Grants Search Results

Intracranial Germ Cell Tumors (GCT) are rare brain tumors found mostly in teenagers, and their biology is poorly understood. We are generating the largest comprehensive genetic profiles of these tumors in collaboration with multiple institutions, to help us understand how these tumors arise and what determines their biological and clinical behavior. This may lead to new therapeutic targets. We will also develop a test that requires only small amount of tumor tissue to correctly sub-classify intracranial GCTs, and initiate the first-ever cell lines of these tumors for determining the impact of these genetic abnormalities and for preclinical drug screening.

Low-grade gliomas are the most common brain tumors of childhood. However, they are quite a mixed collection of tumors, varying in aggressiveness and thus outcome for affected children. Diffuse astrocytomas represent about 20-30% of such low-grade gliomas of childhood, and have been recognized to have a relatively poorer prognosis (for recurrence and death) than the other more common variety, pilocytic astrocytomas. Scant evidence has suggested that, like adults, some children with these diffuse astrocytomas fare poorly because they transform to more malignant gliomas, called anaplastic astrocytoma and glioblastoma multiforme. This study aims to clearly document either the prevalence and the timing of this malignant transformation of childhood diffuse astrocytomas. Dr. Zaky began his research at New York University School of Medicine and moved to the Children's Hospital Los Angeles in 2011

Based on progress to date, Dr. Wood was awarded a new grant in 2012 to fund an optional third year of this fellowship. A drug called an ALK inhibitor can successfully attack the most common ALK mutation, which is harbored in 10% of neuroblastomas. To maximize cure rates we must learn how to inhibit every mutation. This project aims to discover how ALK mutations cause neuroblastoma by working out what incorrect messages different mutations send to the cell. Identifying the molecules carrying these messages could provide additional cancer targets to attack. We are especially interested in drugs called kinase inhibitors. This approach could lead to novel targeted therapies which can attack the tumor while sparing healthy cells, leading to higher cure rates.

Since the majority of children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) will survive, understanding how to limit the acute and long-term toxicities of treatment is increasingly important. Toxicities of the bone, including fracture and osteonecrosis, are serious complications. Dr. Vrooman's project accesses how bone mineral density changes in children being treated for ALL, so future interventions may decrease skeletal morbidity in these children. She is funded by P.A.L.S. Bermuda with funds raised through the St. Baldrick's Foundation.

Based on progress to date, Dr. Arvanitis was awarded a new grant in 2011 to fund an optional third year of this fellowship. Osteosarcoma is the most common pediatric bone cancer, which frequently spreads (or metastasizes) to the lung and is then often fatal. Dr. Arvanitis is studying the role of transendothelial migration in osteosarcoma, with the ultimate goal of developing therapies against metastases in pediatric cancers.

The Ewings sarcoma family of tumors (ESFTs) is the second most common cancer of bone and soft tissue in children, and has a 20-30% overall survival rate in those children with widespread disease. Dr. Dela Cruz is working to understand the pathways involved in the development of ESFTs, which will be essential to discovering new molecular targets to treat and cure these patients.

Based on progress to date, Dr. Mulcahy-Levy was awarded a new grant in 2011 to fund an optional third year of this fellowship. Understanding how cancer cells die is important in designing new therapies and improving the effectiveness of currently used therapies to cure childhood cancers. One element of cell death is called autophagy, a system the cell uses to break down as it dies, the focus of Dr. Mulcahy-Levy's project.

This research focuses on hematopoietic progenitor/stem cell (HPC) transplantation. (These stem cells are not embryonic; they are present in everyone's bone marrow and can be harvested from donors.) Dr. Parekh is working on methods to expand HPC to facilitate the use of cord blood and the use of gene therapy to treat leukemia, an important step toward a cure.

This new doctor is supported for training to specialize in pediatric oncology research, funded for 2 years or more.

This new doctor is supported for training to specialize in pediatric oncology research, funded for 2 years or more.

This new doctor is supported for training to specialize in pediatric oncology research, funded for 2 years or more.

This new doctor is supported for training to specialize in pediatric oncology research, funded for 2 years or more.

This new doctor is supported for training to specialize in pediatric oncology research, funded for 2 years or more.

This new doctor is supported for training to specialize in pediatric oncology research, funded for 2 years or more.

Dr. Hettmer is looking to better understand the development of rhabdomyosarcoma (a cancer of the muscle or soft tissue), its aggressive behavior and poor response to current therapies, by analyzing the differences between genetically altered muscle-associated cells and their normal counterparts. Her findings aim to clarify the cancer's early development and progression, and facilitate in the development of new, more effective treatments. Dr. Hettmer is funded by P.A.L.S. Bermuda with funds raised through the St. Baldrick's Foundation.

Dr. Mostoufi-Moab is investigating how intensive chemotherapy and radiation therapy affect normal bones in young children. Bone development is affected by puberty, nutrition and mechanical loading. Chemotherapy and radiation for leukemia can affect bone development and strengthening, resulting in osteoporosis and bone fractures as early as young adulthood. The goal of this study is to determine bone structure and strength in 50 survivors of childhood leukemia 4-6 years after bone marrow transplantation. The results will guide future intervention studies to help develop appropriate therapies to reduce and/or treat bone disorders in survivors of childhood leukemia after bone marrow transplantation.

Pediatric brain tumors form when the signals controlling normal brain development fail, and these remain one of the most difficult types of cancers to cure. Dr. Raabe is studying the process of how a neural stem cell turns into a normal brain cell, and investigating how to reprogram the out-of-control tumor cells into mature cells, to help to prevent and eradicate pediatric brain tumors.

High grade gliomas, an aggressive type of brain tumor, have a survival rate of 1 to 3 years and are typically treated with radiation, surgery and chemotherapy. Dr. Vanan hypothesizes that the ionizing radiation (IR) used to treat the cancer activates a MRK protein that increases the invasiveness of the tumor cells, causing a high probability of relapse. By studying and understanding the causes of IR stimulated invasion and the recurrence of high grade brain tumors, he hopes to identify new drug targets to better treat and cure these aggressive tumors.

This new doctor is supported for training to specialize in pediatric oncology research, funded for 2 years or more.

This new doctor is supported for training to specialize in pediatric oncology research, funded for 2 years or more.