Grants Search Results

Genes instruct cells to do their jobs through making specific proteins. In the human body, all cells store these "instructions" in the chromosomes. When chromosomes break off, the broken pieces sometimes change places and create new chromosomes. These changes are called chromosomal translocations. Dr. Su is studying how chromosomal translocations cause deadly diseases in children and young adults, and more importantly, is investigating possible clinical options to correct these abnormal conditions.

Childhood brain tumors are frequently quite different than those of adults. Dr. Eck's For the Love of Jack St. Baldrick''s Research Grant aims to find new 'targeted' therapies for low-grade astrocytomas (a type of brain tumor) in children that are caused by a mutation in a protein called BRAF. BRAF mutations are common in cancer, and drugs have been developed that are effective in some tumors caused by one type of BRAF mutation. Unfortunately, these drugs do not work on the BRAF mutation found most often in pediatric brain tumors. Dr. Eck is using detailed information about the molecular structure of the BRAF mutation found in pediatric brain tumors to discover new drugs that specifically target this cause of brain tumors in children. Jack Tweedy was diagnosed with brain and spinal cancer when he was two. Since then he has endured multiple surgeries and 270 weeks of chemotherapy but never fails to uplift those around him. Together with his family, he inspires others to help fund the best research to ensure that all cancer warriors have better treatment options.

The interaction between two important cancer-related proteins called MDM4 and TOP2A may cause cancer and contribute to disease progression. Dr. Zhou is studying the regulation of MDM4 and TOP2A to identify small-molecule inhibitors (agents) that can block the MDM4-TOP2A interaction, leading to inhibition of these two proteins. The results of these studies will provide important clues to help scientists develop novel methods and drugs to specifically and simultaneously target TOP2A and MDM4 for treatment of pediatric cancer patients.

Treatment of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) using chemoradiation can be successful, but it is difficult to manage treatment-associated side events and secondary cancers. Furthermore, in relapsed/refractory patients, the overall prognosis remains dismal. Direct inhibition of the main proteins promoting cancer (the 'oncogenes') is not successful in ALL. Dr. Ntziachristos's "Just Do It...and be done with it" St. Baldrick's Research Grant will study certain oncogene-supporting mechanisms that might be specific to a diseased state, and not to a healthy state. Dr. Ntziachristos has selected one of these mechanisms to target in ALL models, and is assessing the anti-cancer activity that results. Such experiments could pave the way for clinical trials for high-risk disease.

This grant is named for the "Just Do It...and be done with it" Hero Fund created in honor of Sara Martorano who doesn''t let anything dim her sparkle and has a compassionate heart and smile. It also celebrates the courage of all cancer kids through treatment and the support of their family and friends.

Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma is a type of incurable brain tumor that affects young children. Despite treatment with radiation and chemotherapy, the tumor exhibits resistance to current treatments and grows back. Dr. Beroukhim is studying the tumors at a single-cell level to determine how they become resistant to treatments, which will help guide the development of combination therapies to improve outcomes.

This grant is made with generous support from the McKenna Claire Foundation established by the Wetzel family in memory of their daughter, McKenna. Their mission is to cure pediatric brain cancer by raising awareness, increasing community involvement and funding research.

Targeted therapy works by attacking an abnormal gene product that is specific to the cancer type. Only a minority of neuroblastoma types show genetic drivers, which makes it difficult to develop targeted therapy. Most neuroblastomas show too many or too few copies of large chromosomal regions, called CNAs. Dr. Weiss is studying the connection between CNAs and neuroblastoma, to determine if it CNA is a possible candidate for targeted therapy. Dr. Weiss is engineering CNAs to create CNA-driven models of neuroblastoma, which he will then use to identify CNA-specific therapies to treat neuroblastoma.

Drug resistance remains a major obstacle in acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). Instead of targeting only the leukemia cells, Dr. Kim is studying the protective non-leukemia cells that are located in the bone marrow, creating a safe haven for drug-resistant ALL cells. Dr. Kim's team has identified a molecule in leukemia cells that allows leukemia cells to remain in the bone marrow and shelters them from the otherwise toxic effects of chemotherapy. Dr. Kim's Johnny Crisstopher Children’s Charitable Foundation St. Baldrick’s Research Grant is testing a novel inhibitor of this molecule to overcome drug resistance. The mission of the Johnny Crisstopher Children's Charitable Foundation is to raise awareness of pediatric cancer and provide funds for research, treatment, and - ultimately - a cure. Famed illusionist Criss Angel founded the foundation in 2008 for charitable causes but it has now become his life's mission since his son, Johnny Crisstopher was diagnosed with leukemia in 2015 at 20 months old.

Acute lymphoblastic leukemia is a tumor of white blood cells that normally fight infection. Changes in DNA, or mutations, are important in driving the development of ALL. Mutations in genes that control the reading of DNA are particularly common in leukemia cells that don't respond to treatment. Dr. Mullighan is studying engineered ALL cells and tumors to understand how these mutations result in resistance to therapy, and to develop new ways of treating ALL. The St. Baldrick’s Robert J. Arceci Innovation Award is given in honor of the late Dr. Robert Arceci. A pioneer in the field, this award reflects Dr. Arceci’s values including creativity, collaboration, and commitment to early- to mid-career scientists.

Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH) is a rare cancer of the immune cells that can cause a wide range of symptoms, ranging from a rash to lethal multi-organ disease. Dr. Zinn hypothesizes that a patient's symptoms are determined by a combination of the patient's specific mutation and the specific immune cell that becomes mutated. Dr. Zinn is investigating the causes of LCH in order to develop the most effective and safe therapies for each patient.

Genetic studies have identified the molecular causes of childhood cancers such as T-cell leukemia and neuroblastoma. A recurrent theme in these cancers is abnormal activation of the MYC gene. Accordingly, researchers like Dr. Wendel have spent much time and effort in trying to identify inhibitors of MYC as they believe these could be very powerful therapies for these childhood cancers. Dr. Wendel and his colleagues recently found a new way to block the production of MYC using a natural compound. The natural product is rare and hard to come by and therefore Dr. Wendel and his colleagues are exploring ways to generate synthetic drugs based on this plant product. With support from the St. Baldrick’s Foundation they are working to bring this new strategy to the clinic. They focus especially on heavily pre-treated and relapsed childhood leukemia because affected children have few options and they hope to make a difference.

This institution is a member of a research consortium which is being funded by St. Baldrick's: Pediatric Blood & Marrow Transplant Consortium. For a description of this project, see the consortium grant made to the lead institution: the National Marrow Donor Program, Minneapolis, MN.

This institution is a member of a research consortium which is being funded by St. Baldrick's: Pediatric Blood & Marrow Transplant Consortium. For a description of this project, see the consortium grant made to the lead institution: the National Marrow Donor Program, Minneapolis, MN.

This institution is a member of a research consortium which is being funded by St. Baldrick's: Pediatric Blood & Marrow Transplant Consortium. For a description of this project, see the consortium grant made to the lead institution: the National Marrow Donor Program, Minneapolis, MN.

This institution is a member of a research consortium which is being funded by St. Baldrick's: Pediatric Blood & Marrow Transplant Consortium. For a description of this project, see the consortium grant made to the lead institution: the National Marrow Donor Program, Minneapolis, MN.

This institution is a member of a research consortium which is being funded by St. Baldrick's: Pediatric Blood & Marrow Transplant Consortium. For a description of this project, see the consortium grant made to the lead institution: the National Marrow Donor Program, Minneapolis, MN.

This institution is a member of a research consortium which is being funded by St. Baldrick's: Pediatric Blood & Marrow Transplant Consortium. For a description of this project, see the consortium grant made to the lead institution: the National Marrow Donor Program, Minneapolis, MN.

This institution is a member of a research consortium which is being funded by St. Baldrick's: Pediatric Blood & Marrow Transplant Consortium. For a description of this project, see the consortium grant made to the lead institution: the National Marrow Donor Program, Minneapolis, MN.

This institution is a member of a research consortium which is being funded by St. Baldrick's: Pediatric Blood & Marrow Transplant Consortium. For a description of this project, see the consortium grant made to the lead institution: the National Marrow Donor Program, Minneapolis, MN.

This institution is a member of a research consortium which is being funded by St. Baldrick's: Pediatric Blood & Marrow Transplant Consortium. For a description of this project, see the consortium grant made to the lead institution: the National Marrow Donor Program, Minneapolis, MN.

This institution is a member of a research consortium which is being funded by St. Baldrick's: Pediatric Blood & Marrow Transplant Consortium. For a description of this project, see the consortium grant made to the lead institution: the National Marrow Donor Program, Minneapolis, MN.