Pedal the Cause Investigators

Since 2021, Pedal the Cause has provided funding to support top talent to lead transformational cancer research laboratories at Siteman Cancer Center at Washington University in St. Louis, including:

funded in 2025

Dr. Milan Chheda

The Chheda Lab’s goal is to improve the length and quality of lives of patients with brain cancers by targeting cancer stem cells and activating the patient’s own immune response against the tumor. In collaboration with others, the lab developed Zika virus as a new treatment for glioblastoma, is testing new bacterial agents to treat brain tumors, and studying the role of aging in brain cancer. Dr. Chheda is Director of Neuro-oncology, Associate Professor of Medicine, and Associate Director of the SCC Brain Tumor Center.

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funded in 2023
Dr. John Krais
The Krais Lab focuses on the fundamental issues of DNA repair and how they relate to cancer initiation, progression and therapy responses. The Krais Lab employs a variety of methodologies to study the DNA damage response including microscopy, next-generation sequencing, cell and mouse genome engineering, patient-derived xenografts (PDX) and cancer models. Dr. Krais was previously a Research Assistant Professor at the Fox Chase Cancer Center.
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Dr. Xue-Yan He
The Xue-Yan He Lab aims to advance the knowledge of the mechanisms responsible for colorectal tumor progression, with a specific focus on stress and its influence on the tumor microenvironment. Dr. He was previously a Postdoctoral Fellow at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory.
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funded since 2023
funded in 2021
Dr. Priyanka Verma
The Verma Lab employs advanced CRISPR genetic screens and cancer genome mining tools to uncover biological circuits that are essential in cells with compromised DNA repair. The ultimate goal is to understand mechanisms that lead to genomic instability and identify vulnerabilities that will lead to the development of improved therapeutic regimens for cancer patients. Dr. Verma was previously a Postdoctoral Researcher at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine.
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14:1 ROI

For every $1 Pedal the Cause donates to cancer research an additional $14 is obtained (on average) in outside funding, resulting in over half a billion dollars in leveraged funds.

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