Grants Search Results

The AACR-St. Baldrick's Foundation Award for Outstanding Achievement in Pediatric Cancer Research has been established to bring attention to major research discoveries to the pediatric cancer research community and to honor an individual in any sector who has significantly contributed to any area of pediatric cancer research, resulting in the fundamental improvement of the understanding and/or treatment of pediatric cancer. The recipient will nominate an emerging leader conducting research in the academic sector to receive a research grant. The 2022 SBF-AACR Award for Outstanding Achievement in Pediatric Cancer Research went to Dr. David Malkin at The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids). Dr. Alanna Church at Boston Children's Hospital received the 2022 research grant. Dr. Church's research interests are in bringing molecular testing to the clinical care of children with cancer to improve diagnoses and treatments.

Although Hodgkin Lymphoma (HL) is largely curable, 10-20% of patients are resistant to treatment and difficult to cure. When a patient’s cancer comes back or does not respond to chemotherapy, it is often because the immune cells have become exhausted and unable to recognize the cancer cells in the body. The first goal of Dr. Bollard’s project is to determine if newer immunotherapy drugs called PD1 inhibitors, when given in combination with the administration of a novel cancer killing T-cell therapy, will produce long-lasting cures in patients with high-risk lymphoma with less side effects than conventional chemotherapy. Dr. Bollard and colleagues will take a patient’s immune cells and re-educate them in the laboratory to recognize antigens on the cancer cells and then give the T cells back to the patients to redirect them to the cancer cell. The second goal of this project is to genetically modify the cancer killing T cells and express a chimeric antigen receptor (CAR), which will enable the T cells to recognize a protein found in HL and to destroy the cancer cells more effectively. Dr. Bollard’s team proposes a novel approach of combining CAR technology with a tumor antigen specific T cells into a single “living drug” that will produce a robust response and provide a long-lasting immunity using the patient’s own immune system. This therapy has the potential to benefit not only children with HL, but other solid cancers such as neuroblastoma and brain tumors, where the environment surrounding the cancer cells make it difficult for T cells to infiltrate and kill. This grant is funded through a partnership between the St. Baldrick’s Foundation and the American Cancer Society.

More children die from brain tumors than any other type of cancer. Pediatric high-grade gliomas are the type of childhood brain tumor that is the hardest to treat and the most likely to result in death. Researchers have learned that pediatric high-grade glioma is actually several different types of tumors that are driven to grow by different genetic changes in the tumor cells. Almost all clinical trials have shown that chemotherapy doesn’t cure more kids and just leads to more side effects, however a clinical trial completed almost 10 years ago, used two chemotherapy medicines, in addition to surgery and radiation, and cured significantly more patients than previous therapy combinations. Dr. Green will use modern pathology tests to figure out the pediatric high-grade glioma subtype for all of the patients from that previous trial. Dr. Green and colleagues will look at the survival on each trial by subgroup to know which subgroup(s) showed better survival with the addition of one of the chemotherapy medicines to their treatment. Answering this crucial question will change the future of pediatric high-grade glioma treatment. With these results, current pediatric high-grade glioma patients will be able to be given the right standard treatment to maximize their chance of survival and minimize side effects. This grant is funded through a partnership between the St. Baldrick’s Foundation and the American Cancer Society.

This project focuses on engineering a component called a macrophage. Macrophages talk to T-cells, using a protein called a cytokine, helping to boost T-cell effects and eradicate a child's cancer. Macrophages within children who respond to engineered T-cells long term (do not relapse) are able to release cytokines or talk with T-cells more effectively. On the reverse side of that same coin, those small percentages of patients who present with serious side effects have macrophages that are too effective at talking to T-cells or are releasing too many cytokines. Dr. Gustafson is developing a new technology that predicts how effective macrophages will be at talking to T-cells. This technology can be used to prevent toxicity and reduce relapse, allowing for more kids to live healthy cancer-free lives. This grant is funded through a partnership between the St. Baldrick’s Foundation and the American Cancer Society.

Diffuse midline glioma (DMG) is an aggressive pediatric cancer and outcomes are dismal, with a life expectancy of less than a year. It is particularly difficult to treat as they are commonly located in the brainstem near sensitive structures, meaning that surgical removal is not feasible. Recent advances in technology have led to development of “liquid biopsy,” which works by detecting small pieces of DNA that break off from the tumor and are found in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and blood (termed cell-free DNA, cfDNA). This is important because these “liquids” are typically much easier to access than the tumor itself, which is particularly important in these brainstem tumors. Dr. Souweidane’s project will monitor cfDNA in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and blood of DMG patients over time. In this study, Dr. Souweidane will implant ventricular access devices at time of standard biopsy in newly diagnosed DMG patients to provide on-going minimally-invasive access to CSF, and then will integrate this assay into early-stage clinical trials for DMG patients to see if it can be an effective biomarker of early response. Dr. Souweidane’s team believes the completion of these experiments will establish the utility of cfDNA liquid biopsy in DMG and will also, by guiding decision-making and management for brain tumor patients, dramatically change how we treat these devastating diseases. This grant is funded through a partnership between the St. Baldrick’s Foundation and the American Cancer Society.

Childhood Hodgkin lymphoma (a cancer of white blood cells) is highly curable. Modern chemotherapy regimens effect a cure in over 95% of children diagnosed, however, about 15-20% will suffer a recurrence of their lymphoma and need additional highly intensive chemotherapy and bone marrow transplantation. These intensive regimens have many serious chemotherapy-related side effects (infections, mouth sores, etc.). Dr. Wadhwa’s study will investigate a novel predictor of cancer relapse and serious chemotherapy-related side effects by studying the role of body composition at Hodgkin lymphoma diagnosis in cancer-free survival and chemotherapy toxicities. Body composition has already been shown to be a significant predictor of cancer relapse and chemotherapy toxicities in adults with cancer. Dr. Wadhwa’s team will examine the body composition of children at cancer diagnosis, its association with cancer-free survival and serious chemotherapy related toxicities, how body composition changes during cancer treatment, and whether changes in body composition during cancer treatment impacts survival. This grant is funded through a partnership between the St. Baldrick’s Foundation and the American Cancer Society.

Myelodysplastic Syndrome (MDS) are clonal stem cell disorders characterized by abnormal cell growth and shape, lack of mature blood cells, and increased risk of acute myleoid leukemia (AML) development. Approximately 10,000 new cases are diagnosed every year in the United States. Survival ranges from months to years, and bone marrow transplantation remains the only cure. To identify new drug targets associated with more specificity and less morbidity and mortality, it is essential to understand the molecular course of MDS. Unbiased sequencing studies have identified over 45 recurrent somatic mutations in MDS patient samples. Of these pathways, splicing factor and epigenetic regulator mutations are the most common. Point mutations in splicing factor 3b subunit 1 (SF3B1) are found in less than 25% of MDS patients. Dr. Wallace and colleagues have shown that mutations in SF3B1 lead to an altered function, name upstream cryptic 3 splice site selection. Epigenetic regulators, including the de novo DNA methyltransferase, DNMT3A, are the second most common class of mutations identified in MDS. Studies on the effect of loss of DNMT3A expression have primarily been limited to the effects of altered methylation in regions outside of the gene body, such as enhancer accessibility. Although sequencing studies have shown that both splicing factor and epigenetic regulator mutations commonly co-occur as early mutations in MDS pathogenesis, it is unknown how altered DNA methylation and aberrant mRNA splicing can cooperate to promote MDS progression. Using cell line and animal model systems, Dr. Wallace will determine whether the cooperation of epigenetic regulator and splicing factor mutations lead to a more aggressive form of MDS. This grant is funded through a partnership between the St. Baldrick’s Foundation and the American Cancer Society.

Through this partnership with The Children's Cancer Foundation, proceeds from St. Baldrick's events in Hong Kong fund life-saving research in Hong Kong. The St. Baldrick's Foundation is proud to partner with the Children's Cancer Foundation and has been doing so since 2008.

This grant funded two projects. Project 1: Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is a common childhood cancer. The survival rate for children with good risk factors is over 90% with low-intensity chemotherapy. However, children with high-risk disease have a higher chance of treatment failure and relapse. Two genetic mutations, MEF2D and KMT2A, have been found to have poor outcomes with conventional chemotherapy. The Chinese Children Cancer Group (CCCG) ALL 2020 protocol in Hong Kong Children's Hospital is adding the drug bortezomib to the treatment to improve outcomes for high-risk patients with these mutations. Project 2: patients with chemotherapy. However, 2-4% of patients under one year old, known as infant ALL, have a low survival rate of about 40%, especially when there is a genetic change involved. This patient group experiences more relapses in the bone marrow and central nervous system. Previous clinical trials have shown limited success. This project aims to improve the treatment of infant ALL with three new drugs: blinatumomab, venetoclax, and bortezomib. The study involves more than 20 hospitals in Hong Kong and mainland China, and patients will be monitored closely for safety and effectiveness.

This grant supports a Clinical Research Associate to ensure that more kids can be treated on clinical trials, often their best hope for a cure.

This grant supports a Clinical Research Associate to ensure that more kids can be treated on clinical trials, often their best hope for a cure. New Mexico is a minority-majority state with over 50 percent of the state's population comprised of a large Hispanic and Native American population. With support from St. Baldrick's the University of New Mexico will increase the enrollment of their unique patient population in national and international clinical trials in order to increase the diversity of patient representation in these trials.

This grant supports a Clinical Research Associate to ensure that more kids can be treated on clinical trials, often their best hope for a cure. Kapi'olani Medical Center is located on the island of Oahu, Hawai'i. The unique geographic location allows them to serve children both within the state of Hawaii, but also other ethnically underrepresented populations such as those from Guam and Micronesia.

This grant supports a Clinical Research Associate to ensure that more kids can be treated on clinical trials, often their best hope for a cure.

This grant supports a Clinical Research Associate to ensure that more kids can be treated on clinical trials, often their best hope for a cure.

This grant supports a Clinical Research Associate to ensure that more kids can be treated on clinical trials, often their best hope for a cure. At Children's Hospital of Michigan many patients are of minority background, and historically minorities have not always had the same access to health care. Funding from St. Baldrick's Foundation will help the institution continue to have excellent CRA support in the clinical trials office for every patient.

This grant supports a Clinical Research Associate to ensure that more kids can be treated on clinical trials, often their best hope for a cure.

This grant supports a Clinical Research Associate to ensure that more kids can be treated on clinical trials, often their best hope for a cure.

This grant supports a Clinical Research Associate to ensure that more kids can be treated on clinical trials, often their best hope for a cure.

This grant supports a Clinical Research Associate to support the pediatric neuro-oncology program and ensure that more kids can be treated on clinical trials, often their best hope for a cure.

The impact that cancer has on a child/teen reaches far beyond the physical ailment. The psychological impact can be just as devastating. Recent studies have shown that 32% of adolescent and young adult patients suffer from symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Akron Children's Hospital treats a minimum of 90 newly diagnosed children and adolescents with cancer annually. Akron Children's will assess patient and family experiences during and post cancer treatment. The goal of the study will be to create a uniform infrastructure to formalize pathways to support the emotional needs of patients and their families.

This grant has been funded by and named for The Abbey E. Foltz Fund, a St. Baldrick’s Hero Fund. Abbey was diagnosed with osteosarcoma of the right tibia when she was 14 years old and a freshman in high school. She loved school, spending time with her family and friends and dancing. All that changed as she battled cancer with ongoing treatments and surgeries. Yet through it all, Abbey remained positive, focused on helping others and aspired to be a nurse. Sadly, she passed away while in her first year of college. Her family carries on Abbey’s legacy of making a difference for patients and their families with this Hero Fund by funding childhood cancer research in Northeastern Ohio.

This grant supports a Clinical Research Associate to ensure that more kids can be treated on clinical trials, often their best hope for a cure.