CureSearch Impact Report
Summer 2014
MAGGIE
Leukemia, age 3
As we work to find cures and improve treatments for children with cancer, we are guided by our CureSearch core values:
HONESTY & INTEGRITY
TRANSPARENCY & ACCOUNTABILITY
CREATIVITY & COLLABORATION
At just 9 weeks old, Tate Hartzler was diagnosed with hepatoblastoma, a rare liver cancer affecting children. After undergoing 12 weeks of chemotherapy, radiation, and surgery, Tate completed treatment when he was only 8 months old. 25 years ago, the prognosis for Tate would have been grim. Today, Tate and his family have every reason to look forward to the future.
CureSearch
works daily for
children like Tate.
ADVANCING RESEARCH
After all, in the last 30 years, research has been responsible for saving the lives of over 300,000 children with cancer. That is why we support research at all stages, from basic science to advanced clinical trials, because every phase of research holds the potential to save children's lives.
2014 Year to Date
 | ACCELERATION INITIATIVE RESEARCH |
New potential therapies tested on Ewing Sarcoma cells
Mary Beckerle, PhD
Huntsman Cancer Institute
at the University of Utah
$1.73 million
6-Month Progress Report
Compounds tested to inhibit medulloblastoma growth
William Weiss, MD, PhD
The Regents of the University of California,
San Francisco
$1.88 million
6-Month Progress Report
Novel treatment for an upcoming Phase I clinical trial
Kathleen Sakamoto, MD, PhD
Stanford University
$1.37 million
6-Month Progress Report
| YOUNG INVESTIGATORS |
"Without organizations like CureSearch many of these exciting scientific endeavors would not be possible...In the not too distant future, through these supported efforts, we truly believe we can discover better therapies that will lead to the eradication of pediatric sarcomas and other childhood cancers."
–Dr. Jason Yustein, CureSearch Young Investigator and recent recipient of a $2 million research grant
SUPPORTING FAMILIES
CureSearch hosts events around the country to honor children and families and rally communities in the fight against children's cancer. CureSearch continues to provide education and resources so that no child faces a diagnosis and treatment without a fully equipped team behind them.
 Webinars for family support Podcasts about cancer research |
 Educational videos explain cancer treatments Facts and figures |
 57 CureSearch Walks 4 CureSearch Ultimate Hikes in 34 states |
 412,000 unique visitors 28,500 participants |
ACCELERATING RESEARCH
In order to build momentum toward a cure for all children's cancers, CureSearch is:
| SUPPORTING CLINICAL TRIALS WITH $1.2 MILLION at 78 hospitals around the country |
| BUILDING THE PIPELINE of promising scientists studying children's cancer |
|
15 SCIENTISTS 3 Acceleration Initiative Research Teams |
15 DISEASE AREAS Affecting 15,700 |
One of our CureSearch Young Investigators, Dr. Alex Kentsis, explains his research on rhabdoid tumors, a rare and deadly form of childhood cancer.
| ACCELERATING THE PACE OF TRIALS |
patient studies developed by
CureSearch researchers
children enrolled in new trials
designed by CureSearch researchers
Acceleration Initiative Researcher Dr. Sakamoto discusses her upcoming Phase I clinical trial that uses an antibody therapy to treat children's tumors.
CURESEARCH FAMILIES
 |
 |
 |
"At CureSearch, we are committed to changing the odds for children most at risk for losing their battle with cancer. We know that the 15,700 infants, children, and adolescents diagnosed with cancer each year deserve new and better treatments, faster than at a pace of 2 in 25 years. We're fighting for the future every child deserves and every parent dreams of." - Laura Thrall, President and CEO of CureSearch for Children's Cancer |
After being diagnosed with Wilms tumor at age 2, Luke Anderson underwent 5 hospitalizations during 10 rounds of chemotherapy and 12 days of radiation. Together with his family's strength and determination, Luke made it through treatment successfully and is now a proud cancer survivor and a healthy second grader. |
Before her second birthday, Margo Miller was diagnosed with acute lymphocytic leukemia, the most common childhood cancer. During her second year of treatment, Margo's leukemia relapsed and became resistant to treatment. This spring, Margo began a novel immunotherapy treatment that uses her own immune system cells to fight her leukemia. |
At CureSearch, we fight daily for Luke, for Margo, and for the families and communities that rally around them as they battle this devastating disease.
YOUR SUPPORT MAKES THE
DIFFERENCE
Your support helps make cures possible for children like Savannah.
And at every step of the way, we will be sharing our progress and our impact with you.
Your support allows us to continue:
Advancing RESEARCH
Supporting FAMILIES
Accelerating the SEARCH
CURESEARCH PARTNERS
Our work would not be possible without the generous support of thousands of CureSearch donors.
We are honored to recognize the following donors for their extraordinary support:
| Nick Currey Fund Support for the Acceleration Initiative, "A Novel Epigenetic Strategy to Treat Ewing Sarcoma" |
Genentech Support for CureSearch Young Investigator, Survivorship and Late Effects |
|
| Team Jack Foundation Support for the Acceleration Initiative, "Overcoming Resistance in High Risk Medulloblastoma" |
sigma-tau Support for CureSearch Young Investigator, Adolescent and Young Adults |
|
| Hope Street Kids Support for the Acceleration Initiative |
Ronald McDonald House Charities Support for Educational Resources |
|
| Amgen Support for the Acceleration Initiative |
Pfizer Support for Educational Resources |
|
| Jacob Koenigs 'Jakefest' Memorial Fund and Kiewit Support for the Acceleration Initiative Support for CureSearch Young Investigator, Rhabdomyosarcoma |