Keene L. Abbott, PhD

Ewing sarcoma remains one of the most difficult pediatric cancers to treat, especially in relapsed or metastatic cases. Current therapies have changed little for decades and often cause serious long-term side effects, highlighting the need for more precise and less toxic treatments. Abbott’s research focuses on a protein that cells rely on to copy and repair their DNA, and his work shows that Ewing sarcoma cells are unusually dependent on it — suggesting it may represent an Achilles’ heel. Abbott aims to understand why this protein is so important for Ewing sarcoma cells and to evaluate whether blocking it could form the basis of a new therapy. His work may uncover a previously unrecognized vulnerability in Ewing sarcoma and help pave the way for safer, more effective treatments for children with this challenging cancer. Abbott received his PhD from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and his BS from the University of California, Santa Cruz.