Childhood Cancer Research Grant Given in Memory of Vacaville Child

VACAVILLE, Calif. (September 20, 2017) – The St. Baldrick’s Foundation, the largest private funder of childhood cancer research grants, is proud to announce that a St. Baldrick’s Hero Fund created in honor of Amanda Rozman, from Vacaville, Calif., will be supporting lifesaving childhood cancer research.

This year, the Amanda Rozman Pediatric Cancer Research Hero Fund helped to support a St. Baldrick’s Research Grant for William Weiss, M.D., Ph.D., at the University of California, San Francisco. With this $100,000 grant, Dr. Weiss will investigate Tert, a protein that is involved in the replication of chromosomes, to determine if it is a cancer-driver for neuroblastoma tumor growth. Half of neuroblastoma diagnoses are high-risk with poor survival. Understanding abnormalities that drive high-risk neuroblastoma will enable the development of new therapies to treat this specific cancer.

“Our daughter, Amanda, was diagnosed with stage IV high-risk neuroblastoma and was treated primarily at UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital San Francisco,” said Michelle Rozman, Amanda’s mother. “This research will provide a better understanding of the drivers for high-risk neuroblastoma, and we hope it will be helpful in finding more effective treatments for this devastating disease. Ron and I are pleased to assist with the funding of Dr. Weiss’ research grant as a tribute to Amanda’s memory.”

The Amanda Rozman Pediatric Cancer Research Hero Fund was created in memory of Amanda Rozman, who was diagnosed with stage IV high-risk neuroblastoma at the age of 16 months. The treatment for high-risk neuroblastoma is among the most aggressive in all of clinical medicine. Amanda’s strong will and positive attitude helped her through all the clinical trials and many other treatment protocols and were amazing for a child her age. Her family enjoyed two years of remission before she relapsed and passed away at 4 years old.

Amanda leaves a loving legacy of a happy, affectionate little girl who battled cancer with courage and grace. This fund focuses on research to improve the efficacy and number of treatments available for relapsed and refractory neuroblastoma.

A St. Baldrick’s Hero Fund is an ongoing way for friends, family members, or groups to donate or raise funds for a loved one. To learn more about the program visit the Hero Fund page.

About St. Baldrick’s Foundation
As the largest private funder of childhood cancer research grants, the St. Baldrick’s Foundation believes that kids are special and deserve to be treated that way. St. Baldrick’s is leading the charge to take childhood back from cancer by funding the most brilliant childhood cancer research experts who are working to find cures and better treatments for all childhood cancers. Kids need treatments as unique as they are – and that starts with funding research just for them. Join us at StBaldricks.org to help support the best cancer treatments for kids.

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