Widemann is a pediatric oncologist specialized in developing therapies for children and adults with genetic tumor predisposition syndromes, such as neurofibromatosis type I (NF1), and rare solid tumors.[1] She completed a pediatric residency at the University of Cologne.[1] Widemann then moved to the National Institutes of Health (NIH) for a pediatric hematology and oncology fellowship in the Pediatric Oncology Branch of the National Cancer Institute (NCI).[1] She conducted research in the Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics Section (PETS), where she studied antimetabolites and had a leadership role in the clinical development of glucarpidase, a rescue agent for patients who experience renal failure after administration of high-dose methotrexate.[1]
Widemann established a clinical research program to study the natural history of NF1 and develop clinical trials for patients with peripheral nerve sheath tumors.[1] After a series of clinical trials, Widemann’s team led the phase II registration trial of the MEK inhibitor selumetinib, which resulted in the first ever Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval of a medical therapy for NF1 related inoperable plexiform neurofibromas in children with NF1.[1] Widemann expanded these efforts to other rare tumors and is a founding member of the NCI Rare Tumor Initiative and a co-leader on the Cancer Moonshot funded My Pediatric and Adult Rare Tumor Network (MyPART).[1] Widemann heads the Pharmacology & Experimental Therapeutics Section, as Chief of NCI’s Pediatric Oncology Branch, and as a clinical Deputy Director of the Center for Cancer Research (CCR).[1] She is the special advisor to the NCI director for childhood cancer.[1]
Widemann and her team were finalists for the 2021 Samuel J. Heyman Service to America Medal under the science and environment category.[2] Widemann was also named a Top Ten Clinical Research Achievement Awardee by the NIH in 2021[3]
