UAB Department of Surgery Division of Pediatric Surgery Assistant Professor Laura Stafman, M.D., Ph.D, has been awarded the 2025 New Investigator Grant from the Kaul Pediatric Research Institute (KPRI).

The KPRI grant was originally created by the Board of Trustees of Children’s of Alabama to provide funding for faculty who were just beginning their careers and to, ultimately, improve healthcare for children. The first grant was given out in 1993 and since then multiple research awards have been given out each year. New investigators are awarded $35,000 and established investigators are awarded $50,000.

With this project, their goal is to study the roles of the enzymes ST6Gal1 and ST6Gal2 and the effect of their sialylating activity on neuroblastoma stemness and differentiation. The aim is to uncover novel therapeutic targets, which are desperately needed to better treat this deadly pediatric cancer.

"Receiving the KPRI Award is an incredible honor,” Stafman said. “I am immensely grateful to my mentor, whose support has been instrumental. We hope this is just the beginning of paving the way for more effective cancer treatments for children.”

Last year, Stafman was selected to participate in the National Cancer Institute Early-Stage Surgeon Scientist Program, a prestigious training program designed to support surgeon scientists in conducting basic or translational research related to cancer.

Stafman joined the UAB Department of Surgery faculty in October 2023. She graduated from medical school at the University of Florida and received her Ph.D. in Cancer Biology from UAB. Her areas of interest include pediatric surgical oncology, pediatric solid tumors, and minimally invasive neonatal and pediatric surgery.