Working together for children with cancer

December 7, 2009
Dana-Farber/Children's Hospital Cancer Care Researchers Receive Innovative Research Grants

Pediatric researchers from Children's Hospital Boston and Dana-Farber Cancer Institute have been awarded four of 13 Innovative Research Grants, distributed by the advocacy group Stand Up 2 Cancer (SU2C). Grant recipients will receive up to $750,000 during the next three years for what SU2C describes as "high risk/high reward" research. The award recipients and their projects are:

  • Fernando Camargo, PhD, Children's Hospital Boston Stem Cell Program: An Emerging Tumor Suppressor Pathway in Human Cancer
  • Charles M. Roberts, MD, PhD, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute: Therapeutically Targeting the Epigenome in Aggressive Pediatric Cancers
  • Kimberly Stegmaier, MD, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute: Modulating Transcription Factor Abnormalities in Pediatric Cancer
  • Loren D. Walensky, MD, PhD, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute: A Transformative Technology to Capture and Drug New Cancer Targets

SU2C and its scientific partner, the American Association for Cancer Research (AARC), awarded a total of $9.68 million in Innovative Research Grants to study proposals that challenge existing paradigms in cancer research, regardless of whether or not they have been supported by preliminary proof-of-concept research. The grant selection process began in late 2008, and the review committee considered 412 letters of intent from young researchers in the early stages of their careers.

"This is a great honor," said Edward J. Benz, Jr., MD, president of Dana-Farber.

"This success speaks to the quality of our young investigators, the promise of their research and vision, and the investments we have made in turning scientific discoveries into new therapies for patients."

The grants were created in honor of the late Children's cancer researcher Judah Folkman, MD. Folkman's pioneering work in cancer-related angiogenesis led to the development of new cancer treatments. "Dr. Folkman spoke passionately about the need to fund young investigators," says Sherry Lansing, an SU2C founding member and board chair of the Entertainment Industry Foundation. "It's fitting to honor him by funding the next generation of potential research stars. Their work will be an important tribute to his legacy and his dream of defeating cancer."

Video: Edward J. Benz, Jr, MD, explains the importance of the awards

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