2020 Infrastructure Grants: Critical to Giving Kids the Best Treatment Options
Enrollment on a clinical trial is often a child’s best hope for a cure.
Clinical trials offer children in treatment hope for a better future with fewer side effects. Clinical trials also help scientists to improve upon the standard treatments of today, making significant strides towards more effective and less toxic cures for children now and in the future.

Increasing Enrollments on Clinical Trials Through Infrastructure Grants
St. Baldrick’s infrastructure grants are designed for one reason: treat more children on clinical trials, often their best hope for a cure. Thanks to the support of St. Baldrick’s Foundation donors, these grants, totaling nearly $1.5 million this cycle, will help treat more children on clinical trials. In this spirit, these grants primarily provide support for Clinical Research Associates.
The grand total of grants made by the foundation since 2005: $282 million. That’s an outstanding number – and we could not have done it without the support of you, our donors. Thank you!
Below, we’ve listed 25 institutions that are receiving infrastructure grants in this cycle. In this blog post, we highlight four of these grants – to help paint a fuller picture of what these grants make possible.

St. Baldrick’s 2018 Infrastructure Grant Recipients Revealed!
The St. Baldrick’s Foundation has announced its 2018 Infrastructure Grant recipients. In total, the grants amount to more than $1.7 million and will be spread across 29 US-based institutions.
How a Pediatric Oncologist and 10-Time Shavee Is Fighting Childhood Cancers
Pediatric oncologist Dr. Tom McLean of Wake Forest Baptist Health has been awarded one of 29 new 2018 Infrastructure Grants from the St. Baldrick’s Foundation.
For more than a decade, Dr. McLean has been participating in head-shaving events with the St. Baldrick’s Foundation. That’s right – not only does Dr. McLean help fight cancer at Wake Forest Baptist Health in Winston-Salem, N.C., he’s also one of many researchers who help raise money for childhood cancer research by having his own head shaved clean.
It’s a fact the friendly doctor laughs off by pointing out he doesn’t have a lot of hair to shave away in the first place.
“The first time I shaved my head, I was nervous,” Dr. McLean joked. “But then I did it, and I quickly realized, you know, it’s not that big of a deal – my hair is pretty short anyways.”

Dr. Tom McLean, winner of a 2018 Infrastructure Grant, has shaved his head for St. Baldrick’s 10 times.
2017 Infrastructure Grants: Building New Cures for Kids with Cancer
Time to sip on that hot chocolate, wear your favorite pair of fuzzy socks and cozy up to great news that will warm your heart — and you helped make it happen!

Today, we are proud to announce the 2017 St. Baldrick’s Infrastructure Grants, totaling $2.2 million awarded to 39 institutions across the United States.
St. Baldrick’s Researcher Helps Fellow Childhood Cancer Survivors Thrive
Cancer survivorship issues are close to Dr. Brandon McNew’s heart. It’s not just because he treats kids with cancer as a pediatric oncologist — the St. Baldrick’s researcher was diagnosed with leukemia when he was 10 years old. Read on for more about his childhood cancer journey, why he was drawn to pediatric oncology and what he’s doing (with a little help from St. Baldrick’s) to help fellow cancer survivors live long, healthy lives.

Dr. McNew is both a St. Baldrick’s researcher and a shavee. He rocked the bald at a Cedar Rapids, Iowa event in 2015.
For Dr. Brandon McNew, treating kids with cancer isn’t just a professional calling. It’s personal.
A Childhood Saved by Research: Will’s Story [VIDEO]
When Honored Kid Will was 3 years old, he was diagnosed with cancer. Now, the third grader with the dimpled smile and bright eyes is healthy, thanks to a clinical trial made possible by St. Baldrick’s funding. Read on for Will’s story of survival.

NEW VIDEO: Will’s Story >
On the surface, Will looks like any other 8-year-old boy. He loves playing soccer, camping with his family, and playing with their dog, Jack. The third grader is a big fan of superheroes and is also quite the successful fisherman.
You’d never guess that most of his young life has been spent fighting cancer.
2016 Fall Grants: Laying the Foundation for a Cure
It’s that time of year again. The days are getting shorter, the leaves are falling from the trees, and there’s a new chill in the air. But don’t worry about pulling out that sweater, because we’ve got just the news to warm you right up — and you helped make it happen!

Today, we are proud to announce the 2016 St. Baldrick’s Infrastructure Grants, totaling $2.1 million awarded to 39 institutions across the United States.
St. Baldrick’s Grant Gives More Kids in Chicago Access to Clinical Trials
Thanks to nearly a decade of St. Baldrick’s infrastructure grants, all kids treated at three of Chicago’s largest hospitals are getting access to the clinical trials they desperately need. Read on to see how this program YOU made possible is helping find cures for kids with cancer everywhere.

Dr. Mary Lou Schmidt decorates pumpkins with her patient, Isaac, and his mom. Isaac is on a clinical trial that’s part of a unique tri-institutional clinical trial program supported by St. Baldrick’s.
Clinical trials can be options for kids with cancer who have no options left. They can mean better chances at long, healthy lives with fewer side effects. They are hope for a cure for kids with cancer today, and for kids in the future.
What Is Proton Therapy?

Dr. Ralph Ermoian is a radiation oncologist and St. Baldrick’s infrastructure grant recipient at the University of Washington. He explains what proton therapy is, how it works, and how this treatment is helping kids and adults with cancer.
What is proton therapy?
Proton therapy is a type of radiation used commonly for children with cancer. Like traditional x-ray radiation, it is used to treat cancers, but proton therapy affects less of the healthy tissue surrounding the tumor.
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