Johns Hopkins research into childhood leukemia awarded primary grant
ATLANTA, Jan. 8 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Sidney Kimmel
Comprehensive Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins has been named the primary
recipient of the 2006 grants from Curing Kids' Cancer, the charity that
raises money for leading edge pediatric cancer research through kids'
sports teams and school children.
A $100,000 grant was given to Johns Hopkins for research into new
targeted therapies for acute lymphoblastic leukemia, the most common
childhood cancer. The project, led by Dr. Curt Civin, is part of the
combined efforts at the Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center and the National
Cancer Institute.
"We are thrilled to help fund this promising research at Johns
Hopkins," said Grainne Owen, co-founder of Curing Kids' Cancer. "We are
determined to help the doctors find cures for childhood cancers -- turning
it from a killer disease into just another curable childhood illness -- in
our lifetime."
"We're honored to receive this grant from Curing Kids' Cancer," said
Dr. Civin. "We're especially honored because the money was raised by
children who want to help other children diagnosed with cancer."
The Aflac Cancer Center & Blood Disorders Service of Children's
Healthcare of Atlanta was awarded a $20,000 grant to fund pediatric
clinical trials and research to get new drugs "from the bench to the
bedside."
Curing Kids' Cancer also awarded a $10,000 grant to Baylor College of
Medicine/Texas Children's Cancer Center to support Dr. Jason's Shohet's
research towards developing novel treatments for neuroblastoma at Texas
Children's hospital. Neuroblastoma is a disease in which malignant cancer
cells form in nerve tissue of the adrenal gland, neck, chest, or spinal
cord. Neuroblastoma most often begins during early childhood, usually in
children younger than 5 years old. The average five-year survival rate for
children with neuroblastoma is 30 percent.
Smaller grants were also awarded to Palmetto Heath Children's Hospital,
Columbia, SC, and Los Angeles Children's Hospital to fund clinical trials
of new drugs, conduct research and develop innovative treatment options for
pediatric cancer patients.
Curing Kids' Cancer has two national grassroots programs -- Coaches
Curing Kids' Cancer and Teachers Curing Kids' Cancer. Both programs urge
parents and children to donate money to pediatric cancer research in the
name of their coach or teacher rather than buying gifts. Details of the
programs are available at http://www.curingkidscancer.org.
The grant to Johns Hopkins was made by Curing Kids' Cancer based on the
advice and recommendations of the charity's Medical Advisory Board,
consisting of 14 top pediatric oncologists and researchers from the United
States and Canada. Members of the board who applied for a grant did not
review the grant applications or vote for the awards.
About Curing Kids' Cancer
Inspired by nine-year-old Killian Owen's battle with leukemia, Curing
Kids' Cancer Inc. is a unique, national grassroots movement which aims to
raise both awareness and money to find cures for all types of childhood
cancer. Our programs fund the development of cutting edge therapies which
will revolutionize childhood cancer treatment by replacing traditional
chemotherapy. Our objective is to turn this killer disease into a curable
one in our lifetime. Details are available at http://www.curingkidscancer.org.
SOURCE Curing Kids' Cancer
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Related links:
http://www.curingkidscancer.org
CONTACT:
Clay Owen of Curing Kids' Cancer,
+1-404-538-0124, or clay@curingkidscancer.org
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