Team
Learn about the TRACER initiative
TRACER
TRACER is a collaborative research program focused on advancing treatments for rare and understudied cancers through innovative science and partnerships between researchers, clinicians, and patient communities
Led by Dr. Taran Gujral, the program drives transformative approaches by fostering cross-disciplinary collaboration and creating a shared platform that unites and strengthens efforts across organ-specific tumor programs.
Director
Taran Gujral, PhD
Associate Professor, Fred Hutch
Dr. Gujral is Associate Professor at Fred Hutch Cancer Center, where he leads the Gujral Lab and directs the TRACER program. His research focuses on unraveling the complex signaling networks that drive cancer progression, with a special emphasis on rare, understudied, and treatment-resistant tumors.
His team integrates cutting-edge tools such as patient-derived 3D microtumor models, functional precision oncology, and AI-based drug screening to identify new therapeutic opportunities. Under his leadership, TRACER has secured major funding from the FDA and Department of Defense and built strategic partnerships with nationwide organizations to accelerate progress in rare cancer research.
Guided by the belief that no one should face a rare cancer alone, Dr. Gujral’s mission is to break down silos and bring together scientists, clinicians, and patient advocates in a unified effort to advance discovery, expand treatment access, and empower patients through knowledge and innovation. His work exemplifies how collaborative, systems-level science can transform the landscape of rare cancer research and deliver real hope to patients and families who have long been overlooked.
Program Manager
Kristi Schurman
Kristi Schurman is the Program Manager for TRACER, bringing over 20 years of research administration experience at Fred Hutch, including roles in the Office of Sponsored Research and the Human Biology Division. Since January 2022, she has also served as the Research Administrative Manager for Dr. Gujral’s lab, overseeing pre- and post-award funding, compliance and HR, while streamlining operations so the lab can stay focused on the science.
In her dual roles, Kristi is central to driving TRACER forward, coordinating program activities, securing biospecimens, supporting multi-institutional grant proposals and building meaningful collaborations with partners across the country.
Kristi’s work is more than just professional; it’s deeply personal. As a rare gynecological cancer survivor, she brings passion, empathy and a profound understanding of TRACER’s mission to improve outcomes for patients facing rare cancers.
Kristi holds a degree in Economics and International Development from Oberlin College. Before joining Fred Hutch in 2004, she worked with the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society and the Bleeding Disorders Foundation of Washington. Her leadership, personal experience, and no-nonsense, solutions-oriented approach help cut through red tape and keep TRACER’s work moving forward with purpose and impact.
Advisory Board
John Hopper
Co-Chairman, Rare Cancer Coalition
John Hopper serves as the Co-Founder and Co-Chair of the Rare Cancer Coalition at NORD (National Organization for Rare Disorders). Additionally, he currently serves as Executive Board Director of SARC (Sarcoma Alliance for Research through Collaboration), Strategic Advisory Board Director of the National Pancreas Foundation; Co-Founder of the GI Cancers Alliance and Inaugural member of the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative (CZI) Rare as One Network. John is the former President of the Fibrolamellar Cancer Foundation and advisor with the Department of Defense CDMRP grant program. Before dedicating his efforts to healthcare foundations, John demonstrated his leadership capabilities by establishing and managing multibillion-dollar revenue centers and overseeing start-ups and turnarounds in various industry sectors. His expertise spans health and wellness, digital and interactive technologies, consumer goods, environment, and technology on both national and international levels. He was one of the pioneers in leveraging celebrities and sports properties to better educate patients and physicians on key health/wellness issues, including working with Magic Johnson, Larry King, Joe Namath, MLB, NFL, to name a few. John Hopper is an alumnus of the College of the Holy Cross and has completed the Unilever/Oxford Executive MBA program. In 2020 he and his family created the Hopper-Belmont Inspiration Award which to-date has recognized 16 early career investigators focused on early diagnosis and novel therapies for some of the most aggressive, and often rare cancers www.hopperbelmont.org/award-winners
Brooke Howitt, MD
Associate Professor, Stanford
Brooke Howitt an Associate Professor in the Pathology Department at Stanford University. She earned her Bachelor of Arts in Biology from Washington University in St. Louis and subsequently obtained her medical degree from Stanford University. Dr. Howitt completed her residency in Anatomic Pathology and a fellowship in Women’s and Perinatal Pathology at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, where she later joined the faculty. Her research interests broadly encompass the identification of pathological and molecular characteristics of rare gynecologic cancers and their precursors. These findings aim to enhance clinical diagnosis, prognosis, and predict responses to treatment. Dr. Howitt serves as the faculty co-lead of the Stanford University Biobank, offering a diverse array of biorepository services.
Jim Palma
Chief Executive Officer, TargetCancer Foundation
Jim Palma is Chief Executive Officer of TargetCancer Foundation. Since joining TargetCancer Foundation (TCF) in 2010, Jim has overseen its growth from a small, Boston-based start-up to a nationally recognized foundation driving comprehensive rare cancer research programs and patient support services. Under Jim’s leadership, TCF leads the field in delivering innovative programs for the rare cancer patient, clinician, and drug development communities, including the annual Think Tank on Advancing Precision Medicine for Rare Cancers and the novel fully decentralized clinical trial TCF-001 TRACK, which offers hundreds of rare cancer patients the opportunity to receive molecular testing and subsequent expert molecular tumor board treatment recommendations. TCF is also a leading source of rare cancer-focused information for patients and clinicians, as well as a hub for the rare cancer community.
Jim is a member of the Board of Directors of the National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD) and is a founding Co-Chair of the NORD Rare Cancers Coalition. In addition, Jim is a Steering Committee member at the Global Cholangiocarcinoma Alliance, and also serves as a member of the Programmatic Panel of the US Army Medical Research and Development Command Rare Cancers Research Program. Prior to joining TargetCancer Foundation, Jim spent eleven years at Fidelity Investments in Boston, MA. Jim completed studies at the Institute for Nonprofit Management and Leadership at the Questrom School of Business at Boston University, and received his B.A. from Loyola University Maryland.
Jing Wu
Acting Deputy Chief of the Neuro-Oncology Branch
Jing Wu, MD, PhD., is a neuro-oncologist with a PhD. in Neuroscience at the Neuro-Oncology Branch (NOB) of the Center for Cancer Research (CCR) at the National Cancer Institute (NCI). She leads a translational research program focused on the clinical and molecular complexities of gliomas, employing a bench-to-bedside and back approach. Her work aims to detect the early transformation of IDH-mutant gliomas into high-grade disease using advanced metabolic imaging techniques and to develop novel therapeutics, such as zotiraciclib, targeting the specific biological vulnerabilities of this glioma subtype. Board-certified in neurology and neuro-oncology, Dr. Wu has previously held leadership roles at UNC-Chapel Hill and currently serves as the acting Deputy Chief of NOB at NCI/CCR. She has authored over 70 peer-reviewed publications and has received numerous research awards, including the NIH-Lasker Clinical Research Scholar Award and the NCI Director’s Award for Translational Science.
