Grants Search Results

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.

Medulloblastoma (MB) is a highly aggressive pediatric brain tumor for which safer and more effective therapies are needed. Recent studies have identified four major forms of MB that differ in terms of molecular characteristics and patient outcomes. Dr. Wechsler-Reya is working to identify genes that drive Group 4 MB tumor formation, the most prevalent form of MB, to develop new strategies for treatment of this devastating disease.

Medulloblastoma (MB) is the most common malignant pediatric brain tumor, yet currently has no optimal treatment options. Medulloblastoma has been classified into 4 major subgroups, and Dr. Chen is targeting methylation mutations to develop improved therapeutics for two highly-aggressive subgroups of medulloblastoma. To facilitate this, Dr. Chen is establishing precision models of this disease to screen and test for therapeutics. To systematically identify protein targets required for survival of MB cells, Dr. Chen and colleagues are performing a genome screen to look for possible targets, in order to enhance understanding of this disease and lead to novel therapeutic routes.

Medulloblastoma is formed by mutations that activate the Hedgehog signaling pathway. Dr. Vokes is investigating how the Hedgehog pathway controls the expression of genes through specific control regions of DNA. Dr. Vokes and his team are studying those DNA control regions in medulloblastoma cells, to determine if they can control the expression of target genes, thereby providing a possible therapeutic target for medulloblastoma.

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.

Neuroblastoma is the second most common solid tumor in children, and is a cancer that frequently metastasizes to the bone marrow. Dr. DeClerck is studying how neuroblastoma cells "teach" bone marrow cells to promote tumor growth.

Adolescents and young adults (AYA) with cancer have an increased risk of developing secondary cancers, cardiovascular, metabolic and bone diseases as well as cognitive impairments, which can reduce their survival and quality of life. Furthermore, most AYA cancer survivors do not meet the recommended guidelines for physical activity. Dr. Nock is conducting a pilot study using 'cybercycling' (stationary cycling with interactive video gaming) to improve quality of life in AYA cancer survivors. She will also see if this exercise program improves their motivation to exercise, body composition (weight, body fat), fatigue, depression, and sleep habits.

Young age at diagnosis and intense therapy result in multiple late effects for Neuroblastoma survivors. The majority of High-Risk Neuroblastoma HR-NBL survivors have striking growth failure. Dr. Mostoufi-Moab is investigating the mechanism of growth failure in high-risk neuroblastoma survivors. Dr. Mostoufi-Moab is employing state-of-the art imaging measures of the growth plate to study and understand the mechanism of growth failure in high-risk neuroblastoma survivors, and target future intervention trials.

Unrelieved symptoms lead to poorer quality of life for adolescents and young adults (AYAs) with cancer. Strategies are needed to help AYAs manage symptoms. Dr. Ameringer and her team have developed the Computerized Symptom Capture Tool (C-SCAT), a novel way to assess symptoms where AYAs create a picture of their symptoms using images and text on an app. Dr. Ameringer is testing whether use of the C-SCAT improves the self-management of symptoms and patient-provider communication about symptoms in AYAs with cancer. Dr. Ameringer's findings will inform a larger trial of the C-SCAT as a strategy to improve AYA symptom self-management, and in turn, quality of life.

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.

This grant funds a medical student to complete work in pediatric oncology research for the summer. The experience may encourage them to choose childhood cancer research as a specialty.

This grant funds a medical student to complete work in pediatric oncology research for the summer. The experience may encourage them to choose childhood cancer research as a specialty.

This grant funds a student to complete work in pediatric oncology research for the summer. The experience may encourage them to choose childhood cancer research as a specialty.

This grant funds a doctoral student to complete work in pediatric oncology research for the summer. The experience may encourage them to choose childhood cancer research as a specialty.

This grant funds a doctoral student to complete work in pediatric oncology research for the summer. The experience may encourage them to choose childhood cancer research as a specialty.

This grant funds a student to complete work in pediatric oncology research for the summer. The experience may encourage them to choose childhood cancer research as a specialty.

This grant funds an undergraduate student to complete work in pediatric oncology research for the summer. The experience may encourage them to choose childhood cancer research as a specialty.