$1.26M Awarded to Researcher Accelerating the Search for Children’s Cancer Cures

For Immediate Release
Contact:
Sarita Sastry, PhD
National Director, Research and Programs
(240) 235-2215 | research@curesearch.org

Bethesda, Md – CureSearch for Children’s Cancer (CureSearch) awarded a total of $1.26M (USD) to a leading pediatric cancer researcher for the Acceleration Initiative 3 Grand Challenge Award. Selected from 33 competitive applicants from the US and Canada, the winning research proposal will address critical challenges in pediatric cancer treatments and accelerate the discovery of clinical biomarkers to be used to inform diagnosis and treatment.

With a grant award of $1.26M, Andrew Kung, MD, PhD, from Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York, New York, will lead the study entitled “Integrative analysis to identify new therapies for pediatric sarcoma.” The project will study high-risk pediatric sarcomas – rhabdomyosarcoma, Ewing sarcoma, osteosarcoma – and identify key “master regulators” using a novel molecular profiling platform. “Master regulators” will be matched to FDA approved drugs and novel agents and tested in preclinical models. The study will advance the development of new treatments for pediatric sarcomas that will ultimately be tested in pediatric clinical trials.

“We are thrilled to announce that Andrew Kung is the recipient of this Grand Challenge Award,” said Laura Thrall, chief executive officer of CureSearch for Children’s Cancer. “Most importantly, we are excited to see how his research will address new therapies for pediatric sarcoma and help us accelerate the search for children’s cancer cures.”

Launched in 2013, the Acceleration Initiative is CureSearch’s three-phase, $10 million commitment to surface the most promising children’s cancer research, to drive it to clinical practice, and to quickly find better treatments and cures. Acceleration Initiative 3 focuses on areas of greatest challenge in high-risk pediatric cancers that have the highest likelihood of reaching the clinic. As an outcomes driven approach, CureSearch is committed to funding research that not only meets scientific excellence, but also has the highest potential for clinical drug development and commercialization. The combined brain trust of the Scientific Advisory Council and the Industry Advisory Council ensures that our research projects meet these standards. Through AI-3, CureSearch is investing in research that will not only reach the clinic, but also lead to cures that are available to all children who need them.

For more information about the Acceleration Initiative-3 grant program, visit curesearch.org/AI-3.

###

CureSearch for Children’s Cancer

CureSearch for Children’s Cancer, a national nonprofit organization based in Bethesda, MD, works to end childhood cancer by driving targeted and innovative research with measurable results in an accelerated time frame. CureSearch is building a $10 million research pipeline to aggressively drive pediatric research grants and clinical trials that have a higher chance of becoming cures for children’s cancer without the toxic side effects that plague current treatment options.

For more information, follow CureSearch on Twitter @curesearch or join the conversation on Facebook at www.facebook.com/curesearch.

Pin It on Pinterest

Scroll to Top