Chandrika Behura

Dr. Chandrika Behura is an Associate Professor in the Department of Pediatrics at Pennsylvania State University, specializing in Hematology and Oncology. She holds affiliations with the Penn State Cancer Institute and Penn State Neuroscience Institute, focusing on Next-Generation Therapies. Her research emphasizes childhood cancers, particularly leukemia and neuroblastoma, with a focus on targeting Casein Kinase II (CK2) and Ikaros tumor suppressor pathways.

Education:

• Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Clinical Fellowship, Pennsylvania State University (2010–2013)
• Pediatrics Residency, Monmouth Medical Center (2007–2010)

Research Interests: Dr. Behura's work centers on developing therapeutic strategies for high-risk cancers, including B-cell lineage leukemia and neuroblastoma. Her 2015 breakthrough in Blood demonstrated CK2 inhibitors as viable treatments for leukemia using patient-derived xenograft (PDX) models. Current projects explore drug resistance mechanisms and novel therapeutics.

Awards:

• 2024 Distinguished Educator Award
• 2018 Outstanding Early-Stage Investigator Award
• 2022 Scholarship in Education Award

Grants & Mentorship: Her research is funded by extramural grants, and she co-developed Penn State's FAME mentoring program, boosting clinician-scientist productivity and grant success. No formal advisee list is provided, but her collaborative networks span hematology, oncology, and medical education.