supportive care research grant

While shavees and volunteers are raising funds to be used for grants, researchers are making their way through a rigorous grant application process. The St. Baldrick’s Foundation had over 100 reviewers from the pediatric hematology and oncology community review grants in 2012.

Each application is reviewed by at least three pediatric hematology/oncology researchers, using the same rating system used by the National Cancer Institute. If all three reviewers give an application an excellent score, it’s recommended for funding. (A poor score from all three means it’s not recommended.) If the scores vary or are not decisive, the application goes to a larger committee of reviewers to discuss and vote on a final score.

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The goal of supportive care research is to improve the quality of life for patients and survivors by addressing issues such as the toxic side effects of treatment, the often life-threatening long-term effects faced by survivors, the psychosocial needs of those affected by childhood cancer, and more. More than 60% of long-term childhood cancer survivors suffer from a chronic illness as a consequence of the therapy they received, and over 25% are diagnosed with a severe or life-threatening illness. Supportive care research is one way to change that. This year 9 Supportive Care Research Grants were awarded, totaling more than $535,000.

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The St. Baldrick’s Foundation held its second Research Priorities Summit in New York, the weekend of January 7-8, 2012. Nineteen distinguished childhood cancer research experts attended, volunteering their time and expertise to advise the Foundation’s board and grants staff on funding priorities.

The Summit was co-moderated by two nationally recognized leaders in pediatric oncology, William Carroll, M.D. of New York University and Holcombe Grier, M.D. of Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.

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