The Liu Lab was recently awarded a Maia James Sarcoma Innovation Grant in support of Ewing sarcoma research. The Liu Lab focuses on developing novel antibody-drug conjugates to advance targeted therapies for Ewing sarcoma.
Representatives from the Strides for Sarcoma foundation visited UNC on May 27, 2026, to present a ceremonial check, meet with lab members, and share their connection to the cause.
The funded project, Novel antibody-drug conjugates to treat relapsed Ewing sarcoma aims to develop novel antibody-drug conjugates to facilitate the clinical translation of new targeted therapies for Ewing sarcoma.
Strides for Sarcoma was co-founded by twins Gabriella and Nicholas Conjelko (pictured). The twins were accompanied by another representative, the mother of a child affected by Ewing sarcoma. The foundation expressed its appreciation for the Liu Lab’s continued efforts to discover new treatment options for patients with this disease.
Dr. Pengda Liu says, “This award is especially meaningful because [Gabriella and Nicholas] visited personally to support our research.” On top of that, he says, “The visit was also highly inspiring for our laboratory members. Meeting patient advocates and families affected by Ewing sarcoma reinforced the importance and real-world impact of our research. And it also strengthens our commitment to advancing new therapies for patients.”