Grants Search Results

Based on progress to date, Dr. Lee, was awarded a new grant in 2016 to fund an additional year of this Scholar award. Immune cells can now be engineered to recognize and kill cancer cells, then administered to patients. Dr. Lee's project is one of the first to bring this promising new therapy to children with cancer. This research aims to discover how these cells work, how to better harness their potential and to determine which cell types are important for effective and persistent anti-tumor activity. Several clinical trials of this breakthrough therapy for children with cancer are scheduled to open at this institution and others in the next few years, and this work will increase the chance that these trials will be effective against childhood cancer. Awarded at the National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health and transferred to University of Virginia.

A portion of the grant was generously supported by the Hope from Harper Hero Fund created to honor Harper Wehneman who passed away from Wilms tumor when she was 9 years old. This fund continues her legacy of inspiring joy and bringing hope to kids fighting cancer by funding research in the area of stem cell transplant survival.

Based on progress to date, Dr. Nakamura, was awarded a new grant in 2016 to fund an additional year of this Scholar award. Survivors of childhood cancers are susceptible to developing second malignant neoplasms, which are complications of cancer treatments. Dr. Nakamura's lab has developed new experimental models that closely replicate this clinical problem, which they are using to study the biologic basis for second malignant neoplasms. This research improves the understanding of the genetic and biochemical mechanisms causing second malignant neoplasms, which may lead to improved cancer prevention strategies for childhood cancer survivors and the general population.

A portion grant is generously supported by the Morgan and Friends Fund, a St. Baldrick's Hero Fund, created to honor Morgan Loudon. It celebrates her strength and determination as a cancer survivor while rallying family and friends to “battle on” in the search for cures and better treatments.

Based on progress to date, Dr. Wang, was awarded a new grant in 2016 to fund an additional year of this Scholar award. AML (acute myelogenous leukemia) is an often-fatal disease in children and adolescents. Part of the reason for limited success in curing AML is that current therapies don't attack the cancer stem cells that are responsible for maintaining the leukemia. Dr. Wang's research seeks to identify specific ways to target those hard-to-kill AML stem cells. To do this Dr. Wang is using the cutting-edge technologies of phosphoproteomics, which allow researchers to look at biologically vital pathways in cancer stem cells in a comprehensive, efficient, and novel manner. Awarded at Children's Hospital Boston and transferred to City of Hope.

A portion of this research was funded by P.A.L.S. Bermuda with funds raised through the St. Baldrick's Foundation.

Based on progress to date, Dr. Curran, was awarded a new grant in 2016 to fund an additional year of this Scholar award. Our body can fight off infections using the immune system. This is why we feel better a few days after catching a cold. Our body can fight cancer in the same way, and the goal of Kevin Curran, M.D., AVM Traders St. Baldrick's Scholar's research is to teach the body to do that. This project aims to modify the immune system through gene therapy to create "cancer assassins" that target cancer cells. Ultimately, this method of cancer treatment may eliminate cancer without the side effects of current treatments such as chemotherapy (drugs) or radiation (x-rays).

This grant is named for AVM Traders, a company that has raised more than $1 million for childhood cancer research through the St. Baldrick's Foundation.

Based on progress to date, Dr. Vanan, was awarded a new grant in 2016 to fund an additional year of this Scholar award. Issai Vanan, M.D., M.P.H., studies medulloblastoma, the most common malignant brain tumor in children. High-risk medulloblastoma patients have low disease-free survival. Radiotherapy used in its treatment has significant long-term side-effects and new therapeutic strategies are needed that will minimize these side effects. The goals of this project are to validate and study the clinical importance of genes that may play a role in radiation resistance of medulloblastomas. Dr. Vanan hopes to identify new therapeutic targets/drugs that are therapeutic while using much lower doses of radiation, thereby reducing the negative side effects of radiotherapy. A portion of the grant was named in loving memory of Fr. Peter J. McKenna, beloved brother of former St. Baldrick's board member John McKenna, and in honor of John's incredible dedication and service. Awarded at The Feinstein Institute for Medical Research and transferred to CancerCare Manitoba.

Ewing sarcoma relies on a gene called EWS-FLI1 to grow and spread throughout the body. Studies have previously shown a drug called ET-743 turns this gene off. In this work, Dr. Grohar's lab is trying to find drugs similar to ET-743 that may turn off EWS-FLI1 more effectively. In addition, they are looking to see if shutting down this gene creates a sensitivity to other chemotherapeutic drugs, especially the combination of ET-743 and a drug called irinotecan, which may be particularly effective at treating Ewing sarcoma.

High levels of the receptor for a specific growth factor have been linked to a type of leukemia where children have a poor survival rate. This project studies the role of the growth factor that stimulates this receptor in the progression of leukemia. Understanding the contribution of the growth factor and its receptor to disease will help researchers develop drugs that can target these molecules and increase survival in children with leukemia.

Brain tumors are the leading cause of cancer-related death in children. Unfortunately, current treatments leave most children that survive with severe disabilities, due to the harsh and nonspecific nature of the therapy. In order to improve overall survival and minimize this toxicity, new treatments that specifically target cancer cells and spare surrounding normal non-cancer cells are needed. To achieve this, Dr. Praveen is working to test and optimize new therapies specifically against cancer cells and not surrounding normal cells.

Identical twins have the exact same DNA sequence. Epigenomic changes might cause freckles on one twin and not the other. Now we know that mutated genes in cancer alter the epigenome. Dr. Thiele is working to identify the epigenetic genes involved in stimulating neuroblastoma growth. Neuroblastoma accounts for over 10% of all deaths in children due to cancer. This project aims to turn off the expression of the different epigenetic genes in the tumor cells and determine which ones, when turned off, cause the tumor cells to stop growing. Then researchers can look for or design drugs that inhibit these genes, to stop tumor growth in patients.

Ewings sarcoma, the second most common bone cancer in children and young adults, is very aggressive. Current treatments are not very effective at curing the disease and patients often experience a recurrence of their cancer. Dr. Van Meir is looking for new and more effective treatments for this type of tumor. His laboratory has found a small molecule (KCN1) that they believe may reduce the growth of Ewings sarcoma. KCN1 binds with EWS-FLI1 which is known to stimulate the growth of Ewings sarcoma. Earlier attempts at using a recombinant EWS-FLI1 to produce targeted therapy have been difficult due to the lack of information about the structural makeup of EWS-FLI1. In this project researchers are investigating 1) How the binding occurs between EWS-FLI1 and KCN1, 2) Whether the KCN1 reduces the expression of the EWS-FLI1 gene that causes Ewings and 3) Does KCN1 interfere with Ewings sarcoma development.

Despite major improvement in outcomes for children and older adults with cancer over the past three decades, there has been little or no improvement in survival among adolescent and young adult (AYA) cancer patients (ages 15-39 years). The reasons for this disparity are not completely understood and likely include many factors, including differences in tumor biology, insurance coverage, clinical trial participation and adherence to treatment. This research aims to produce detailed information about the factors affecting AYA cancer incidence and survival that will help doctors target care and close this gap. The project will also produce detailed information for local cancer care service providers on where to target their efforts, and information that will help clinicians recruit AYA patients most in need of help to clinical trials to address their needs.

Having friends is vitally important for all children. Children surviving brain tumors often have physical problems (jerky movements, slurred speech, etc.) and cognitive delays caused by their disease or treatment. These cancer survivors are frequently described by peers as "not well liked," "having few friends" and "isolated". This puts them at risk for being bullied, dropping out of school, becoming anxious or depressed, and being less likely to marry or have good jobs as adults. Dr. Noll is conducting a research-backed, school-based project to support brain tumor survivors' social involvement by training classmates to be more inclusive of others viewed as "different."

Dr. Phipps is studying what happens to children who were treated with bone marrow transplant for cancer many years ago. This is a very challenging treatment that can cause problems for survivors in a number of areas, including their thinking and learning ability, their physical health, and their ability to have children. He is learning how these children and young adults are faring relative to their healthy peers, to identify factors that lead to better or poorer outcomes so that researchers can develop treatments to prevent any negative effects.

Although most children with leukemia can be cured, chemotherapy frequently causes permanent brain dysfunction in survivors. With previous support from St. Baldricks, Dr. Cole's lab identified promising protective interventions, and he will now test them among those children at greatest risk for brain damage. To identify this population researchers are studying whether variation in neurocognitive function among leukemia survivors is related to specific inherited differences in genes related to repair mechanisms or to metabolism of drugs thought to cause cognitive deficits.

This institution is a member of a research consortium which is being funded by St. Baldrick's: Comprehensive Approach to Improve Medication Adherence in Pediatric ALL. For a description of this project, see the consortium grant made to the lead institution: the University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL.

This institution is a member of a research consortium which is being funded by St. Baldrick's: Comprehensive Approach to Improve Medication Adherence in Pediatric ALL. For a description of this project, see the consortium grant made to the lead institution: the University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL.

Rhabdomyosarcoma is the most common pediatric soft tissue sarcoma. The two main subtypes, embryonal and alveolar, are defined by their appearance under the microscope. However, identification of a unique gene mutation in alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma identifies a subgroup with worse prognosis. Future studies may use this gene mutation rather than microscopic appearance to determine risk stratification and treatment, but before instituting this strategy researchers must confirm the role of fusion status in low-risk and metastatic rhabdomyosarcoma. This consortium is examining low-risk and high-risk clinical trials of the COG (Children's Oncology Group) to confirm the importance of fusion status in determining treatment for patients with rhabdomyosarcoma. Awarded at Oregon Health & Science University and transferred to Seattle Children's Hospital.

This institution is a member of a research consortium which is being funded by St. Baldrick's: Prognostic significance of gene fusion in low or high risk rhabdomyosarcoma. For a description of this project, see the consortium grant made to the lead institution: Seattle Children's Hospital, Seattle, WA.

This institution is a member of a research consortium which is being funded by St. Baldrick's: Comprehensive Approach to Improve Medication Adherence in Pediatric ALL. For a description of this project, see the consortium grant made to the lead institution: the University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL.

This institution is a member of a research consortium which is being funded by St. Baldrick's: Prognostic significance of gene fusion in low or high risk rhabdomyosarcoma. For a description of this project, see the consortium grant made to the lead institution: Seattle Children's Hospital, Seattle, WA.