Hello!

We are so excited to be back for our fourth year of Alex's Million Mile! We are members and supporters of Dr. Jim Amatruda's lab at UT Southwestern Medical Center. Our team consists of UT Southwestern and Children’s Medical Center employees, scientists, doctors, physician assistants, nurses, UT Dallas students, and our friends and family. We study the biology of pediatric cancers using patient genomic data and zebrafish genetic model systems. The pediatric cancers our research focuses on includes rhabdoid tumors, germ cell tumors, rhabdomyosarcoma, Ewing's sarcoma, and Wilms tumor. We use this cross-species comparative oncology approach to pinpoint the genetic drivers of disease pathology, and apply these models to identify new therapies. Our long-term goal is to improve outcomes of children with cancer. We are participating in Alex's Million Mile to raise awareness for pediatric cancer, and to fundraise to support cancer research here at UT Southwestern.

We currently have an ALSF Young Investigator Grant focused on Wilms tumor. We have previously been awarded an ALSF Innovation Grant, Reach Grant, and a Young Investigator Grant focused on rhabdoid tumors, Wilms tumor, and rhabdomyosarcoma. We appreciate ALSF's support and want to give back!

Please join us in helping Alex's Lemonade Stand raise awareness and funds to support pediatric cancer research. This year we are partnering with the Lemon Club from UT Dallas to increase our impact. Since we are a Researcher Team, every dollar you donate will be matched at the end of the month, and given to the Amatruda lab to facilitate our research efforts, making a big impact on what we are able to do!

Follow our team on Twitter! @UTSWelemonaders

Lab Website: https://www.utsouthwestern.edu/labs/amatruda/

Highlights from our recent ALSF funded work:

UTSW scientists identify new mechanisms underlying pediatric kidney cancer

Zebrafish expose tumor pathway in childhood muscle cancer

CBSDFW visits the Amatruda lab to highlight our childhood muscle cancer research