Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation Announces New Psychosocial Grant Recipients

Funding supports researchers who have novel approaches to understanding the psychosocial aspects of pediatric cancer and will have clinically significant impact.

Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation (ALSF), a nonprofit dedicated to finding better and safer treatments and ultimately cures for all kids with cancer, recognizes the importance of investing in research that enables better quality of care and life for children battling cancer and their families. ALSF recently awarded Psychosocial grants to four researchers from leading institutions across North America: Bruce Compas, PhD, Lisa Jacola, PhD, Fiona Schulte, PhD and Eric Zhou, PhD. The Psychosocial grants (Launch & Family Impact) were created to explain and improve psychosocial outcomes of those affected by childhood cancer. 

The Psychosocial: Family Impact Grant is designed for established investigators whose studies aim to explain and/or improve psychosocial outcomes of those affected by childhood cancer. Bruce Compas, PhD of Vanderbilt University will receive $300,000 over three years to test the possible benefits of a novel, internet-based program to support children with cancer and their parents in coping with and communicating about cancer.

The Psychosocial: Launch Grant is designed for early career researchers whose studies aim to explain and/or improve psychosocial outcomes of those affected by childhood cancer. Grantees will receive up to $100,000 over two years. Lisa Jacola, PhD of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital will conduct cognitive testing on leukemia patients with Down syndrome to understand how leukemia and its treatment affects them. Fiona Schulte, PhD of University of Calgary will study factors that may be contributing to social adjustment difficulties in pediatric brain tumor survivors. Eric Zhou, PhD of Dana-Farber Cancer Institute will test cognitive-behavioral treatment for insomnia in adolescent cancer survivors. 

“We are conscious of the effects the fight against childhood cancer can have emotionally and behaviorally on children and their families,” said Jay Scott, Co-Executive Director of Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation. “With these grants, we aim to address the psychosocial aspects of childhood cancer treatment and hope to make a difference in the quality of life and care for these children and their families.” 

For more information about the sychosocial grants or Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation’s various grant categories and successes, visit: www.ALSFgrants.org.