$38,373 Childhood Cancer Research Grant Awarded to Saint Peter’s University Hospital

NEW BRUNSWICK, N.J. (November 24, 2014) – The St. Baldrick’s Foundation, a volunteer-driven and donor-centered charity dedicated to raising money for childhood cancer research, is proud to award a one-year, $38,373 grant to Saint Peter’s University Hospital. This grant is one of 40 infrastructure grants awarded as part of the Foundation’s fall grant cycle, totaling more than $2.5 million and surpassing last year’s total awarded during this same period.

This grant from the St. Baldrick’s Foundation will fund a survey that hopes to identify barriers to participation in clinical trials from the local community. Saint Peter’s University Hospital is working to make it possible for all children with cancer to take part in clinical trials by making sure their families are able to understand why clinical trials are important. By understanding the barriers, they hope to make families feel better about taking part, and increase the number of children on clinical trials.

“The support of St. Baldrick’s Foundation and all of its donors and volunteers is vital to the battle against cancer,” said Stanley Calderwood, M.D., chief, Division of Hematology/Oncology at The Children’s Hospital at Saint Peter’s University Hospital. “It makes a huge impact, not only on the front line at the level of the individual child, but globally, at the level of basic science and health care infrastructure.”

This series of grants, combined with the more than $24.7 million awarded in July to fund cutting-edge research, brings the St. Baldrick’s Foundation’s funding total to more than $27.2 million awarded in 2014. Grants were awarded based on the need of the institution and its patients, anticipated results of the grant and local participation in St. Baldrick’s fundraising events and activities.

“These grants are critically important to saving children’s lives, and would not be possible without our dedicated volunteers and generous donors who believe kids deserve better than medicine is currently able to provide,” said Kathleen Ruddy, chief executive officer for the St. Baldrick’s Foundation.

To learn how you can get involved visit www.StBaldricks.org, and connect with St. Baldrick’s on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and Vimeo.

About Saint Peter’s University Hospital
Saint Peter’s University Hospital is a 478-bed acute-care teaching hospital sponsored by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Metuchen. Saint Peter’s is a state-designated children’s hospital and a regional perinatal center, and is a regional specialist in geriatrics, oncology, orthopedics, women’s services, and ambulatory care. The Children’s Hospital at Saint Peter’s University Hospital provides families with access to a full range of pediatric specialties, including pediatric cardiology through its affiliation with The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. Saint Peter’s is a sponsor of residency programs in obstetrics and gynecology, pediatrics and internal medicine and is a major clinical affiliate of Rutgers University Biomedical and Health Sciences. Saint Peter’s also sponsors residency programs in radiology and orthopedic surgery. Visit www.saintpetershcs.com for more information.

About St. Baldrick’s Foundation
The St. Baldrick’s Foundation is a volunteer-driven charity committed to funding the most promising research to find cures for childhood cancers and give survivors long and healthy lives. St. Baldrick’s coordinates its signature head-shaving events worldwide where participants collect pledges to shave their heads in solidarity with kids with cancer, raising money to fund research. Since 2005, St. Baldrick’s has awarded more than $154.5 million to support lifesaving research, making the Foundation the largest private funder of childhood cancer research grants. St. Baldrick’s funds are granted to some of the most brilliant childhood cancer research experts in the world and to younger professionals who will be the experts of tomorrow. Funds awarded also enable hundreds of local institutions to participate in national pediatric cancer clinical trials, and the new International Scholar grants train researchers to work in developing countries. For more information about the St. Baldrick’s Foundation please call 1.888.899.BALD or visit www.StBaldricks.org.

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