PRECISION FOR KIDS
TEAM DOCTORS
Dr. Katie Janeway
Precision Medicine for Pediatric Cancer
Dr. Katie Janeway is a pediatric oncologist and research leader at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. 2026 will be her 8th year riding with the P4K team. Over the past 11 years, the $2.9 million raised by P4K has directly transformed the lives of children with cancer and their families. Initially, P4K funding supported tumor genomic profiling (DNA sequencing of cancer cells), allowing doctors to Identify more effective and less toxic treatments, provide definitive diagnoses where none previously existed, and improve both survival and quality of life.
Many of Dr. Janeway’s patients experienced immediate and life-changing benefits from tumor profiling funded by P4K. The success of this work demonstrated that genomic testing isessential to cancer care. Today, tumor profiling has become standard practice and is now covered by insurance — a direct result of early PMC-supported research.
With profiling now integrated into routine care, Dr. Janeway’s laboratory is focused on analyzing genomic data to better understand how targeted treatments should be developed — ensuring children benefit from precision therapies as much as adults do. Her work continues to unlock critical insights that move us closer to cures for pediatric cancers that currently have limited or no effective treatment options.
Dr. David Shulman
Advancing Care for Adolescents and Young Adults with Sarcoma
In 2024, P4K welcomed Dr. David Shulman to the team - a Dana-Farber physician-scientist and PMC rider who specializes in caring for children, adolescents, and young adults with sarcomas, a segment of the population that has historically experienced poorer survival rates and limited access to cutting-edge research, care, and treatment.
He is leading innovative research to bring circulating tumor DNA technology — also known as a liquid biopsy or blood biopsy — into clinical care for young sarcoma patients. This technology allows doctors to profile cancer genes through a simple blood draw, avoid invasive tumor biopsies, monitor how tumors respond to treatment in real time, and detect disease changes earlier and more accurately. Liquid biopsy provides insights that traditional tumor sampling cannot, allowing for more frequent monitoring with less discomfort and risk to patients.
Together, Dr. Janeway’s genomic research and Dr. Shulman’s circulating tumor DNA work aim to determine which patients can be cured with current therapies and which require new or intensified approaches. This will enable truly personalized treatment strategies and better long-term outcomes