Anna M. Kenney, PhD

Dr. Kenney received her PhD in Neuroscience from Yale University in 1998. She completed her Post-doctoral Research in Pediatric Oncology at Dana-Farber Cancer
Institute/Harvard Medical School in 2003.

Dr. Kenney's research focuses on cell cycle control in cerebellar development and medulloblastoma, a pediatric brain tumor that arises in the cerebellum. These tumors are the most common solid malignancy of childhood. Current treatments for medulloblastomas include surgical resection, chemotherapy, and cranio-spinal irradiation. These therapies lead to a 60% "cure" rate, but survivors are left with life long devastating side effects as a result of these treatment, including cognitive declines, seizures, developmental delays, and premature aging. By gaining increased insight into the cellular and molecular mechanisms that drive tumor establishment and growth, it is Dr. Kenney's hope to identify genes and proteins whose activity could in the future be modulated by drugs and novel small molecules, thereby ameliorating the need for irradiation and chemotherapy.

Dr. Kenney has received the following awards and honors:

• American Brain Tumor Association post-doctoral fellowship, 1999-2001
• The Medical Foundation, Inc. postdoctoral fellowship, 2001-2003
• Dana-Farber Pediatric Oncology departmental award, 2002
• The Sontag Foundation Distinguished Scientist award, 2003-2007
• Handler Foundation award for new investigators at MSKCC, 2006-present
• Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation for Childhood Cancer Young Investigator Award, 2006-2008
• Children’s Brain Tumor Foundation Award, 2007-2009
• Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation Award, 2007-2008
• Childhood Brain Tumor Foundation of MD award, 2008-2009
• Alex’s Lemonade Stand Innovation Award, 2009-2011
• National Brain Tumor Society Award, 2009-2013
• Childhood Brain Tumor Foundation Award, 2010-2013
• James S. McDonnell Foundation 21st Century Science Initiative Award, 2010-2014