CureSearch for Children’s Cancer is pleased to welcome Osama Alsaleh to our Board of Directors. A healthcare leader with extensive experience in innovation, venture capital partnerships, health equity, philanthropy, and technology, Alsaleh joins the board with a shared commitment to accelerating new and better treatments for children with cancer.

As Head of Partnerships at Plug and Play Health, a leading global innovation platform and the most active venture capital firm globally, Alsaleh is committed to advancing
global healthcare solutions and key collaborations across the industry.

His career spans healthcare IT, strategic partnerships, regulatory collaboration, and global health initiatives. Alsaleh spearheaded the creation of Oracle’s health equity team, shaping transformative strategies for social determinants of health, accessibility, and more. Earlier in his career at Oracle Health, Alsaleh contributed to the evaluation and allocation of more than $42 million in healthcare grants through the Oracle Charitable Foundation Clinical Decision Committee.

His expertise extends to regulatory compliance, having advised on quality reporting measures and collaborated with industry leaders on CMS initiatives, the White House Covid-19 Taskforce, and US State Department. As a global advocate for sustainable solutions, he brings a wealth of experience and a track record of strategic planning,
partnership development, and convening leaders across healthcare, technology, and investment to drive meaningful progress, spanning leading organizations such as the World Bank Group, World Health Organization, Cerner, Oracle and now Plug and Play.

“Throughout my work, I have consistently observed that innovations focused on pediatrics, particularly pediatric oncology, remain significantly underfunded and underrepresented within mainstream venture capital and innovation ecosystems,” said Alsaleh. “By leveraging my network across venture capital, startups, healthcare institutions, and technology companies, I aim to help attract new technologies, strategic partners, and resources that can accelerate progress toward cures for children with cancer.”

“Osama brings a unique and highly valuable perspective to CureSearch. His ability to connect innovation, investment, and healthcare will help expand our reach and unlock new opportunities to advance critical research for children with cancer. We are excited to have him join the board at this important time for our organization,” said Jared Brancazio, Chair of CureSearch’s Board of Directors.

Please join us in welcoming Osama Alsaleh to CureSearch.

For children facing relapsed neuroblastoma, treatment options are limited and outcomes remain devastatingly poor. Yet a promising new approach may help change that.

CureSearch for Children’s Cancer is proud to announce that Dr. Robbie Majzner at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute has been selected as the recipient of the 2026 CureSearch Catapult Award.

This $2 million investment, co-funded with the Jeff Gordon Children’s Foundation, will support a Phase I clinical trial evaluating a next-generation CAR T-cell therapy for children and young adults with relapsed or refractory neuroblastoma.

The Catapult Award is designed to help bridge one of the most challenging gaps in pediatric cancer research: moving promising discoveries from the laboratory into clinical trials where they can begin helping children. By investing at this critical stage, CureSearch helps accelerate the development of new treatments for childhood cancers that urgently need better options.

Neuroblastoma is the most common solid tumor outside the brain in children and accounts for more than 10% of childhood cancer deaths. For children with high-risk disease, survival rates remain below 50% despite decades of research. Even among survivors, therapy can leave lasting physical and emotional effects.

While CAR T-cell therapy has transformed treatment for certain blood cancers, achieving similar success in solid tumors such as neuroblastoma has proven far more difficult.

CAR T-cell therapy works by engineering a patient’s own immune cells to recognize and attack cancer. One of the challenges in neuroblastoma is that these cells can become exhausted over time, limiting their ability to continue fighting the disease.

Dr. Majzner and his team are working to overcome that obstacle.

Their approach targets GD2, a molecule found on the surface of neuroblastoma cells, and incorporates a novel signaling protein called ZAP70. The goal is to help CAR T cells remain active longer, resist exhaustion, and sustain their attack against cancer cells.

In preclinical studies, these redesigned CAR T cells demonstrated stronger anti-tumor activity, improved persistence, and signs of a potentially improved safety profile compared with traditional GD2-targeted CAR T-cell therapies.

Now, with support from CureSearch, that research is moving beyond the laboratory and into a clinical trial.

The Phase I study will evaluate the therapy’s safety and help researchers better understand its potential to improve outcomes for children and young adults facing one of the most difficult-to-treat forms of childhood cancer.

“Current GD2 CAR T cells only work in patients with small amounts of disease. We’ve designed a brand-new CAR architecture that breaks past limitations to success in lab models, and this trial will allow us to bring this advanced therapy to the children who need it most,” said Dr. Majzner. “The CureSearch Catapult Award is vital to our mission; it gives us the momentum to catapult this science out of the lab and directly to the forefront of patient care.”

The potential impact extends far beyond this trial alone. If successful, this approach could lead to a new treatment option for children with relapsed neuroblastoma and other GD2-expressing cancers, while also advancing the broader field of CAR T-cell therapy for pediatric and adult cancers.

“One of the greatest challenges in pediatric cancer research is ensuring that promising discoveries reach children,” said Dr. Paisley Myers, Senior Director of Research & Programs at CureSearch. “Through the Catapult Award, CureSearch helps move innovative therapies from the laboratory into clinical trials. Dr. Majzner’s work exemplifies the bold, high-potential research we were created to support, and we’re proud to help bring this promising therapy closer to children with neuroblastoma.”

By identifying and funding high-potential research at critical moments of development, CureSearch helps bring promising therapies closer to children faster. With the support of our community, we can continue investing in bold science that has the potential to change what is possible for children diagnosed with cancer.

The story of David Benyo is one of those.

In December of 1997, David’s parents discovered something no parent ever wants to find. What followed was a rhabdomyosarcoma diagnosis and the fight that would define the next two and a half years of their lives.

David was fierce. When nurses came to do what nurses had to do, this little four-year-old would look them square in the eye and announce, “I’m a cheetah!” He meant it. The nurses always said the feisty ones are the fighters. For the next year David endured chemotherapy, surgery, and blood transfusions. Treatment went well, and David’s grapefruit-sized tumor retreated. Soon enough David and his family were enjoying a Make-A-Wish trip to Disney World. It was everything a wish should be. 

But not long after they came home, the cancer returned, this time in his bone marrow. Doctors threw everything they had at it—high-dose chemotherapy, radiation, and one of the first pediatric stem cell transplants ever performed at Minneapolis Children’s Hospital. David went into remission again. Then his cancer returned for the second time.

There was nothing more doctors could do. David was not yet seven years old when he told his family he didn’t want any more treatment. They brought him home and kept him close. In May of 2000, David passed away, leaving behind a mother, a father, a little sister who said, “Mommy, half of me is gone,” and everyone who had the gift of knowing him.

Alicia was one of those people.

She and David were kindergarten classmates who also attended the same church, where Alicia’s mother taught Sunday school. They were friends the way kids become friends: simply and completely.

When David died, Alicia lost her first friend. For years, the grief took a specific shape. She wanted nothing to do with cancer. It took the people you loved, and she couldn’t talk about it.

But she never stopped staying in touch with his mom, Michele.

When Alicia graduated from high school, she called Michele and told her she wanted her there. After the ceremony, she pressed a locket into Michele’s hands. Inside was David’s photo and the words “We remember.”

“David walked across the stage with me,” she said.

Today, Alicia is a special needs teacher at the very elementary school her and David attended. Recently, Alicia lost her mother, David’s Sunday school teacher, to cancer. She had been woven into this story from the very beginning and now she was gone too.

This August, Alicia will lace up her boots to join Michele at the CureSearch Ultimate Hike along Minnesota’s Superior Hiking Trail. She’s hiking for David, for her mom, and for every family that’s ever sat inside a grief too heavy for words — because sometimes the only thing left to do with that kind of loss is turn it into something positive. 

Together, Michele and Alicia will cover 25.5 miles of rugged, beautiful trail on the Superior Hiking Trail. Every step is healing.

“Me and my mom were best friends, just like I was friends with David,” Alicia says. “This gives me the opportunity to do something meaningful for both of them.”

That is what the CureSearch Ultimate Hike is: purpose and hope.

CureSearch is changing the odds for every child diagnosed with cancer, funding the researchers and the breakthroughs working to give kids like David different endings. With every mile hiked and every dollar raised, Michele and Alicia help make this work possible.

Would you lace up your boots and join them on the trail? Learn more and register at curesearch.org/ultimate-hike.

That is when we heard the words that changed everything. They had found a tumor on her kidney. We were suddenly entering a world we had never imagined: that of pediatric cancer.

Doctors initially believed they would need to remove her entire left kidney. But one doctor shared a small thread of hope. If treatment worked well enough, they might be able to remove the tumor while preserving part of it. After weeks of chemotherapy and a long surgery day, the doctors delivered the news we had been hoping for. They removed the tumor and preserved about 60 percent of her healthy kidney.

But the journey was not over. The tumor was diagnosed as Stage 3 anaplastic Wilms tumor, which meant 32 weeks of chemotherapy. There were long hospital days, exhaustion, and moments that broke me as a mother. But there were also moments of joy. She kept cheering with her teammates and even met the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders, the women she dreams of becoming one day.

From the beginning, I made one promise to my daughters. I would never lie to them. We faced every step together. Throughout treatment we watched videos of other children ringing the bell at the end of chemotherapy. We imagined the day it would be her turn. And then one day, it was.

Surrounded by doctors, nurses, family, and friends, she rang the bell to mark the end of treatment. That day also happened to fall on my late mother’s birthday. Today, Amari is in survivorship.

”If there is one thing I want other families to know, it is this. Do not lose hope. And when the bell rings, it is a sound you will never forget.”

– Cora H., mom to Amari

Today, Amari is thriving. She loves the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders, K-pop, Demon Slayer, Target, Barbies, and dancing. Throughout her journey, she never let her diagnosis dim her light or stop her from doing what she loves most, which is cheerleading. She is a reminder of why this work matters and what is possible when families are supported and research moves forward.

June is Cancer Survivors Month, and Amari’s story is one of thousands. Your donation helps ensure that more children get the chance to ring the bell, to keep cheering, and to grow into everything they dream of becoming. Make an impact this Cancer Survivors Month.

But we also know that for families facing childhood cancer today, progress doesn’t only happen in research labs.

Children and families need emotional, psychological, and social support at every stage of the cancer journey – from diagnosis through treatment and into survivorship. Community-based programs and local hospital initiatives play a vital role in meeting those immediate needs, helping families navigate an incredibly challenging time with care, dignity, and connection.

In 2026, CureSearch is proud to expand our impact through the CureSearch Community Impact Awards (CCIA), made possible by a generous grant gift from Resonance Philanthropies. These awards represent a meaningful complement to our research funding, supporting psychosocial programs that strengthen care for children with cancer and their families while scientific breakthroughs continue to advance.

Each 2026 CCIA recipient will receive up to $15,000 to support programs designed to improve emotional and behavioral well-being. Funded initiatives may include support groups, educational resources, workshops, and therapeutic offerings such as play or art therapy – services that help children and families feel supported, informed, and less alone.

2026 CureSearch Community Impact Award Recipients

We are so thankful for our community of supporters like CureSearch. Your generosity and spirit allow us to focus on what matters most: caring for children.

~ Jennifer Roe Darling, President and CEO, Children’s Hospital Colorado Foundation

We are honored to support these outstanding pediatric cancer centers and the compassionate teams behind them. Their work reflects a shared belief that caring for children with cancer means caring for the whole child – and the family beside them.

Together, through both research and community-based support, we are helping move childhood cancer care forward on every front.

Julianne Averill

Julianne Averill is a healthcare AI CFO/CBO, board director, and strategic advisor with more than 20 years of experience supporting science-driven organizations across the life sciences, biotech, and digital health ecosystem. She is a Managing Director at Danforth Health, where she partners with leadership teams and boards to help translate complex science into scalable, patient-impacting solutions.

Julianne serves on multiple nonprofit and corporate boards and is deeply committed to volunteer leadership that advances rigorous research, strong governance, and long-term impact for patients and families. Her work is rooted in supporting the scientists, clinicians, and organizations working to turn discovery into meaningful outcomes.

“Being part of the CureSearch Board is incredibly meaningful to me. It’s a chance to apply my healthcare and governance experience in service of children and families, and to support research that can truly change lives.”

Jeffrey Skolnik, M.D.

Dr. Jeffrey Skolnik is Senior Vice President of Clinical Development at Inovio, where he leads  programs focused on immuno-oncology DNA medicines. A trained pediatric hematologist-oncologist, Dr. Skolnik has held senior leadership roles in Clinical Development and Medical Affairs at AstraZeneca, GSK, and TetraLogic Pharmaceuticals. He currently serves as an adjunct associate professor at the University of Pennsylvania.

Dr. Skolnik has been an integral part of CureSearch for more than nine years and serves as Chair of our Industry Advisory Council (IAC). In this role, he has helped guide the evaluation of  research proposals and ensure that CureSearch-funded projects are not only scientifically rigorous, but positioned to advance into the clinic and ultimately reach patients.

“CureSearch is uniquely positioned to lead the pediatric cancer drug development not-for-profit space. Our Scientific Advisory Council, combined with the Industry Advisory Council, ensures a robust, multi-faceted review of all research projects and allows us to support only the best of the best.”

His long-standing commitment to pediatric oncology and drug development earned him the CureSearch 2025 Scientific Visionary Award -a reflection of his dedication to advancing innovative treatments for children with cancer in better, faster ways.

Mike Crowe

Mike Crowe is a technology industry board member and advisor, and the retired Chief Information Officer of Colgate-Palmolive Company, where he spent 34 years, including nine as CIO. He currently serves as an independent board director for The New York Independent System Operator, Specright, and Uncountable, and advises multiple technology and AI-focused organizations as well as academic institutions. 

Mike and his family founded Team Steve: The Steven Crowe Legacy Fund at CureSearch in early 2023, honoring their late son, Steven. His service on our Board reflects both professional expertise and a deeply personal commitment to our mission.

“I am honored to be joining the CureSearch Board of Directors, because the bold CureSearch purpose directly aligns with my family’s goal to ensure no child and no family ever again has to endure the pain and loss we have experienced.”

We are proud to welcome Ms. Averill, Dr. Skolnik, and Mr. Crowe to our Board of Directors. Their leadership and dedication will help strengthen our work and accelerate progress toward a future where every child with cancer has access to better treatments, faster.

At CureSearch, we invest in bold science because children with cancer cannot afford to wait on incremental progress. Our newest Young Investigator Award recipient, Kathryn Taylor, PhD, embodies exactly the kind of researcher this program exists to support: innovative and relentlessly focused on translating discovery into real-world impact.

Dr. Taylor is an Assistant Member in the Cancer Biology and Genetics Program and Department of Pediatrics at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSK), where her lab studies the intersection of neuroscience and cancer. Her new CureSearch-funded project will focus on diffuse hemispheric glioma, H3G34-mutant, an aggressive brain tumor that primarily affects adolescents.

This cancer forms in the cerebral hemispheres, the areas of the brain responsible for thinking, speaking and movement. Standard treatments like surgery, radiation and chemotherapy rarely stop the disease from progressing, and average survival is just 18 to 22 months. Despite accounting for more than 30% of pediatric or adolescent hemispheric high-grade gliomas, this subtype remains understudied, with little known about how to effectively treat it.

That gap is exactly what Dr. Taylor is working to change.

When Cancer “Listens” to the Brain

Recent discoveries have revealed something astonishing. Some brain tumors do not grow on their own. Instead, they connect directly with nearby neurons and tap into the brain’s own electrical activity. These cancer cells essentially “listen in” on the same signals that allow us to think, speak and move, and then use these signals to fuel their own growth.

Dr. Taylor’s research asks a powerful question: If tumors are using neuronal signals to survive and spread, can we disrupt that communication?

With CureSearch funding, her team will use advanced neuroscience techniques and donated patient tumor tissue to study how diffuse hemispheric glioma cells respond to electrical signals and form connections with active neurons. The goal is not only to understand how this process works, but to determine  how to stop it.

Repurposing What Already Exists

One of the most promising aspects of this work is speed. Dr. Taylor aims to identify neuromodulatory drugs that already exist and are being used to treat other conditions. If these drugs can interfere with the communication between neurons and cancer cells, they could potentially be repurposed much faster than entirely new therapies.

That means fewer years of waiting. Fewer years of uncertainty for families. And a faster path from discovery to treatment.

“It’s an honor to receive a CureSearch Young Investigator Award,” Dr. Taylor shared. “This support allows my team to pursue new ways of understanding how the nervous system shapes the development of aggressive pediatric brain cancers like high-grade gliomas. This funding will push forward our work toward neuromodulatory treatment strategies that we hope will lead to more effective therapies for children, adolescents, and young adults facing this devastating disease.”

Why Young Investigators Matter

Early-career scientists often face the steepest funding barriers right when their most promising ideas are taking shape. CureSearch Young Investigator Awards aim to remove that barrier.

We provide researchers not only funding, but also visibility, resources and momentum at a critical point in their careers. The result is a pipeline of bold science that might otherwise never move forward.

Dr. Taylor’s work is a powerful reminder of what is possible when donors invest early, trust innovation, and stand behind the next generation of pediatric cancer researchers. Progress like this does not happen by chance. It happens because a community chooses to believe in science, in researchers, and in the children who need better options.

When Stevie Elam was just three years old, his family’s life changed overnight. What began as a routine wellness visit quickly turned serious when doctors discovered a large tumor in his right kidney, a stage 4 Wilms Tumor. Within days, Stevie was undergoing surgery at the University of Michigan, followed by months of chemotherapy and radiation.

Through it all, Stevie’s spirit never wavered. Even during treatment, he found ways to just be a kid, learning to ride his bike, flashing the kind of smile that lifted everyone around him, and showing a resilience far beyond his years.

By third grade, Stevie was declared cancer-free. Today, more than a decade later, he’s thriving as a standout basketball player for the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee. On the court, Stevie’s drive and determination inspire everyone who meets him, and off the court, he’s raising funds to help children still in the fight for their lives.

Stevie’s journey is a powerful reminder of what research makes possible. Childhood cancer research doesn’t just save lives; it gives kids the chance to dream, to grow, and to live out their dreams.As we close out the year, we invite you to stand with Stevie and support lifesaving childhood cancer research through CureSearch. With recent federal cuts, private funding is more critical than ever, and your gift before the year concludes can make an immediate impact. Every contribution helps advance promising projects that might otherwise go unfunded, lighting the path to healthier futures for children everywhere. Together, we can help more kids see tomorrow and all the bright days beyond it.

Like any five-year-old, Augusto “Auggie” Grant had big dreams. He wanted to be an astronaut, a superhero and a ninja warrior named Sherman. He loved music, costumes he called “uniforms”, and he lived with a heart as big as his imagination.

“From the very beginning, Auggie consumed the room,” his dad Jon remembers. One favorite memory: Auggie putting on full firefighter gear before a trip to the car shop, “in case they have a fire!”“From the moment he woke up to the moment sleep took over, Auggie did not stop,” his mom Cheryl recalls.

Even as cancer was unknowingly spreading through his blood, Auggie was eager to be outside, running faster than a cheetah.

A Life Cut Short

In 2011, Auggie was diagnosed with acute monoblastic leukemia. Just five days later, he passed away at the age of five, on December 5. Cheryl reflects, “A five-minute blood test was all we needed to find out he was very sick, and that he had been really sick for a while.” 

“I tell people about Auggie because I want to share him. That way, I can keep him alive just a little longer.,” Jon adds. “He certainly deserves to be remembered. He was a force.”

Turning Grief Into Purpose

When it came time to write Auggie’s obituary, Cheryl thought about the immense love and support her family had always received. She wanted to channel that energy into something meaningful.

“I tried to think of what to do with all the love that he would inspire. What would be a significant contribution that our friends and family could make to better the outcomes for children like Auggie? I called his oncologist’s office and asked for their recommendations. And that was my first introduction to CureSearch.”

Cheryl quickly learned that CureSearch was funding research for all childhood cancers – not just one type – and focusing on projects that were fast-tracked to the clinic, because kids can’t wait.

In Auggie’s obituary, she asked for donations in lieu of flowers and the response was overwhelming. “My sweet boy, who could not sit still in life, was up and running to make sure that children like him have a better opportunity to beat cancer.”

Auggie’s Honey Badgers

After losing Auggie, Jon and Cheryl joined CureSearch and Ultimate Hike to continue raising funds and awareness for safer, more effective treatments.

“The Ultimate Hike experience has been transformative for me,” Jon shares. “Because of my involvement, my grief over Auggie has evolved. I feel much more part of a family than just a team.”

Their team, Auggie’s Honey Badgers (named for his favorite fierce animal), hikes every year to honor his memory and fight for children still battling cancer.

“I want to be as fast as a cheetah and as ferocious as a crocodile and a honey badger put together.” – Auggie Grant

Why Childhood Cancer Awareness Month Matters

Auggie’s parents carry his lessons forward. They say Auggie taught them that sometimes you should just jump in, not only with hope, but with jubilant ferocity. Cheryl adds, “And it only takes five minutes to set up a recurring donation in his memory. Those five minutes could mean a lifetime for another child.” 

This September, during Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, we share Auggie’s story not only to remember him but also to remind us of the urgency. Childhood cancer remains the leading cause of death by diseases in children. Too many families know the pain of losing a child to cancer and too few safe and effective treatments exist today.

How You Can Help

You can make a difference. However you take action, you are helping create a future where children like Auggie have more than dreams – they have the chance to live them.

Learn more about CureSearch

Share a story

Fundraise

Join Ultimate Hike

Start a Monthly Donation

This Cancer Survivors Month, we’re asking you to join us in a critical mission: raising $37,500—enough to support one Young Investigator for six months—by the end of June. Every child diagnosed with cancer deserves not just to survive, but to thrive. By funding more bold, innovative research like that of our Young Investigators, we can turn that vision into reality.

Meet Elias

When Elias was just three years old, his mom, Brittany, noticed strange bruises forming all over his body from the slightest bump. His pediatrician ran some tests and the next morning called with urgent news: “Children’s Hospital is expecting you, please get down there as soon as possible.”

A few hours later, Elias was diagnosed with Acute Megakaryoblastic Leukemia (AMKL), a rare and aggressive form of childhood cancer. Treatment started a week later.

Elias was offered a spot in a clinical trial for a promising new AML treatment—one with fewer long-term side effects than traditional options. It was an offer that couldn’t be refused and that his mom remains deeply grateful for.

The months that followed were grueling. Elias and Brittany spent eight long months in the hospital, as chemo wiped out his immune system and made it too dangerous to go home. He developed painful mucositis, and Brittany made the heartbreaking decision to give him morphine just so he could sleep. And during all of this, COVID protocol meant no visitors.

Despite everything, Elias became a source of light and laughter on his hospital floor. He wandered the halls, IV pole in tow, convincing other kids to get out of their rooms and come play with him in the sunroom or race down the halls. He helped staff deliver medications to other floors and painted walls with maintenance workers. Each day he would wait in the hall when he heard the hospital zamboni coming. He wasn’t allowed to ride it for safety reasons, but he loved racing it. Elias brought joy to everyone around him and earned the nickname “The Mayor of 9B.”

When he completed treatment and was finally able to leave the hospital, Elias did it in style. Charles, the maintenance lead, let him ride the hospital zamboni right out the door.

Elias celebrates his 8th birthday on June 11th. It’s an extra special one because on April 21, 2025, he officially entered the survivorship program! His heart, one of the major concerns with the new treatment he received, still looks perfect. He’s active, creative, and dreams of becoming an engineer or a nurse.

Elias’s story is a testament to the power of research, and the resilience of kids facing cancer. But too many children still endure harsh treatments with lifelong side effects. Elias got access to something better, a clinical trial. Now it’s time to make sure every child can.

Honor Elias and every child like him this Cancer Survivors Month by giving a gift today.

CureSearch for Children’s Cancer has awarded $1 million to Dr. Yael Mossé of Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia to a promising new treatment for high-risk neuroblastoma, one of the most aggressive and difficult-to-treat childhood cancers.

Dr. Mossé’s research was selected through CureSearch’s Acceleration Initiative Award, a highly competitive grant that advances cutting-edge projects with the potential to quickly move from lab to clinic. Neuroblastoma is the most common solid tumor outside the brain in children, accounting for 8–10% of all childhood cancer diagnoses and roughly 15% of related deaths. Her work focuses on a precision treatment that targets cancer-driving mutations while sparing healthy tissue, with the goal of improving survival and reducing harmful side effects for young patients.

“This award provides an unprecedented opportunity to streamline the overall development of a novel therapy for patients with neuroblastoma by accelerating the entire drug development process. This translation of our science could not be possible without the support of CureSearch,” shares Dr. Mossé.

As federal research funding becomes increasingly uncertain, CureSearch is stepping in to ensure the most promising science moves forward, and that every child has access to safe, effective treatment.

This project is supported in part by the Norcross Foundation.

CureSearch for Children’s Cancer is excited to welcome Mark Zafra to our Board of Directors. Mark is a seasoned executive with more than two decades of leadership in sourcing, procurement, and supply chain management. He currently serves as Chief Procurement Officer at LiveRamp, overseeing global strategic sourcing, purchasing, travel, and accounts payable. Throughout his career, Mark has led large-scale transformation initiatives at industry leaders like Twitter, Allianz Fireman’s Fund, McKesson, HP, and Agilent Technologies—driving innovation, efficiency, and impact.

Just as inspiring is Mark’s personal story. As a cancer survivor, he brings a deep, personal commitment to CureSearch’s mission to ensure that every child diagnosed with cancer has a safe and effective treatment option.

“It is with great enthusiasm and a deep sense of responsibility that I join CureSearch’s Board of Directors,” Mark shared. “As a survivor myself, I am a passionate advocate for advancing cancer research and am honored by the opportunity to contribute my skills and experience to a mission that matters deeply to me.”

Mark’s support of CureSearch extends beyond his Board service. This year, he’ll participate in the CureSearch Ultimate Hike in Jackson, WY—a meaningful way to celebrate 20 years since his first cancer diagnosis and to raise critical funds for cutting-edge childhood cancer research.

“Mark’s professional leadership and personal commitment to advancing cancer research make him an incredible addition to the CureSearch Board,” said Jared Brancazio, CureSearch Board Chair. “We’re honored to have him help guide our work and accelerate our impact.”

Spring is here, and it’s time to step up to the plate for kids with cancer! As the days get longer and the sun shines brighter, why not turn your favorite sport into a way to make a difference?

The Utah Grizzlies hit the ice for Grizz Fight Cancer Night in honor of those who have been affected, on the team and off.

LV Lumber was swinging for a cure this spring with their 25% giveback campaign that occurred through March 18th, 2025!

Brooklyne’s Beacons is biking toward a brighter future with their event: Bike for the Bell. “Hosting an event that raises funds for CureSearch allows our family to continue to offer hope to families with children who are going through childhood cancer treatments so they never have to run out treatment options for their child,” said Dan Shambaugh.

Now, it’s your turn to get in the game! Host a charity golf tournament, organize a sunny-day soccer match, or dedicate your weekend pickleball game to the cause. However you spring into action and get outdoors, you can help fund lifesaving research for children fighting cancer.

Create your own game plan for a cure and make this spring a season of hope!

Learn more here.

In 2018, James and Elizabeth Gunnett set out on a journey that would change their lives forever. James was navigating heartbreaking losses, while Elizabeth was battling severe depression. But fate had something incredible in store for them.

James joined the Ultimate Hike at the encouragement of his friend and coworker, Chris Morton—a longtime coach dedicated to honoring his daughter, Violet, a liver cancer survivor. Elizabeth, searching for both a challenge and a supportive community, attended a CureSearch information session and knew she had to be part of the Ultimate Hike.

Despite setbacks—including Elizabeth’s hiking boots being stolen just before the event—they both conquered the hike. Along the way, they found more than strength and resilience; they found each other. Two years later, James proposed at Big Bear Lake, California, on the very trail where their love story began. On October 11, 2021, they said “I do,” proving that love, like the Ultimate Hike, is a journey worth taking.

Love, Adventure, and a Shared Mission

Now, after six Ultimate Hikes together, the Gunnetts’ bond is stronger than ever. What began as a challenge turned into a lifelong commitment—not just to each other, but to CureSearch’s mission to end childhood cancer.

“The PCT hike was life-changing,” Elizabeth shares. “But it’s the incredible people we meet each year—those who pour their hearts into this cause—that keeps us coming back.”

This year, adventure awaits on a brand-new trail! The California Ultimate Hike is moving to the breathtaking landscapes of Mt. Tamalpais in Marin County. Picture yourself trekking up to 19 miles through enchanting oak woodlands, soaking in panoramic views, and making a real difference in the lives of children battling cancer.

And who knows? Maybe you’ll find your own love story on the trail! If you’re looking for a team that embodies love, resilience, and fun, consider joining Bear Snacks, the Gunnetts’ Northern California Ultimate Hike team. Not a hiker? You can still be part of their journey by supporting their fundraising efforts, helping to bring hope to the 42 children diagnosed with cancer in the U.S. every day.

A Love That Keeps on Giving

Reflecting on their journey together, James says, “It’s been seven years—such a long time but a short time, filled with so many adventures. Elizabeth and I are approaching our fourth year of marriage, and we continue to find joy in hiking and fundraising for CureSearch. Everywhere we go, we share our story, hoping to inspire others to join us on this life-changing journey.”

The Ultimate Hike isn’t just about the miles—it’s about love, resilience, and making a lasting impact. As the only national endurance hiking event dedicated to childhood cancer, hikers push their limits, trekking 20-30 miles in a single day to fund groundbreaking research. Since its inception, the program has raised over $10 million to fuel CureSearch’s mission to accelerate lifesaving treatments.

Ready to embark on an unforgettable adventure? Visit ultimatehike.org to sign up, support a team, or donate. Who knows? The trail might just change your life, too.

If you’ve experienced an Ultimate Hike, you’ll probably recognize the heart logo with a map inside. It’s the perfect representation of what a CureSearch Ultimate Hike is all about. We carry the hearts of children battling cancer with us on the trail and we scale rugged terrain knowing our journeys make a difference in driving new cures.

There’s no better adrenaline rush than feeling your heart pumping knowing each step is accelerating the pace to end childhood cancer. Supporters and survivors alike tackle rugged terrain powered by one incredible, shared mission.

Maybe your journey with us began with hope, a vision of a brighter future for kids battling cancer. Or perhaps it was rooted in faith, a belief in the power of research and the strength of families. For many, it’s love—a deep care for a child, a sibling, or a friend.

Terri Cohen hikes in memory of her daughter, Leah.

“The first time I did this hike was when Leah was toward the end of her battle. My son and I signed up to take the hike and at that time she was doing pretty well so she met us at the finish line. It’s a moment that I will forever hold in my heart,” says Terri.

As you hike, the love and bravery you carry fuels the hope of children battling cancer everywhere, offering them a brighter tomorrow and the promise of a future free of toxic treatments.

Learn more about joining us on the trail here.

Just before the new year, the 2025 federal budget passed, surprising the pediatric cancer community by cutting provisions designed to support pediatric cancer research and accessibility. 

The cuts included:

• The Accelerating Kids’ Access to Care Act, which cuts bureaucratic red tape that keeps kids from accessing time-sensitive care across state lines.
• The Creating Hope Reauthorization Act, which incentivizes critical pediatric research, but whose funding has expired due to congressional inaction.
• The Innovation in Pediatric Drugs Act, to ensure pediatric studies for possible new treatments are completed on time—and brings us closer to cures.
• Give Kids A Chance Act, which allows researchers to study combinations of new cancer drugs, potentially unlocking new cures for kids.
• The RARE Act, which clarifies Congress’ interpretation of the Orphan Drug Act to ensure pediatric drug research and development isn’t locked out from newly approved drugs that don’t impact pediatric populations.

Fortunately, the Gabriella Miller Kids First Research Act 2.0 did pass separately as the U.S. Senate approved reauthorization. This Act renews federal funding for a dedicated National Institutes of Health program that supports research into treatments and cures for childhood cancer.

These cuts are devastating. For families facing a diagnosis, they mean access to less toxic and more effective therapies are threatened, including combination therapies for children who have relapsed, opportunities for low-income families on Medicaid to access life-saving therapy across state lines, and incentives for pediatric cancer drug development. They mean fewer breakthroughs, slower progress, and more uncertainty in a fight where every day matters. 

“At CureSearch, we’ve always been driven by one mission: to end childhood cancer. With your help, we’ve funded groundbreaking research that’s improving survival rates and delivering hope to families,” said Kay Koehler, Chief Executive Officer. “And now, in the face of these funding cuts, our work has never been more urgent —and we can’t do it without you.” 

CureSearch does not receive government funding, but the survival of pediatric cancer drug development relies, in part, on the government’s support of these initiatives. We are asking the pediatric cancer community to rally in response.  Here’s how you can take action in 2025: 

• Donate: Your support directly fuels the most promising research and brings life-saving treatments to kids faster. Make a gift today. 
• Volunteer: From serving on a board or committee to donating your skills pro-bono, your time and passion can make a powerful impact. Join us. 
• Fundraise: Whether you host a fundraiser or join a CureSearch event, you can rally your community to stand with the kids who need us. Start here.

The truth is, we can’t wait for someone else to step in. It’s up to us to ensure that these funding cuts don’t stop progress. Children with cancer need us now more than ever. 

Thank you for standing with us, and with all the families fighting for new and better treatments. Read more about the childhood cancer community’s advocacy efforts and response to these funding cuts here.

A Life-Changing Diagnosis

At just three years old, most toddlers are learning to run, jump, and explore the world with unbridled curiosity. But for some, these precious milestones are interrupted by a devastating diagnosis: atypical teratoid rhabdoid tumor (ATRT), a rare and aggressive brain cancer that often strikes the youngest and most vulnerable among us, affecting infants and toddlers. For families facing this heartbreaking reality, the future feels uncertain.

These tumors typically form in critical areas of the brain like the cerebellum, which controls movement and balance, or the brainstem, which regulates essential body functions. Current treatment options—surgery and chemotherapy—are not only grueling but also offer limited hope.

“Children with ATRT don’t have the same opportunities to benefit from cutting-edge, targeted treatments that are available for other cancers. We urgently need to change that narrative,” said Dr. Paisley Myers, Director of Research and Programs at CureSearch.

We’re working to ensure that every child diagnosed with cancer has a safe and effective treatment option. That’s why we are proud to fund the groundbreaking work of Dr. John Prensner at the University of Michigan through our 2025 Young Investigator Award. With his deep expertise in pediatric oncology and an unwavering passion for discovery, Dr. Prensner is on a mission to give children with ATRT a fighting chance.

A New Frontier in Pediatric Cancer Research

Unlike many cancers that have identifiable genetic mutations for scientists to target, ATRT operates in the shadows. Its lack of clear vulnerabilities has made it one of the most challenging pediatric cancers to treat. But Dr. Prensner is determined to shine a light on the hidden mechanisms that drive these tumors by exploring something entirely new.

He’s studying tiny pieces of DNA, once thought to be unimportant, that might actually hold the key to treating this cancer. His research focuses on small open reading frames (sORFs)—tiny, overlooked segments of DNA. Once dismissed as “junk,” sORFs are now recognized for their ability to produce microproteins that may play critical roles in cell growth and survival.

“My hope is that this work will lead to the discovery of new genes that inform the next phase of drug development for ATRT,” said Dr. Prensner. “This CureSearch award will be important for us to continue to develop a new understanding of the childhood cancer genome for ATRT.”

Dr. Prensner’s project is funded through a CureSearch Young Investigator Award, which aims to combat the loss of promising scientists from the field by providing financial support to investigators early in their research careers. As part of our growing co-funding model, the project is generously supported in part by the Jeff Gordon Children’s Foundation (JGCF) and Violet’s Village: The Violet Kenney Legacy Fund at CureSearch. 

“JGCF is incredibly excited to partner with CureSearch and Violet’s Village to support Dr. Prensner’s project taking aim at ATRT,” said Susan Robinson, Executive Director for Jeff Gordon Children’s Foundation. “Brain tumors are the deadliest form of childhood cancer, so we’re eager to advance scientific knowledge and develop better therapeutics to improve outcomes for kids facing such a devastating diagnosis.” 

Your support makes this groundbreaking work possible and brings hope to children and their families who need it most. Thank you!

CureSearch is pleased to announce the appointment of John Polson, Chairman and Managing Partner of Fisher Phillips, to our Board of Directors. 

With over 30 years of legal and leadership experience, Polson brings a wealth of expertise to CureSearch. As Chairman and Managing Partner of Fisher Phillips, an international labor and employment law firm, he oversees the strategic direction and operations of the firm’s 41 offices worldwide. Under his leadership, Fisher Phillips has flourished, earning recognition among the most respected legal publications, including The Best Lawyers in America and The Legal 500. 

“I am honored to join CureSearch in their fight to end childhood cancer,” said Polson. “This is a cause that is very close to my heart, and I look forward to helping drive the organization’s critical work in advancing research and providing hope to children and families affected by cancer.” 

Polson’s dedication to the cause of childhood cancer has been demonstrated through his leadership of Fisher Phillips’ charitable initiatives. The firm’s philanthropic arm, FP Cares, raised $200,000 for CureSearch and participated in the “Notes of Hope” campaign, where firm employees wrote thousands of heartfelt letters to children undergoing cancer treatment. In recognition of the firm’s significant impact, CureSearch awarded Fisher Phillips the “Champion for Cures” award. 

Polson’s appointment to the CureSearch Board comes at a crucial moment as we are achieving remarkable progress in our mission to fast-track the development of innovative treatments for pediatric cancers. Currently, 60% of CureSearch-funded preclinical projects are advancing to clinical trials—far exceeding the national average of 8% for cancer trials. 

“We are thrilled to welcome John Polson to the CureSearch Board of Directors,” said Kay Koehler, President & CEO of CureSearch for Children’s Cancer. “John’s proven leadership, deep commitment to social impact, and ability to build strong relationships will be invaluable as we continue our work to bring life-saving treatments to children with cancer. His experience and vision will help us take our mission to the next level, and we are honored to have him by our side in the fight to end childhood cancer.” 

Polson joins a distinguished group of business leaders, childhood cancer experts, and advocates on the CureSearch Board, all working together to ensure that every child diagnosed with cancer has access to the most advanced and effective treatments available. His leadership and expertise will play a crucial role in helping us continue to transform the landscape of pediatric cancer research. 

We’re thrilled to celebrate Frank Gioscia, a longtime Ultimate Hike champion, who has officially surpassed $500,000 in lifetime fundraising—a milestone that makes him Ultimate Hike’s top fundraiser of all time! Frank’s dedication to funding research for safer and more effective childhood cancer treatments has earned him our first-ever 10X Everest Award, a special recognition for every $50,000 “summit” he’s reached on his fundraising journey.

Frank, 73, has been a part of the Ultimate Hike family for years, pouring his energy, passion and commitment into raising funds for lifesaving children’s cancer research. Frank first joined Ultimate Hike in 2011 after a friend handed him a flyer. “I went to a meeting and the rest is history,” Frank shared. Shortly after that, a young family friend was diagnosed with cancer at just 6 years old. “I’ve been hiking for Gavin for years,” said Frank. “The truth is, I hike for all children with cancer.” The 73-year-old stays in prime shape through his passion for hiking, which he does year-round in the Great Smokey Mountains National Park near his home. 

“With CureSearch, my hiking took on new meaning. As I finish an Ultimate Hike, I see all of the pictures of the kids who are fighting cancer and those who lost their battle. I am so thankful that I can do this for them. It is the most rewarding thing I have ever done.” 

Since then, Frank has taken on hundreds of miles on multiple Ultimate Hikes across the country, and he’s inspired countless family, friends, and community members to support his mission. His passion for helping kids is evident in everything he does, from his relentless fundraising efforts to the miles he’s completed. Each $50,000 he’s raised represents another “summit” reached on his journey to help fund critical research for better, safer treatments. His journey to this half-million-dollar milestone speaks to the unwavering power of community, uniting those who share his vision of a world where every child can live cancer-free.

The funds raised by Ultimate Hikers, like Frank, are advancing research for treatments that not only cure but also spare children from the lasting effects of toxic therapies. With each mile hiked and dollar raised, Ultimate Hikers, like Frank, and their supporters are bringing us closer to the safe, effective treatments that every with cancer child deserves.

Happy trails, Frank, and fellow Foothills Fall Ultimate Hikers!

This Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024, Frank will join fellow hikers on the scenic Foothills Trail, known for its breathtaking autumnal views, for our final event of the 2024 Ultimate Hike season. It’s a fitting conclusion to a record-breaking season where we saw hikers of all ages and fitness levels come together on trails across the country. And as Frank hikes the Foothills Trail, he’ll be carrying with him not only the honor of his 10X Everest Achieve Award but the inspiration and hope of so many families impacted by childhood cancer.

Thank you, Frank, for your commitment, heart, and for showing us that every mile truly does make a difference. We’re endlessly inspired by your commitment and look forward to celebrating your next milestone!

For most families, childhood cancer is unfathomable. But for families like Luke Getchell’s, childhood cancer is their heartbreaking, stomach-turning reality. In July of 2018, 13-year-old Luke was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) with a common genetic alteration, FLT3-ITD. That diagnosis was devastating because it meant Luke’s disease had a poor prognosis. 

Luke was a kind, easygoing, and empathetic kid. He loved Legos and many of his Lego models are now part of the ‘Luke’s Lego-cy’ display at the Children’s Wonder Tower at VCU Health in Richmond, VA. He also loved penguins and food. Luke was quite the culinary connoisseur and hosted “Chopped” competitions in his family’s kitchen. 

After his diagnosis, Luke and his family spent over a year in and out of the hospital. He endured rigorous chemotherapy and seemingly endless secondary health issues directly caused by the toxicity of his medications, including a colon infection, sepsis, and heart damage. Despite all this, a little over 6 months after treatment began, Luke and his family were told that tests showed no signs of leukemia. That news brought relief and hope. 

But that hope was short-lived. They were allowed one week of happiness – just one week – before Luke’s counts started to rise again. He was brought back to the hospital for more testing and his team discovered the cancer had quickly spread. It was then that doctors delivered news that his prognosis was very grim. 

The side effects of Luke’s treatment had already been so harsh, it was hard to imagine things getting worse. But following his relapse, Luke’s young body experienced a harrowing mix of bleeding, skin issues, ingrown nails, thrush, graft-versus-host disease and diabetes caused by prednisone. By September of 2019, just 14 months after his diagnosis, his oncologist recommended hospice care – a decision that devastated his family. From there, Luke declined rapidly. He quickly lost his ability to walk and see and, on October 20, 2019 at just 14 years old, his heart stopped. 

Childhood cancer is watching your teen bleed from their eyes because of toxic chemotherapy. Childhood cancer is helping your child swallow the same pill for a second or third time; on the outside you’re calm for your child, but on the inside you’re frantically thinking this pill could be the last chance, the only hope of your child’s survival, life or death. 

This Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, please help us raise $25,000 to fund lifesaving research like that of Dr. Elvin Wagenblast at Mount Sinai. Dr. Wagenblast’s team is working to understand the earliest steps – the “how” and “why” – of childhood leukemia in order to uncover innovative and less toxic ways to treat it. 

We believe every child with cancer deserves a safe and effective treatment option and no family should ever have to endure the horrors that Luke’s family did. Join us in offering hope and fueling research by making a gift in Luke’s memory today. 

August 14, 2024 | St. Louis, MO – CureSearch for Children’s Cancer announced today that it will award $2 million in funding to support a Phase I clinical trial in 24 children and young adults with recurrent brain tumors, a diagnosis with a devastating prognosis. More than 15,000 children are diagnosed with cancer each year in the U.S. and are in desperate need of tailored treatment options. 

Dr. Mohamed Abdelbaki is leading the Phase 1 clinical trial at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis. The trial will test a promising type of immunotherapy using Natural Killer (NK) cells, a type of immune cell that can recognize and kill cancer cells while sparing healthy cells.  

In the past, widespread use of NK cell therapy has been limited in part because it is difficult to produce large numbers of pure NK cells from healthy donors. Dr. Abdelbaki and his team have developed a new method of producing NK cells in large amounts from healthy individuals. 

Additionally, cancer cells have been able to escape being killed by NK cells through the production of a molecule, called TGF-β, which suppresses the immune system and helps cancer cells spread. By engineering NK cells to be resistant to this molecule, the team has developed a therapy with enhanced function that can more effectively attack brain tumors. They have also modified the production process by growing and expanding these cells in the presence of TGFβ, enhancing their function by making them resistant to the suppressive effects of TGFβ already in the body. 

In this clinical trial, 24 children and young adults with recurring brain tumors will receive these superior NK cells injected directly into the tumor cavity after the tumor has been surgically removed. This approach is designed to help the NK cells target the cancer more effectively by concentrating them at the tumor site. The researchers will also monitor how long the NK cells stay active in the brain and how this affects the overall treatment outcome. This trial, conducted through the Pacific Pediatric Neuro-Oncology Consortium (PNOC), is the first major study to test this approach across multiple institutions in children and young adults with recurrent brain tumors. 

“I express my heartfelt appreciation to CureSearch for awarding me one of the most prestigious grants in the realm of pediatric cancer research. This remarkable opportunity will support the first consortium-wide clinical trial for Natural Killer cells in malignant brain tumors, which has the potential to profoundly impact the lives of countless children and young adults,” said Dr. Abdelbaki. 

Dr. Abdelbaki is an Associate Professor of Pediatrics at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, Missouri. He also serves as the Director of both the Pediatric Neuro-Oncology Program and the Clinical Research Office (CRO) for the Pediatric Hematology, Oncology and Bone Marrow Transplant Division at St. Louis Children’s Hospital. 

The trial is being funded through a CureSearch Catapult Award, which supports Phase I or Phase II clinical trials that advance promising therapies for pediatric cancer. The CureSearch Catapult Award propels high-potential research out of the lab, into the clinic and, ultimately, to the kids who need it most. 

Dr. Paisley Myers, Director of Research and Programs at CureSearch, said, “We are thrilled to support this groundbreaking clinical trial utilizing an innovative off-the-shelf cell therapy, making it more widely accessible to patients. This study unites a team of highly experienced researchers who are exceptionally qualified to conduct this trial. By leveraging the extensive expertise and reach of PNOC, they will ensure rapid enrollment, ultimately delivering a novel treatment option to children and young adults with recurrent brain tumors who are in desperate need of improved therapies.” 

You make our funding of groundbreaking research possible!

We’re excited to share news of our recent partnership with LifeArc, a highly-regarded UK-based medical research charity. LifeArc will co-fund Dr. Gregory Friedman’s CureSearch Acceleration Initiative (AI) project aimed at revolutionizing the treatment of pediatric high-grade gliomas (pHGGs), a devastating form of childhood brain cancer. The median survival rate for children with pHGGs is less than 30%. Some types, like DIPG, remain incurable. Current treatment options often result in significant toxicity and limited efficacy, highlighting the urgent need for innovative therapeutic approaches. Children with brain tumors need safer, more effective treatments, and they need them now.

Dr. Friedman’s team is driving forward the development of novel therapies for pediatric high-grade gliomas

The goal of Dr. Friedman’s project is to develop a treatment for brain tumors that helps a child’s own immune system directly attack tumor cells while avoiding damage to normal cells in the body to improve outcomes. To achieve this goal, Dr. Friedman and his team are combining a cold-sore virus that has been modified to target and kill brain tumor cells, while not injuring normal brain cells, with a unique tumor vaccine designed to increase the immune attack on the tumor. The novel cancer vaccine, called SNAPvax, will prime the body’s immune system and sustain the effects of the engineered virus. This, in turn, will potentially offer a more effective and less toxic treatment option for children with pHGGs.

Support from his AI Award has enabled Dr. Friedman to assemble what he calls a “dream team” of researchers to develop this combination immunotherapy. The team has already been successful in determining the ideal brain tumor proteins to target with the vaccine, and are developing a tumor model to specifically test those vaccines. Additionally, they have found that the combination therapy of the cold-sore virus with the novel tumor vaccine is more effective than either therapy alone and that the timing of the therapies is very important. They have shown that delivering the vaccine prior to the virus is more effective than giving the virus before the vaccine because it excites the immune system to attack the tumor instead of removing the virus, which allows the virus to kill more tumor cells. Dr. Friedman is continuing to study how this combination therapy works together and developing methods to test how well the therapy is working. Additionally, he is working with an industry partner to develop a clinical trial to test the safety and effectiveness of the combination therapy in children with brain tumors who are in desperate need of new and improved therapies.

Our AI projects are advancing pediatric cancer drug development 

CureSearch Acceleration Initiative projects are highly innovative, address a significant challenge in pediatric cancer drug development, and have an extremely strong probability of clinical application in an accelerated timeframe – ready to reach clinic, and the children counting on new treatments, within 3 years. In fact, 60% of preclinical research projects funded through our Acceleration Initiative advance to clinical trials, compared to a less than 8% average rate of translation of drugs into clinical cancer trials. 

Projects are carefully vetted by CureSearch’s world-class Scientific and Industry Advisory Councils, comprised of experts at the top of their fields in science and industry. Validation of a research project by CureSearch’s councils speaks volumes in the global pediatric cancer arena. Through this bi-continental partnership, we aim to accelerate the development of innovative therapies tailored to the unique needs of pediatric patients, bringing hope to families affected by this devastating disease. 

Dr. David Jenkinson, Head of Childhood Cancer at LifeArc, says: “This project really stood out to us because this novel approach holds real promise in an area of high unmet medical need – aligning with our strategy… Our mission at LifeArc is to do better for children with cancer by helping to progress research that could lead to the development of new, less toxic, treatments, ultimately saving lives.”

This research offers new hope to families today and in the future

Namrata and Bhavesh Pandya, from Harrow in London, lost their 14-year-old son Khushil to a diffuse midline glioma (DIPG) brain tumor in 2017. Following his diagnosis, the couple tried their best to keep life as normal as possible for Khushil. They vowed to make the most of the time he had left and drew up a wish list of things he wanted to do. Khushil continued to go to school, and his family insisted that his medical appointments were scheduled outside of school hours. He even completed his bronze Duke of Edinburgh expedition in June 2017 in his wheelchair. He died in his parents’ arms, at home, a few months later.

“Bhavesh and I will never be ready to accept that, in this day and age where science has progressed in so many areas, with this particular tumor, there’s very little knowledge on how and why it happens,” says Namrata. “More effective treatment means shorter duration of illness, lesser side effects, better quality of life and could potentially save more lives and families. I believe that morally we should be investing in children’s brain tumor treatments to save them and protect them.”

Ewing sarcoma (ES) is a bone cancer that can be difficult to treat once it has spread. The 5-year survival rate for children with the advanced disease remains alarmingly poor, as low as 15%. Children with ES need new treatment options now. In a groundbreaking development for pediatric ES research, we’re excited to share news of our latest funded research project led by Dr. John Lee of the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA. Dr. Lee is the latest recipient of our Acceleration Initiative Award. His team’s novel approach to understanding ES may offer a new, precise treatment for this aggressive disease. This milestone underscores the urgency of advancing innovative treatments for ES and reflects the ongoing commitment to driving progress in pediatric cancer research.

Dr. Lee’s project aims to strengthen the immune system and better defeat cancer cells.

Dr. Lee’s preclinical work is focused on harnessing the power of CAR T-cell therapy. His team’s method goes a step further by enhancing the potency of CAR T-cells through the strategic incorporation of Interleukin-18 (IL-18), a cytokine known for its ability to bolster immune responses. By arming these CAR T cells with Interleukin-18 (IL-18), Dr. Lee aims to significantly enhance their killing ability, potentially improving outcomes for patients with metastatic ES, who face a dire prognosis due to the disease’s poor overall survival rates.

Dr. Lee says, “Our hope is this treatment can one day lead to better outcomes for kids with this disease by making their immune systems better at fighting the cancer.”

We’re committed to investing over $900,000 in Dr. Lee’s project to accelerate Ewing sarcoma research.

Our Acceleration Initiative projects are highly innovative, address a significant challenge in pediatric cancer drug development, and have an extremely strong probability of clinical application in an accelerated timeframe. These projects are anticipated to reach clinic – and the children counting on new treatments – within just 3 years.

Collaboration leads to cures.

As part of our growing co-funding model, this award is generously supported in part by Rally Foundation for Childhood Cancer Research and three CureSearch Legacy Funds: Garret and I: The Garret Collins Legacy Fund, The Nick Currey Fund, and The Sam Schneider Legacy.

Our legacy fund program provides families a personal and impactful way to honor their child’s journey by directly funding the most promising childhood cancer research. Garret, Nick and Sam’s memory lives on through their loved ones, who’s support of this project could change the future for children yet to face this terrible disease.

“Sam is deeply missed, but we continue to honor him and his desire to raise awareness of Ewing sarcoma in hopes of enabling increased early detection for others as his cancer was detected well past becoming metastatic, which is so common for Ewing’s patients.” – Sam Schneider’s family

“If more targeted, less toxic therapies had been available, Nick might be alive today.” – Nick Currey’s family

Learn more about starting a legacy fund here.

You make our funding of groundbreaking research possible!

Last week, on April 23, 2024, Day One Biopharmaceuticals was granted Accelerated Approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for OJEMDA (tovorafenib). This new treatment is targeted for relapsed or refractory pediatric low-grade glioma (pLGG) in patients aged 6 months and older with a BRAF fusion or rearrangement, or BRAF V600 mutation.

This FDA approval marks a significant advancement for children battling pLGG, providing a targeted treatment option. Jeremy Bender, Ph.D., CEO of Day One, expressed gratitude to the pLGG community, including patients, families, clinicians, and advocacy groups, for their collaboration and support in bridging the innovation gap for children awaiting new treatments. The approval of OJEMDA is an amazing milestone in pediatric cancer drug development, offering new hope for children and their loved ones facing a pLGG diagnosis.

We are proud to celebrate Day One’s Co-Founder, Dr. Blackman, who also serves on the CureSearch Board of Directors.

Day One Biopharmaceuticals describes itself as a commercial-stage biopharmaceutical company that believes when it comes to pediatric cancer, we can do better. The company was founded to address a critical unmet need: the dire lack of therapeutic development in pediatric cancer. Day One’s values tie closely to ours, as we accelerate the development of new childhood cancer treatments and address areas of unmet need in childhood cancer. Co-Founder and Head of Research and Development, Dr. Blackman, serves on our CureSearch Board of Directors and has been instrumental to our impact, including playing a leading role in organizing our annual Pediatric Early Development Symposium. PEDS is a one-of-its kind collaborative meeting that brings together key players from across the global pediatric oncology arena to accelerate the pace of pediatric cancer drug development.

Prior to co-founding Day One, Dr. Blackman held various biotech leadership roles, including serving as Head of Clinical Development at Mavupharma, a drug discovery company focused on leveraging the immune system to treat cancer and infectious diseases. Prior to Mavupharma, he was Head of Clinical Development at Silverback Therapeutics, a biotechnology company developing tissue-targeted therapeutics. He is a graduate of the pediatric hematology/oncology fellowship program at the Dana Farber Cancer Institute and Children’s Hospital Boston, and the pediatric residency program at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center. Dr. Blackman has served on the CureSearch Board of Directors since 2021 and previously served as Chair of the CureSearch Industry Advisory Council.

To learn more about Day One and OJEMDA, including important safety guidelines, see the full announcement from Day One here.

May is Brain Tumor Awareness Month. CureSearch is actively funding 10 brain tumor-related projects. Learn more about our research projects here.

The urgent need for advanced childhood brain cancer research

G34R-mutant pediatric diffuse glioma, a devastating brain cancer affecting children and young adults, poses significant challenges in treatment due to its aggressive nature, limited therapeutic options, and the long-term side effects. The urgent need for more effective treatment options drives researchers, like Dr. Joshua Breunig, to innovate.

One major obstacle in developing these treatments has been the absence of accurate preclinical models for testing potential therapies. Dr. Breunig’s groundbreaking approach, utilizing MADR (Mosaic Analysis with Dual Recombinases), enables the creation of personalized brain tumor models, including those mimicking H3 G34-mutant glioma, providing valuable insights into tumor behavior.

Dr. Breunig’s CureSearch funding

Dr. Breunig is a 2024 CureSearch Acceleration Initiative Awardee. In his CureSearch-funded work, Dr. Breunig proposes to use the MADR modeling platform along with matched human pediatric glioma tumor cell lines to test ADI-PEG 20 as a targeted therapeutic for pediatric glioma in combination with standard-of-care treatment. He believes that this approach will hinder tumor growth and lead to anti-tumor toxicity.

Our Acceleration Initiative projects are highly innovative, address a significant challenge in pediatric cancer drug development, and have an extremely strong probability of clinical application in an accelerated timeframe. These pre-clinical projects are ready to reach patients within 3 to 5 years. Learn more about our unique and highly-impactful research strategy.

Uncovering new breakthroughs on the path to a cure

Dr. Breunig’s research has revealed a significant vulnerability in pediatric gliomas: their dependence on external sources of arginine for survival. Building upon this discovery, he is investigating the potential of ADI-PEG 20, an enzyme that reduces arginine levels in the body, as a targeted therapeutic combined with standard-of-care treatments. The promising outcomes of his research hold potential for a transformative shift in the treatment approach for pediatric glioma patients. Collaborating with fellow experts, Dr. Breunig is actively preparing for a clinical trial to evaluate the efficacy of ADI-PEG 20 in pediatric glioma patients, with the aim of improving survival outcomes and offering hope to families navigating this critical disease.

Support the future of childhood cancer treatments. Make a donation today.

Neuroblastoma is the most common extracranial solid tumor of childhood arising within the developing nervous system. Approximately half of neuroblastoma patients are diagnosed with high-risk disease, which is especially aggressive with a 50% survival rate. If a child’s high-risk neuroblastoma relapses after receiving chemotherapy, overall survival plummets below 20%. The few children that do survive often suffer significant long-term treatment related toxicities and are at a higher risk for secondary malignancies. 

Dr. Hunter Jonus, PhD, a CureSearch Young Investigator at Emory University’s Department of Pediatrics, pioneers cellular immunotherapy for high-risk neuroblastoma. Utilizing gamma delta (γδ) T cells, extracted from healthy donors and expanded ex vivo, she targets neuroblastoma and other tumors. Jonus’s groundbreaking research fuels a first-in-child clinical trial at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, combining γδ T cells with chemoimmunotherapy. Her future focus lies in enhancing γδ T cell therapy’s efficacy by engineering cells with chimeric antigen receptors and cytokine secretion for improved tumor recognition and longevity. Jonus also plans to integrate immune checkpoint blockade to maximize γδ T cell functionality, aiming for safer and more effective high-risk neuroblastoma treatment. 

“I am ecstatic to be selected as a CureSearch Young Investigator and for the opportunity to conduct this meaningful research with significant potential to impact patients’ lives. I am hopeful for the future of γδ T cell immunotherapy and its possibility to overcome barriers in the field of adoptive cell therapy so that more patients will be able to receive this powerful treatment approach.”

Acute Myeloid leukemia (AML) is the second most common leukemia in children, and the prognosis after relapse is poor. Unlike current CAR T treatment for the most common childhood leukemia, acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), patients with AML experience significant toxicity with CAR T therapy. This is due, in part, to the CAR T’s target appearing on healthy cells and tumor cells, driving the therapy to attack both. Novel treatment approaches are in dire need as current AML CAR T-cells have failed to prolong survival for these very high-risk patients.  

Dr. Moghimi and team at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles (CHLA) have developed next-generation AML CAR T-cells with improved precision and persistence that could be a promising tool for treating patients with relapsed/refractory AML. As a combination therapy, Dr. Moghimi’s approach avoids healthy cells and eliminates toxicity, increasing survival.  This novel approach could be translated into the clinic for pediatric patients at CHLA.

“Supported by this generous funding from CureSearch,” Dr. Moghimi adds, “our project aims to develop an effective and safe next-generation CAR T strategy to treat children with AML by targeting a combination of two antigens, significantly increasing their accuracy and safety.”

Brave Barbie doll provides a friend through treatment for kids with cancer 

Bethesda, Md. – October 23, 2023 – CureSearch for Children’s Cancer and Mattel are celebrating 10 years of Brave Barbie – a special Barbie created to bring hope and comfort to courageous young patients battling illness or receiving treatments that cause hair loss. 

To help kids better understand and cope with hair loss, CureSearch and Mattel partnered to develop and distribute a Barbie that represents the young fighters undergoing cancer treatment.  

“Brave Barbie is given to children that are going through difficult cancer treatments so that they can see themselves and feel comforted that they’re not going through this alone,” said Nancy Molenda, Executive Director of Mattel Children’s Foundation and Corporate Philanthropy. 

CureSearch is a national nonprofit dedicated to ensuring that every child diagnosed with cancer has a safe and effective treatment option and funds research with the greatest potential to reach clinical trials.  

“When children go through cancer treatments, the toxicity from their treatment causes lifelong side effects,” said Kay Koehler, President and CEO of CureSearch. “They can become blind or deaf, and there’s always a risk of secondary cancer or heart failure just as they’re graduating from high school, or beginning to start their new life.” 

Brave Barbies have been donated to more than 200 hospitals across the country, with over 100,000 donated, free of charge, directly to children impacted by cancer.  

“When Chloe got her doll in the mail, there was a moment of joy when she saw that the doll looked like her,” said Krystle Kincade-Crean, whose daughter Chloe was diagnosed with leukemia in 2022. “I’m really happy that Brave Barbie can show Chloe that bald is beautiful and hair doesn’t define her.” 

Brave Barbies can be requested for free in the United States: curesearch.org/brave-barbie. 

WATCH: Leaders from CureSearch and Mattel, and childhood cancer advocates discuss the impact of Brave Barbie 

About CureSearch: For more than 35 years, CureSearch for Children’s Cancer has been a driving force in pediatric cancer research, working to ensure that every child diagnosed with cancer has a safe and effective treatment option. Our unique funding model is laser focused on accelerating the development of new therapies in areas of high unmet need; we only fund translational research projects with the strongest potential to become a new treatment and quickly reach patients. Together, we save lives faster. To learn more visit curesearch.org.   

About Mattel: Mattel is a leading global toy company and owner of one of the strongest catalogs of children’s and family entertainment franchises in the world. We create innovative products and experiences that inspire, entertain, and develop children through play. We engage consumers through our portfolio of iconic brands, including Barbie®, Hot Wheels®, Fisher-Price®, American Girl®, Thomas & Friends®, UNO®, and MEGA®, as well as other popular intellectual properties that we own or license in partnership with global entertainment companies. Our offerings include film and television content, gaming and digital experiences, music, and live events. We operate in 35 locations and our products are available in more than 150 countries in collaboration with the world’s leading retail and ecommerce companies. Since its founding in 1945, Mattel is proud to be a trusted partner in empowering children to explore the wonder of childhood and reach their full potential. Visit us online at mattel.com. 

Holly Springs, N.C. – September 28, 2023 – Pimiento Tea Room, a unique tea house and restaurant in downtown Holly Springs, has raised more than $37,000 this year for CureSearch for Children’s Cancer, supporting pediatric cancer research.  

In 2020, Matt and Christy Griffith transformed a historic 180-year-old farmhouse into the Holly Springs’ award-winning Pimiento Tea Room. Shortly after opening, the couple launched the monthly Supper Club, a seven-course event that features adventurous cuisine with a Southern twist. Proceeds are donated to CureSearch to help fund lifesaving research. 

The couple presented the check on September 25th to commemorate Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, a month very special to the Griffith family.  

“Our youngest child, Eve, was diagnosed with anaplastic bilateral Wilms Tumor in 2009 when she was two years old. That was the worst day of our lives,” said Christy. “When you hear the word cancer, but don’t yet have a plan, it’s easy to feel helpless and imagine the most unfavorable outcome.” 

Eve is now cancer free and like so many childhood cancer survivors, she is at risk for lifelong side effects from treatment. CureSearch is dedicated to ensuring every child with cancer has a safe and effective treatment option, and the chance to live a long, healthy life. 

“The industry average for preclinical research moving into clinical trials is 8%. CureSearch has seen 60% of their funded pre-clinical research projects move into clinical trials within the last 10 year, said Chris Morton, chair of the CureSearch Community Leadership Board in the Triangle Area. “And their projects make it to clinical trials 1.5 times faster than the national average. That speed is critical for kids now facing cancers with limited treatment options.”  

CureSearch hosts multiple events across the country to raise funds for children’s cancer research, such as the Foothills Spring Ultimate Hike on April 20, 2024. This life-changing adventure gives hikers and supporters the chance to hike the Foothills Trail in South Carolina, while honoring and supporting children with cancer. To register, visit ultimatehike.org/foothills. 

Cancer in children differs from cancer in adults, from DNA alterations to tumor origin. More than 15,000 children are diagnosed with cancer each year in the U.S., and while new treatments — most often designed originally for adults — have increased overall survival rates, children often face longer, more intense treatment schedules. The need for tailored treatments is crucial.  

Clinical trials connect more patients to new therapies, saving more lives 

Current standard therapies for many childhood cancers are over 30 years old and have lifelong, toxic, and debilitating side effects. Treatment-related toxicities lead to secondary cancers, organ damage, early onset heart failure, and cognitive and growth deficits that undermine their future health, happiness, and longevity. 

Despite this, pediatric clinical trials lag behind adult trials by an average of 6.5 years, leading to countless child casualties. Urgent action is needed. 

Translational research is not always making it into the clinic 

When it comes to research, a serious and detrimental funding gap exists in the “valley of death,” wherein new research discoveries fail to actually progress the clinic. It’s critical that good research is backed by the funding it needs in order to advance to  translational, preclinical, and early-phase clinical trials. This is why CureSearch is so laser-focused on funding promising, translational research with the greatest potential of becoming new treatments for kids with cancer. 

“People talk about survival rates for childhood cancer, but no one talks about what these children go through and the late effects and impact of their treatment,” said Kay Koehler, President and CEO of CureSearch. “Nonprofits are really all that we have to ensure that children can lead a long and healthy life.” 

Cutting-edge pediatric clinical trials bring hope to children who are otherwise out of options 

CureSearch is currently funding a Phase I clinical trial led by Drs. David Munn and Theodore Johnson. Their team is uncovering new ways to combat chemoimmunotherapy resistance in brain cancer patients aged 12-25, offering hope for those with limited options. The team’s trial design is highly innovative, exploring combination therapies’ efficacy in a single-arm Phase I design, leveraging their unique patient population. If this trial is successful, it could revolutionize treatment options for children with brain cancer. 

How can targeted funding advance research more rapidly?  

CureSearch focuses on funding projects with the potential to reach clinical trials within three years. CureSearch-funded research is extensively reviewed by our scientific and industry advisory councils, who collaborate to identify and overcome obstacles, resulting in a 7x higher rate of preclinical projects advancing to clinical trials. This means our funded preclinical projects move to the clinic 1.5x faster than the national average.  

This singular focus is critical in driving cutting-edge research out of the lab and into the clinic, providing new, safer treatments to the children who are counting on us. 

Your donation can help fund the next breakthrough in 2023 and beyond! Make a gift today and bring new treatments for the children who are counting on us.