Tulane University, $5,000
A large number of esophagectomies (surgery to fix a damaged esophagus) are performed each year as the only option to treat esophageal cancer. But quality of life after surgery can be very poor: the excised tissue is often reconstructed from the stomach or large intestine, which means patients have to rely on feeding tubes to stay alive. This team is investigating a new therapy in which stem cells are used to regenerate normal esophageal tissue, avoiding reconstruction and feeding tubes altogether.