Justin Miller Begins Treatment to Cure Childhood Cancer Number 6
A little more than a year ago we were experiencing this same MIBG therapy for advanced-stage neuroblastoma in New York. We hope we are more prepared this time.
Justin fully understands what the next few days will bring: the lead-lined room, the isolation, the feelings of being a “caged animal” where whatever goes in, can’t come out. We’ve talked with him about how restricted Grandma and I will be from being able to take care of him, touch him, hug him and love on him.
Immunogenics Expert to Co-Lead Pediatric Cancer Dream Team
Formerly known as the St. Baldrick’s – Stand Up to Cancer Pediatric Cancer Dream Team, this team is now the St. Baldrick’s EPICC Team (Empowering Pediatric Immunotherapies for Childhood Cancer).
Dr. Crystal L. Mackall, co-leader of the SU2C-St. Baldrick’s Pediatric Cancer Dream Team
Dr. Crystal Mackall and Dr. John Maris will co-chair the SU2C-St. Baldrick’s Foundation Immunogenomics Dream Team.
Mackall is an internationally recognized expert in human immunology and has led a cutting-edge translational immunotherapy research program for pediatric sarcomas. She is credited with fundamental discoveries regarding T cell homeostasis and has led the clinical development of recombinant human IL-7, the most potent immunorestorative identified thus far. As Chief of the Pediatric Oncology Branch at the NCI, she leads a diverse translational research program focused on the most challenging of pediatric cancers, and also serves on numerous steering committees and advisory boards focused on translational research.
Neuroblastoma Expert to Lead Pediatric Dream Team
Formerly known as the St. Baldrick’s – Stand Up to Cancer Pediatric Cancer Dream Team, this team is now the St. Baldrick’s EPICC Team (Empowering Pediatric Immunotherapies for Childhood Cancer).
Dr. John M. Maris, SU2C – St. Baldrick’s Pediatric Dream Team Leader
Even before he started medical school, physician and scientist John M. Maris, MD, was interested in neuroblastoma, a cancer that starts in young nerve cells and can spread quickly through a child’s body. It is one of the most common cancers in children, and the most common cancer in infants.
As he continued studying the disease, Dr. Maris became convinced that neuroblastoma was a genetic disease and that genetic research could unlock new treatments for kids with cancer. Since then, Dr. Maris has devoted his career to curing neuroblastoma, a passion that has fueled over two decades of research.
Immunogenomics to Create New Therapies for High-Risk Childhood Cancers
Formerly known as the St. Baldrick’s – Stand Up to Cancer Pediatric Cancer Dream Team, this team is now the St. Baldrick’s EPICC Team (Empowering Pediatric Immunotherapies for Childhood Cancer).
Curative chemotherapy for cancer was first realized in children. Survival rates for many of the common cancers in children improved dramatically through the last part of the 20th century. However, those cure rates have plateaued since the 1990s, and for some childhood cancers, we have seen little to no improvements.
Announcing the Stand Up To Cancer – St. Baldrick’s Pediatric Cancer Dream Team [VIDEO]
Formerly known as the St. Baldrick’s – Stand Up to Cancer Pediatric Cancer Dream Team, this team is now the St. Baldrick’s EPICC Team (Empowering Pediatric Immunotherapies for Childhood Cancer).
From a long list of innovative “big ideas,” the scientific reviewers representing both funding organizations had chosen the top four to submit detailed proposals. The experts agreed that any of these would be great investments, but for a grant of $14.5 million over four years, only one could be chosen.
The suspense ended with an enthusiastic round of applause when the winning Dream Team was announced at a reception tonight at the annual meeting of the American Association of Cancer Research (AACR). The evening’s emcee was actor Kyle MacLachlan, and speakers included Nobel Laureate Dr. Philip Sharp, St. Baldrick’s CEO Kathleen Ruddy, and 10-year-old cancer survivor Emma W. and her parents.
And the award goes to:
Behind the Scenes: Selecting a Dream Team
Formerly known as the St. Baldrick’s – Stand Up to Cancer Pediatric Cancer Dream Team, this team is now the St. Baldrick’s EPICC Team (Empowering Pediatric Immunotherapies for Childhood Cancer).
The researcher clearly was surprised with himself. He smiled, looked at Dr. Phillip Sharp, and said politely, “Well, I’ve never argued with a Nobel Laureate before, but…” — and then made a point for the group to consider. It was a day full of scientific debate — lively, respectful, and thorough.
Justin’s year in the fight against neuroblastoma
As I sit here and reflect on our last year, I can’t help but be overwhelmed with an extreme range of emotions. I can truthfully admit I wasn’t sure if Justin would be here this Christmas, not that I didn’t have hope and not that I didn’t think he could prevail, but because we didn’t have any treatment options available to us. Justin had multiple relapses, weakened bone marrow, low platelets and an ANC that was consistently low. We mustered through each day over the last holiday season, put a smile on our faces and prayed for something to turn up. Justin wasn’t ready to give up; I wasn’t ready to give up.
Childhood Cancer Research Funding and the State of the Fight Against Kids’ Cancer [INFOGRAPHIC]
by Dr. Robert Arceci, M.D., Ph.D., King Fahd Professor of Pediatric Oncology, co-director of the Michael J. Garil Leukemia Survivor’s Program at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and chair of the St. Baldrick’s Foundation Scientific Advisory Committee.
In my perfect world, I imagine a day when a child comes to my office with a cancer diagnosis and I can prescribe a 10-day course of medicine, just like amoxacillin for strep throat, and he or she is cured.
Justin Miller on the Stand Up To Cancer Red Carpet [VIDEO]
By Lori Miller, mother to Justin, St. Baldrick’s Foundation 2012 Ambassador Kid and Childhood Cancer Fighting Ninja
First and foremost, I want to thank the St. Baldrick’s Foundation and Stand Up To Cancer for allowing us to represent the collaboration of these two organizations on the Stand Up To Cancer Broadcast last Friday evening. We were proud to represent our beautiful ANGEL friends, our fellow cancer fighters, and those who will be following us in the future. We need cures now and the time is now, especially during Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, to stand up and tell the world about childhood cancer.
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