Childrens Cancer Research Fund

FUND RESEARCH TO PREVENT & CURE CHILDHOOD CANCERS, PROVIDE PATIENT SERVICES AND SUPPORT EDUCATION

RESEARCH PROGRAMIN 2021, CCRF AWARDED $9.9 MILLION IN RESEARCH AND PROGRAM GRANTS DESIGNED TO MAKE A MEANINGFUL IMPACT IN MAJOR AREAS OF NEED IN THE CHILDHOOD CANCER ECOSYSTEM:HARD TO TREAT CANCERS - WE FUEL RESEARCH FOR CANCERS WHERE SURVIVAL RATES HAVE STALLED OR NOT IMPROVED IN YEARS. THIS INCLUDES AGGRESSIVE AND DEADLY CANCERS LIKE BRAIN TUMORS, SARCOMAS AND SPECIFIC TYPES OF LEUKEMIAS, JUST TO NAME A FEW. SURVIVORSHIP - MANY CHILDREN WHO SURVIVE CANCER DEAL WITH THE LATE EFFECTS OF CHEMOTHERAPY, RADIATION OR SURGERY, WHICH RANGE FROM HEARING LOSS TO HEART CONDITIONS TO INFERTILITY. MORE RESEARCH IS NEEDED IN HOW TO EFFECTIVELY TREAT YOUNG ADULTS POST-CANCER AND CURB OR ELIMINATE THESE LATE EFFECTS, ESPECIALLY FOR NEW IMMUNE-BASED AND TARGETED THERAPIES DEVELOPED IN RECENT YEARS.EMERGING SCIENTISTS - WE IDENTIFY AND SUPPORT HIGHLY QUALIFIED RESEARCHERS EARLY IN THEIR CAREERS, HELPING THEM ESTABLISH THEIR LABS AND COMPLETE INITIAL RESEARCH, WHICH MAKES IT POSSIBLE FOR THEM RECEIVE THE FEDERAL GRANTS NECESSARY TO BRING NEW THERAPIES AND CURES TO CHILDREN.DISPARITIES - WE FUND RESEARCH THAT WILL IMPROVE OUTCOMES FOR CHILDREN WHO ARE AT GREATER RISK FOR POOR OUTCOMES BASED ON RACE, ETHNICITY AND SOCIOECONOMIC STATUS.

EDUCATION AND AWARENESS PROGRAMGENERATING AWARENESS ABOUT THE NEED FOR CHILDHOOD CANCER, AND PROVIDING EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES FOR RESEARCHERS, ARE KEY PARTS OF OUR MISSION. WE REACH MILLIONS OF PEOPLE THROUGH OUR WEBSITE, DIGITAL AND SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS, AND IN-KIND TELEVISION, RADIO AND PRINT ADVERTISING TO SHARE THE STORIES OF KIDS, FAMILIES AND RESEARCHERS. WE ALSO FUND PEDIATRIC HEMATOLOGY-ONCOLOGY AND BMT FELLOWSHIP PROGRAMS, WHICH HELPS RECRUIT AND RETAIN THE BRIGHTEST MINDS IN THE FIELD OF PEDIATRIC CANCER RESEARCH. WE'RE PROUD TO SUPPORT THE MARK E. NESBIT LECTURESHIP IN PEDIATRIC ONCOLOGY AND THE NORMA K.C. RAMSAY, MD, DISTINGUISHED VISITING PROFESSOR LECTURESHIP SERIES. BOTH OF THESE BRING NATIONALLY AND INTERNATIONALLY RECOGNIZED CHILDHOOD CANCER EXPERTS TO MINNESOTA TO SPEAK ON CURRENT CLINICAL AND RESEARCH ISSUES, AND TO BUILD NEW RESEARCH COLLABORATIONS.

PATIENT AND FAMILY SERVICES PROGRAMWE FUND A VARIETY OF INITIATIVES FOR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES EXPERIENCING CANCER, INCLUDING THE BIG DREAMS VIRTUAL REALITY TOUR WITH JAMES ORRIGO, WHICH LEVERAGES VIRTUAL REALITY TECHNOLOGY TO "MEET" WITH PEDIATRIC CANCER PATIENTS TO WRITE SONGS AND CREATE MUSIC VIDEOS; CAMP NORDEN, A SUMMER CAMP DESIGNED ESPECIALLY TO MEET THE UNIQUE NEEDS OF CHILDHOOD CANCER FAMILIES; AND MOMCOLOGY PROGRAMS, WHICH PROVIDE PRIMARY CAREGIVERS THE OPPORTUNITY TO CONNECT AND GAIN VALUABLE SUPPORT FROM PEERS AROUND THE COUNTRY. PROGRAMMING INCLUDED VIRTUAL RESTORATIVE EDUCATIONAL RETREATS, ONLINE SUPPORT GROUP MEETINGS AND PEER SUPPORT RESEARCH. FEEDBACK FROM PARENTS AND KIDS SHOW THAT THIS EXPERIENCE IS INVALUABLE DURING A TIME OF STRESS, ISOLATION AND UNCERTAINTY.