Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation for Childhood Cancer

Julia Glade Bender

Project Overview

The Children's Hospital of New York-Presbyterian at Columbia University has one of the largest pediatric oncology programs in the United States. Residing within this division is the Pediatric Cancer Foundation Developmental Therapeutics Program (PCFDTP) led by Dr. Julia Glade Bender. The PCFDTP has demonstrated scientific leadership in the field of translational antiangiogenic research through investigations of novel agents which inhibit tumor blood vessel growth by blocking vascular endothelial growth factor. Preclinical work is conducted in the Pediatric Tumor Biology laboratory and clinical translation is carried out by the PCFDTP which strives to deliver patient-centered care while offering innovative approaches not ordinarily available in the community through participation in early phase clinical trials. Columbia University continues to be one of only 21 Phase I institutions supported by the National Cancer Institute and the Children's Oncology Group (COG). Our institution is the only so designated center caring for children and adolescents with cancer in the New York, New Jersey, Connecticut tri-state region. Our program is also an active member in both the New Approaches to Neuroblastoma Therapy (NANT) and Therapeutic Advances in Childhood Leukemia (TACL) Consortia with Dr. Glade Bender serving as the Institutional Principal Investigator. Support from Alex's Lemonade Stand to recruit and retain a clinical research nurse practitioner has allowed us to simultaneously improve continuity of care for patients, increase accrual to early phase studies without compromising quality of clinical or scientific endpoints, and to focus efforts on trial development and scientific contribution by the PCFDTP investigators.