The Organization
Follow the classrooms reached, recognition earned, and conversations Tumor Tactics is helping create around accessible cancer education.
Our Impact
RPI Medal Recipient
Contribution Project Grant
Youth Central Award
Youth Leadership Summit Gold Impact Award
ECGBL 14th Educational Games Finalist
September 2026 Young Planet Leader
Media & features
20 news features, interviews, outreach reports, and recognitions from across the Tumor Tactics story.
San Diego Union-Tribune September 12, 2026
Founder profile
A profile of Daniel Zhang explores how his family’s experience with cancer inspired Tumor Tactics. The interview follows the team’s design process and its work introducing cancer biology to younger students.
Nice News September 25, 2026
News feature
Nice News interviews the student creators about the card games and family experiences that inspired Tumor Tactics. It describes how the team brings the game to schools, community events, and hospitals.
American Society for Cell Biology
Outreach report
Daniel Zhang reports on five San Diego cancer biology workshops supported by ASCB’s COMPASS Outreach Program. The article describes students’ questions and the game’s learning approach.
CanvasRebel
Founder interview
Daniel Zhang shares the family experiences that inspired Tumor Tactics, his partnership with Zachary Tou, and the lessons learned while bringing cancer biology into classrooms through play.
Good Good Good October 6, 2026
News feature
Good Good Good explores how Daniel Zhang and Zachary Tou turned their families’ experiences with cancer into an educational strategy game. The feature follows their design process and the questions students bring to classroom workshops.
Youth Today September 24, 2026
Opinion
In this opinion essay, Daniel Zhang argues for giving young people a meaningful role in shaping science education. Tumor Tactics workshops illustrate how students’ questions can improve the lessons they help create.
California Health Report September 16, 2026
Opinion
Daniel Zhang reflects on the confusion children can face when someone they love receives cancer treatment. His opinion essay explains how age-appropriate conversations and Tumor Tactics can give children a place to ask questions.
San Diego Union-Tribune September 6, 2026
News feature
The Union-Tribune features the Canyon Crest Academy students behind Tumor Tactics. It covers their classroom workshops, hospital deck distribution, and International Serious Play recognition.
Young Planet Leaders September 2026
Leadership recognition
Young Planet Leaders recognizes Daniel Zhang’s work in cancer research and youth science education. The profile includes Tumor Tactics alongside his broader STEAMLabs International outreach.
Innovation World September 2026
Magazine issue
Explore the September 2026 issue of Innovation Insider, included in the team’s Tumor Tactics feature collection.
BoardGameGeek August 29, 2026
Designer diary
Daniel Zhang’s designer diary follows the game’s evolution from ambitious prototypes to a focused strategy card game. It explains how playtesting helped connect oncology concepts to decisions players can understand through play.
International Serious Play Awards 2026
Award recognition
The International Serious Play Awards recognize Tumor Tactics among student-created games. The official entry highlights its use of oncology concepts to make treatment decisions understandable through tabletop play.
Hoodline September 7, 2026
News feature
Hoodline reports on Tumor Tactics’ international recognition and its use in San Diego workshops. The story explains the game’s treatment mechanics and the student team’s outreach.
The Times of India September 10, 2026
Science profile
This science profile connects Daniel Zhang’s research interests with the development of Tumor Tactics. It also describes his broader work making STEM education accessible through community programs.
The Times of India September 11, 2026
Founder profile
A second Times of India profile focuses on the family experience that motivated Tumor Tactics. It places the project alongside Daniel Zhang’s research, music, and youth education work.
Times Now World Updated September 11, 2026
News feature
Times Now World describes how Daniel Zhang and Zachary Tou created a card game to help younger learners understand cancer treatment. The article also covers the project’s recognition and its connection to broader STEM outreach.
inkl / The Times of India
Republished coverage
Read The Times of India’s profile through inkl, tracing the experiences that inspired Tumor Tactics and the team’s education mission.
The Smile Project May 25, 2026
Founder interview
The Smile Project profiles Daniel Zhang and the service mission behind Tumor Tactics. The conversation explores how making cancer biology approachable can turn uncertainty into curiosity for younger students.
Kind Over Matter May 8, 2026
Grant feature
Kind Over Matter traces the personal story behind Tumor Tactics and the Matt Kurtz Kindness Grant. It shows how an experience of being helped through grief became a way to help other children understand cancer.
Silicon Valley Moving Post
Republished coverage
Silicon Valley Moving Post carries a profile of Daniel Zhang and the inspiration behind Tumor Tactics. The interview discusses the game’s approach to helping children understand cancer biology.
Conferences & presentations
UN Science Summit
Virtual session · September 26, 2026 · 10 AM–12 PM PDT
ECGBL 14th Educational Games Competition
Finalist · TU Darmstadt, Germany · September 30 – October 2, 2026
INBC 2026
Oral Presenter · Boston, MA · October 2026
Partner with the team, or see the game in classrooms and community events.
