The Erdheim-Chester Disease Global Alliance (ECDGA) is proud to announce the recipient of its 2024 Early Career Investigator Grant: Dr. Priya Marathe, a clinical instructor in pediatric oncology at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSK). Dr. Marathe will lead a pioneering two-year, $60,000 research project titled:
Disparities in ECD and Increasing Access to Care for Underrepresented Populations
This critical work will explore disparities in the diagnosis and outcomes of Erdheim-Chester Disease (ECD) and other adult histiocytic neoplasms, with a special focus on enhancing access to expert care for underrepresented patient groups. Her project aligns directly with ECDGA’s mission to support timely diagnosis, equitable treatment access, and comprehensive patient support.
“I am so grateful to the ECD Global Alliance for their funding support through the Early Career Investigator Grant. I am incredibly passionate about advancing health equity and improving outcomes for all patients with ECD. We believe that this research holds the potential to elevate care for the most vulnerable patients with ECD and is therefore in service of the entire patient, clinical, and research community. I am so excited to work on this project with an incredible mentorship team and the support of the ECDGA.”
Dr. Priya Marathe
About the Early Career Investigator Grant
The ECDGA Early Career Investigator Grant supports rising researchers who are:
- Within 10 years of completing a terminal research degree or postdoctoral training (or medical residency/fellowship)
- Have not previously received this grant
Each year, this grant provides funding for a high-impact research initiative focused on Erdheim-Chester Disease or related histiocytic disorders. To view past recipients, visit our Research Funding page.
Why This Research Matters
While advances in targeted therapies have improved survival in ECD, not all patients experience equal access to care or early diagnosis. Dr. Marathe’s research will:
- Investigate disparities in diagnosis and treatment outcomes based on race and socioeconomic status
- Utilize a multi-institutional cohort to analyze data and identify at-risk patient populations
- Expand MSK’s existing BRIDGE Program to specifically support underrepresented ECD patients in accessing expert care and clinical trials
The project will generate actionable data to develop more equitable care pathways for all individuals living with ECD.
Meet the Research Team
This collaborative effort brings together a powerhouse team of experts from leading institutions:
- Priya Marathe, MD – Memorial Sloan Kettering (Principal Investigator)
- Eli Diamond, MD, MPhil, MS – MSK, Department of Neurology
- Joshua Budhu, MD, MS, MPH – MSK, Department of Neurology
- Anne Reiner, MPH – MSK, Department of Biostatistics
- Gaurav Goyal, MD – University of Alabama at Birmingham
- Asra Ahmed, MD – University of Michigan Health
Patient-Centered Science Rooted in Lived Experience
Inspired by real patient stories, this project is grounded in authentic community engagement. Dr. Marathe, under the mentorship of Dr. Eli Diamond, will collaborate with ECD patients and caregivers through the MSK ECD Registry’s Patient Advisory Group to help interpret and disseminate study findings. This ensures that patient voices remain central to the research process.
Long-Term Impact for the ECD Community
The ECDGA Early Career Investigator Grant serves a dual purpose:
- Accelerating Discovery:It enables promising researchers to generate early-stage data that can seed larger studies and future clinical breakthroughs.
- Cultivating Future Leaders: It builds relationships with emerging investigators who will drive the next generation of ECD research.
Stay tuned for updates as this transformative project unfolds. The ECD community deserves timely, equitable, and compassionate care—and together, we are building a future where every patient matters.
The Erdheim-Chester Disease Global Alliance (ECDGA) does not provide medical advice, diagnoses, or treatments. All content is for informational purposes only. Please consult with a healthcare provider for medical concerns.