CureSearch Announces International Grand Challenge Awards in Pediatric Cancer

Contact:
Christine Bork
Chief Development and Communications Officer
(240) 235-2208 | christine.bork@curesearch.org

Bethesda, Md – May 2, 2016 – CureSearch for Children’s Cancer announced today the opening of the application window for a $2,000,000 – $3,000,000 (USD) International Grand Challenge Awards opportunity that addresses three critical challenges in pediatric cancer treatments:

Grand Challenge 1: Validation of novel biomarkers to improve clinical outcomes for high-risk pediatric cancers.

Critical Barriers: Current practices rely on using “markers” (readouts) to diagnose, track progression and treat recurrent disease. Such “readouts” for high-risk pediatric cancers are not well defined. By using genomic or other molecular profiling of a patient’s own tumor, discovery of clinical markers can provide a more accurate diagnosis and be used to more effectively treat high-risk pediatric cancers using the most appropriate targeted therapy. The hope is to use molecular profiling approaches to improve the prognosis and treatment of high-risk pediatric cancers.

Grand Challenge 2: Novel approaches for complementary, combination therapies targeting high-risk pediatric cancers.

Critical Barriers: Combined therapies (two or more drugs) for pediatric cancers are not widely used in the clinic, but hold great promise. By combining two existing therapies, whose effects complement each other, the hope is to improve patient outcomes and lower toxicity. Studies that propose to combine therapies in the preclinical and/or clinical setting will expand treatment options in patients with high-risk pediatric cancers.

Grand Challenge 3: Accelerating novel therapeutics/innovative technologies developed for adults into the pediatric cancer realm.

Critical Barriers: Many therapeutics or technologies developed for adults have not been adequately tested for use in pediatric cancer patients. The need to bring these technologies to the pediatric cancer realm is high, and may have high impact on improving survival and outcomes for kids with cancer for whom there are currently no cures.

This grant opportunity is funded by CureSearch for Children’s Cancer to advance pediatric cancer research proposed by top researchers from the United States, Canada, and Europe. CureSearch has particular interest in collaborative projects and/or research that leverage existing regulatory guidelines or governmental programs that require or reward research in the development of new therapies for pediatric patients.

The application window opens Monday, May 2 via Proposal Central, with award notifications released in November 2016. Funding will be provided January 2017 – December 2019.

The complete Request for Applications is available here.

For more information this grant opportunity or pediatric cancer research sponsored by CureSearch for Children’s Cancer, contact Sarita Sastry, PhD, National Director, Research and Programs, (240) 235-2215, research@curesearch.org.

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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.

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