Local Nonprofit Binaytara Awards $50,000 to Cancer Researchers Through Impact Pitch Competition

Binaytara’s inaugural Impact Pitch competition awarded $50,000 in funding to early-career cancer researchers advancing health equity. Learn how this Shark Tank–style event is reshaping how oncology innovation gets funded.

What Is the Impact Pitch Competition?

Shark Tank–Style Event at the Summit on Cancer Health Disparities in Bellevue Reinvents How Cancer Research Gets Funded for the Next Generation of Innovators

Binaytara, a Bellevue-based cancer nonprofit with nearly two decades of experience advancing cancer care, has awarded $50,000 in implementation science research funding to two rising stars in oncology research. Dr. Benjamin Li of Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center and the University of Washington, and Dr. Akshee Batra of the Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center at the University of Miami, each received a $25,000 Binaytara Implementation Science Research Award following the organization's inaugural Impact Pitch: Research Award Challenge, held at the Summit on Cancer Health Disparities in Bellevue, Washington.

How the Shark Tank–Style Format Accelerates Cancer Research Innovation

Out of more than 100 cancer research abstracts submitted for consideration at the Summit, four finalists made it to the final round: the Impact Pitch, a first-of-its-kind Shark Tank–style competition with two $25,000 awards for cancer research funding on the line. Instead of entrepreneurs pitching to business investors, the Impact Pitch sees early-career cancer researchers pitch their research project to expert doctors, called Catalysts, in front of a live audience.

Finalists have seven minutes to pitch their research project that aims to improve access to cancer care, then they defend their proposal before a panel of Catalysts. The format was designed to push researchers beyond conventional grant writing and into the kind of real-time communication, critical thinking, and entrepreneurial rigor that can accelerate real-world impact.

"This competition reflects exactly what Binaytara stands for — moving the needle on cancer health equity through bold, practical, patient-centered innovation," said Binay Shah, MD, president and co-founder of Binaytara. "Dr. Li and Dr. Batra are doing the kind of work that doesn't just advance science — it changes lives for patients who have too often been left behind by the healthcare system. We are honored to invest in them."

Meet the 2026 Impact Pitch Award Winners

From left to right: Christine Laine, MD, MPH; Don Dizon, MD, FACP, FASCO; Ana María López, MD, MPH; Akshee Batra, MD; David Aboulafia, MD; Benjamin Li, MD, MBA; Binay Shah, MD, MHA; Shailender Bhatia, MD; Siddhartha Devarakonda, MD.

Dr. Benjamin Li: Advancing Decision Support in Radiation Oncology

Dr. Benjamin Li, a radiation oncologist, assistant professor at the University of Washington School of Medicine, and Physician Lead for the Program in Global Oncology and Health Disparities for Radiation Oncology at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, pitched his project "Creating and Understanding Real-World Use of Point-of-Care Decision Support in Radiation Oncology." His research aims to close information gaps among radiation oncologists so that every patient — regardless of their provider's access to the latest evidence — receives consistent, high-quality care.

"My goal is to make it so that, if you're a radiation oncologist, a lack of how we've been able to share information isn't going to result in the patient in front of you getting worse care," said Dr. Li. The competition, he added, challenged him in unexpected ways: "It made me really reflect critically on how to communicate this to others, and also do a little deeper dive to double check and make sure that what I'm doing is substantiated in evidence."

Dr. Akshee Batra: Improving Cancer Care Through Patient Education

Dr. Akshee Batra, a Hematology and Oncology Fellow at the Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Miami/Jackson Memorial Hospital, flew from Miami to Bellevue to present her project "Implementing Patient Education Videos to Improve Understanding of Systemic Cancer Therapy." Her work targets health literacy disparities — a critical but often overlooked barrier to equitable cancer care — by developing accessible educational videos to help patients better understand their treatment.

"Going on stage and getting this opportunity was amazing," said Dr. Batra. "The judges asked very thought-provoking questions — it not only gave me the opportunity to present, they also mentored me while I was presenting my project and improved it for further research." Dr. Batra envisions growing her project into a global platform: "This is my passion. Maybe we'll develop a platform to enable patients all over the globe to get the information that they need."

Both researchers received the maximum award of $25,000 to advance their projects.

Meet the Catalysts: Experts Driving Research Innovation

From left to right: Shivaani Kummar, MD, FACP; Shailender Bhatia, MD; Don Dizon, MD, FACP, FASCO; Jerald Radich, MD; Christine Laine, MD, MPH.

Shailender Bhatia, MD, a medical oncologist at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center; Professor, Division of Hematology and Oncology, University of Washington (UW); Professor, Clinical Research Division, Fred Hutch; Clinical Director, Renal and Melanoma Oncology, Fred Hutch and UW Medicine; Clinical Research Director, Renal and Melanoma Oncology, Fred Hutch and UW Medicine.

Don Dizon, MD, FACP, FASCO, the Editor-in-Chief of CA - A Cancer Journal for Clinicians, as well as Service Line Chief of Hematology and Oncology at Tufts Medical Center and Professor of Medicine at Tufts University.

Christine Laine, MD, MPH, the Editor-in-Chief of the Annals of Internal Medicine and Professor of Medicine in the Division of Internal Medicine at the Sidney Kimmel Medical College, Thomas Jefferson University.

Jerald Radich, MD, Professor in the Translational Science and Therapeutics Division at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center; Member, Immunotherapy Integrated Research Center (IIRC), Fred Hutch; and holder of the Kurt Enslein Endowed Chair.

Shivaani Kummar, MD, FACP, a medical oncologist at Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU) Knight Cancer Institute; Associate Chief Executive Officer, OHSU Knight Cancer Institute, School of Medicine; Margaret and Lester DeArmond University Chair of Molecular Oncology, Medicine, Division of Hematology/Medical Oncology, School of Medicine; and Co-Director, Center for Experimental Therapeutics, Knight Cancer Institute, OHSU.

Why Implementation Science Matters for Cancer Health Equity

The Impact Pitch is part of Binaytara's broader implementation science mission — bridging the gap between evidence-based research and the communities who need it most. The organization operates an Implementation Science Research Institute and runs more than 60 in-person accredited oncology and hematology conferences across the United States annually.

Frequently Asked Questions About the Impact Pitch Competition

What is the Impact Pitch competition?

The Impact Pitch is a Shark Tank–style research competition where early-career cancer researchers present innovative ideas to improve cancer care and health equity.

How much funding was awarded?

Binaytara awarded a total of $50,000, with two winners each receiving $25,000 in implementation science research funding.

Who were the winners of the inaugural Impact Pitch?

Dr. Benjamin Li and Dr. Akshee Batra were selected as winners for their innovative research proposals focused on improving cancer care delivery and patient education.

What makes the Impact Pitch unique?

Unlike traditional grants, the competition emphasizes live presentation, critical thinking, and real-time feedback from expert oncologists, encouraging practical and scalable solutions.

What is Binaytara’s mission?

Binaytara is dedicated to improving access to cancer care through education, research funding, and global health initiatives focused on reducing cancer disparities.