskrit cell transplant, that fight became hers. WhatSUJATHA VENKATARAMAN, Ph.D.word meaning to destroyto bring a novelFOUNDERbegan as grief slowly transformed into fiercemonoclonal antibody for DIPG out of theVINA ONCOLOGYdetermination. Venkataraman would ensurelab and into clinical trials. Venkataraman other families wouldnt face the same.is hopeful this therapy could also be used Rishi is the reason I do what I do, she said.for broader cancer treatment. She received That loss changed our family forever. funding from the Morgan Adams Foundation At the time, Venkataraman was studying adultthat helped initiate the work.cancers. But gradually and with the mentorshipShe also received a $575,000 grant from the of one of Rishis physicians, she shifted to aTeam Jack Foundation in January 2025 to new mission: improving outcomes for childrenadvance the development of gated CAR T cells, with rare cancers. Today, she leads a lab atanother innovative immunotherapy designed CU Anschutz focused on immunotherapy forto combat DIPG. Unlike standard palliative Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma (DIPG), a fataltreatments, these engineered immune cells pediatric brain tumor with no effective thera- deliver a targeted attack on tumor cells whileSujatha Venkataraman, Ph.D., brings hope to pies and a zero percent five-year survival rate.sparing healthy tissue. families of pediatric brain cancer patients.2025-2026 BIOSCIENCE COLORADO 11'