JKTG FOUNDATION ANNOUNCES SCHOLARS // Research Aims to Better Understand How Cancer Spreads

 The JKTG Foundation announced two recipients of the JKTG Scholars Program, part of its commitment to supporting early-stage research at a time when funding for emerging scientists is increasingly limited. The Scholars are advancing complementary research into how cells sense and respond to their physical environment—fundamental biology that underlies cancer progression and metastasis.

“This work could change how we understand and treat disease,” said Ted Giovanis, president and founder of the JKTG Foundation. “The scholar program is designed to give researchers the freedom to explore early-stage concepts that could lead to future breakthroughs.”

2026 JKTG Foundation Scholars:

Jian Liu, Ph.D.: How Cells Decide Where to Move // Liu studies how cells sense the stiffness of their surroundings and use that information to move. This process is important in cancer, where tumor cells can move away from stiff tumors into softer tissue, a key step in metastasis. Liu's work focuses on “focal adhesions,” which are the cell’s grip points on its environment, and investigates how changes in these structures control whether cells move toward stiffer or softer areas. Using both computer models and experiments, the goal is to find a single explanation for both normal cell movement and cancer-related spread.

Miho Iijima, Ph.D.: How Cancer Cells Adapt to Different Tissue Environments // Iijima studies how pancreatic cancer cells respond to different types of surrounding tissue, which can range from soft early-stage environments to very stiff, scar-like tumor tissue. The focus is on a molecular switch called RHOA that changes how cells move depending on the environment. Iijima has found RHOA can either promote movement or help cancer cells remodel dense tissue. The project uses 3D lab models and live imaging to understand how these mechanical environments control cancer invasion, with the goal of revealing new ways to limit tumor spread.

The JKTG Scholars Program is part of the Foundation’s broader commitment to advancing basic science and accelerating progress in breast cancer research, with the ultimate goal of improving outcomes for patients.