St. Baldrick’s Foundation Announces $146,359 Funding for a Pediatric Oncology Fellowship at University Hospitals’ Rainbow Babies & Children's Hospital

Press Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Contact:
Traci Shirk
(626) 792-8247 ext.50
traci@stbaldricks.org

St. Baldrick’s Foundation Announces $146,359 Funding for a Pediatric Oncology Fellowship at University Hospitals’ Rainbow Babies & Children's Hospital

CLEVELAND (October 12, 2010) – The St. Baldrick’s Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to raising money for childhood cancer research, awarded a total of $146,359 to fund Agne Petrosiute, M.D., as a St. Baldrick’s Fellow at University Hospitals’ (UH) Rainbow Babies & Children's Hospital.

The St. Baldrick’s Foundation currently funds more in childhood cancer research grants than any organization except the U.S. government. St. Baldrick’s signature head-shaving events are the fastest growing volunteer-driven fundraising opportunity benefitting childhood cancer research. The Foundation’s volunteer event organizers have led the way to raising more than $21.6 million to date and approximately $90 million since 2000, making the funding of institutions like UH Rainbow Babies & Children's Hospital possible.

All funding applications were evaluated by the Foundation’s panel of scientific expert advisors who made funding recommendations to the organization’s board of directors.

With only three percent of all federal cancer research funding dedicated to pediatric cancer research, St. Baldrick’s Foundation grant funds are critical to continue the battle against this devastating disease. Worldwide, more than 160,000 children are diagnosed with cancer each year and cancer is the leading cause of death by disease among children in the United States.

Dr. Petrosiute is one of 11 new St. Baldrick’s Fellows, and overseeing her fellowship is mentor Alex Huang, M.D., Ph.D. Dr. Petrosiute’s research focuses on Medulloblastoma, the most common childhood malignant brain tumor which often exhibits an aggressive growth pattern and causes high morbidity and mortality despite aggressive therapy. This project will study the role of a target protein, CDK5, and related molecules in controlling the invasion and spread of Medulloblastoma. These potentially paradigm-shifting investigations promise the development of new biological agents or immune-mediated therapies against Medulloblastoma and other devastating brain tumors of childhood.

“This funding from the St. Baldrick’s Foundation enables young physician-scientists to establish a strong foundation at a very critical point in their career,” said Dr. John Letterio, Division Chief and the Jane and Lee Seidman Chair in Pediatric Cancer Innovation.  “Dr. Petrosuite is an outstanding young researcher, and she is surrounded by an extraordinary set of mentors, including both Dr. Alex Huang and Dr. Duncan Stearns, head of our Pediatric Neuro-Oncology Program at Rainbow.  The vision for this research is the development of new treatments directed at a novel therapeutic target in childhood brain tumors.”

The St. Baldrick’s Foundation also awarded a $5,000 Summer Fellowship at this institution. This new grant category was created to help inspire young medical school students to specialize in pediatric cancer research by spending a summer working in a pediatric oncology research lab.

This year, more than 600 people braved a shave at events in Ohio to Conquer Kids’ Cancer, raising more than $333,800.

“Hundreds of beautiful bald shavees from the Cleveland area will be so proud to hear that their efforts have a significant impact on local pediatric cancer research,” said Cari Ross, St. Baldrick’s volunteer at the A.J. Rocco’s Cleveland event. “We will be involved with this fantastic organization until a cure is found.  And with all of the grants from the Foundation, perhaps it will be found right here, in our own backyard!”

Everyone can do their part to support St. Baldrick’s. To locate or organize an event in your community, sign-up to shave, donate or volunteer, visit www.StBaldricks.org. You can also become a fan on Facebook, follow us on Twitter, join our letsCONQUER movement and visit the Foundation’s YouTube and Vimeo channels.

About UH Rainbow Babies & Children’s Hospital
For 120 years, University Hospitals Rainbow Babies & Children’s Hospital has been dedicated solely to the care of children.  As one of the most renowned pediatric medical centers and a principal referral center for Ohio and the region, Rainbow physicians will receive more than 200,000 patient visits annually.  The 244-bed hospital is home to 850 pediatric specialists and 40 special care centers including Centers of Excellence in oncology, neonatology, pulmonology, cardiology, neurology and endocrinology. There is a full complement of pediatric surgical specialists who focus on minimally invasive techniques as well as an outstanding program in bloodless surgery. As the primary affiliate of Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Rainbow trains more than 100 pediatricians each year and consistently ranks among the top children’s hospitals in research funding from the National Institutes of Health.

About the St. Baldrick’s Foundation
The St. Baldrick’s Foundation makes grants to research institutions to find new cures for childhood cancer, and to find treatments to ensure a better quality of life for patients and survivors. The Foundation funds research projects conducted by established pediatric cancer experts, as well as younger professionals who will be the experts of tomorrow. Funds also enable hundreds of local institutions to participate in national pediatric cancer clinical trials, offering the best available care for every child. The St. Baldrick’s Foundation is grateful to its many volunteers (bald or not!), donors and sponsors, including Allied World, Barbicide, Dowling & Partners, elope, Markit, and PartnerRe. For more information about St. Baldrick’s, please call 1-888-899-BALD or visit www.StBaldricks.org.