Grants Search Results

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.

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.

Dr. Wechsler and his team study how normal white blood cells turn into leukemia cells. They have discovered that a protein called CRM1 is directly involved in turning on specific genes that cause leukemia to develop. Dr. Wechsler is studying this previously unrecognized function of CRM1 by identifying other proteins that are required for CRM1 to turn on. This research aims to allow Dr. Wechsler to design new drugs that can selectively target leukemia cells and increase cure rates.

Children with aggressive leukemia frequently require a bone marrow transplant to achieve a cure. Some children have a small number of leukemia cells remaining before receiving a bone marrow transplant, which makes it very likely that their leukemia will recur. Dr. Taraseviciute, the Team Abby St. Baldrick's Fellow, is studying the power of the immune system to fight any remaining leukemia cells after bone marrow transplantation. To do this, Dr. Taraseviciute and her team are making T cells (a special type of immune cell) that can recognize and eliminate leukemia cells to provide a chance for a cure for children who have already received a bone marrow transplant.

This grant is generously supported by TEAM ABBY Gives, a St. Baldrick's Hero Fund. Abby was diagnosed with Pre-B ALL when she was almost five years old. She had a successful bone marrow transplant, but battle battled graft vs. host disease (GVHD) for years. Abby and her treatment team worked hard over many years to keep the GVHD in check. Sadly, Abby passed away on October 19, 2021. This fund unites the incredible support of family and friends in Abby's memory and inspires others to join the fight for cures and better treatments.

Based on progress to date, Dr. Ney was awarded a new grant in 2018 to fund an additional year of this Fellow award. Many cancers include groups of cells that are relatively inactive, meaning that they divide less frequently than other cells and use fewer nutrients from their environment. This inactivity often makes these cells less susceptible to chemotherapy because these cells do not take in chemotherapy drugs due to their slow growth. As a result, these cells can remain present after treatment, potentially leading to disease recurrence. Dr. Ney is studying these inactive cells and their behavior, to more fully understand cancer and how to better treat it.

The initial grant was made with generous support from Tough Like Ike, a St. Baldrick's partner which was created in honor of cancer fighter Issac "Ike" Yarmon. The organization raises awareness and funds for leukemia and childhood cancer research.

This additional award is named for Ben's Green Drakkoman Fund, a St. Baldrick's Hero Fund created in memory of Ben Stowell who battled an aggressive form of osteosarcoma yet lived life with courage and an inspiring determination to survive. The fund is named after the superhero he created to help him better understand his body's fight against cancer.

Progress in improving therapy for Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) has been slow and survival rates for patients remain quite low. Thus, there is a great need for more effective and less toxic therapies for AML. Dr. DeGregori has identified a new molecule called MCJ, the loss of which is associated with the resistance of cancers to therapies. Dr. DeGregori has developed novel drugs that can restore MCJ function in cancer cells, and is investigating whether these MCJ activating drugs can be used improve therapies for AML.

This institution is a member of a research consortium which is being funded by St. Baldrick's: Pediatric LEukemiA Precision-based Therapy (LEAP) Consortium. For a description of this project, see the consortium grant made to the lead institution: Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA.

Children continue to die from leukemia because malignant cells overcome chemotherapy by turning off normal genetic safety checkpoints. Dr. Nalepa has found that loss of the same checkpoints makes cancer growth dependent on other genes, which represent possible anti-cancer targets. Dr. Nalepa is investigating the weak points of the cancer cells, and testing these precision-medicine strategies in new models of childhood leukemia. Dr. Nalepa will use the results of this testing to generate personalized therapy driven by cancer-specific mutations that will be more effective and less toxic for children who suffer from leukemia.

This consortium is conducting the first multi-institutional, genomics-based precision medicine trial for children with relapsed, refractory, and very high-risk leukemias. They are deploying new technologies to sequence all currently known cancer-promoting genes in an individual child's leukemia. Next, guided by a multi-disciplinary group of leukemia experts, they will make treatment recommendations based upon the genomic findings in the child's leukemia and the availability of a relevant targeted drugs for children. Results from this project will define the types and frequency of specific mutations in children with relapsed/refractory leukemia, and assess the impact of the treatment recommendations on their clinical care. The consortium will also perform laboratory-based studies to determine the response to therapy in lab models derived from the patient's leukemia cells, to identify new drug targets for these children. Data generated in this proposal will inform future genomically-based targeted therapy trials for children with leukemia with the long-term goal of precise, safe, and more efficacious therapies for children with these diseases. Funds administered by Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.

This grant is named for Hannah’s Heroes, a Hero Fund established to honor Hannah Meeson. At age 6 she was diagnosed with anaplastic medulloblastoma. After a relapse and additional treatment, Hannah currently shows no evidence of disease. Throughout her treatments, Hannah never complained and remained positive and happy. This fund pays tribute to her fight by raising awareness and funding for all childhood cancers because kids like Hannah “are worth fighting for.”

This institution is a member of a research consortium which is being funded by St. Baldrick's: Pediatric LEukemiA Precision-based Therapy (LEAP) Consortium. For a description of this project, see the consortium grant made to the lead institution: Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA.

This institution is a member of a research consortium which is being funded by St. Baldrick's: Treehouse Childhood Cancer Initiative. For a description of this project, see the consortium grant made to the lead institution: University of California Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA.

Based on progress to date, Dr. John was awarded a new grant in 2018 to fund an additional year of this Fellow award. Unfortunately, even with intensive treatment, only 60% of children with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) will survive the disease. Intensifying standard therapies have failed to improve survival rates, so a new approach is needed. Dr. John is creating a novel receptor that will specifically target a marker on AML cells. He will put this new receptor on T-cells of the body, which will then target and kill the leukemia cells. Dr. John hopes to improve outcomes for pediatric AML with this grant.

This grant is generously supported by Super Soph's Pediatric Cancer Research Fund. Sophie Rossi was diagnosed with AML at 3 months of age. Throughout her courageous battle, she was always smiling, always joyful. This fund was created to honor her spunky, sweet spirit by funding research to find cures for AML and all childhood cancers.

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.

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.

Based on progress to date, Dr. Deel was awarded a new grant in 2018 to fund an additional year of this Fellow award. Rhabdomyosarcoma is a childhood cancer of the muscle that has two major subtypes. Children with the alveolar type do very poorly, as these are frequently recurrent and metastatic. Alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma cells have a specific fusion protein that is a powerful cancer driver and that does not yet have a pharmaceutical treatment. Dr. Deel and his team recently found that the Hippo pathway, normally functions to suppress tumor growth, is not correctly regulated in alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma, which leads to TAZ (a co-activator) activating pro-tumoric gene transcription.

As the Aiden's Army St. Baldrick's Fellow, Dr. Deel is studying the interaction between the protein and the co-activator TAZ as a novel therapeutic target. Aiden Binkley was diagnosed with Stage IV rhabdomyosarcoma at age 8. This bright, funny and courageous little boy believed he got cancer so he could grow up to find a cure for it. His vision is being carried on by Aiden’s Army through the funding of research. They will march until there is a cure!

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 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.