LOS ANGELES—Officials at the St. Baldrick’s Foundation has named two Michigan hospitals among 17 grant winners of $819,000 in grants to advance research into children’s cancers. The Los Angeles-based foundation is the largest private funder of childhood cancer research grants.
The Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital in Grand Rapids received a $50,000 infrastructure grant to support the hiring of a clinical research coordinator to ensure that more children can be treated with clinical trials.
And Children’s Hospital of Michigan in Detroit received a $48,000 infrastructure grant to support the hiring of a clinical research associate to boost enrollment in clinical trials.
Officials at the foundation say clinical trials offer both children in treatment and survivors the possibility of a better future with fewer side effects. This research also help scientists to improve upon the standard treatments of today, making significant strides towards more effective and less toxic cures for children now and in the future.
“Though the rise in survivorship is something to celebrate, many treatments and their lasting effects have not changed much in decades, and for some types of childhood cancer, there still is no cure. We can see that our investment in research is yielding results, but there is so much more to do,” said Kathleen Ruddy, St. Baldrick’s CEO. “These clinical trials that St. Baldrick’s is supporting will help research progress further to help more children survive and have a better quality of life after treatment.”
This series of grants brings the St. Baldrick’s Foundation’s funding total to more than $19 million awarded in 2020. Since 2005, St. Baldrick’s has awarded more than $305 million to support the most promising childhood cancer research, no matter where it takes place.
To help St. Baldrick’s continue to fund critical research go to StBaldricks.org to learn the many ways you can get involved and donate. Or join the Speak Up for Kids’ Cancer advocacy action network to encourage federal lawmakers to continue to fund childhood cancer research.