Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation Announces New Reach Grant Recipients, funding propels childhood cancer research from the lab toward clinical trial

Researchers at Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center and Stanford University receive two-year grant worth $250,000

Philadelphia, PA (March 11, 2016) – Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation (ALSF), a nonprofit dedicated to finding cures for all kids with cancer, awarded Reach Grants to childhood cancer researchers at three leading institutions across the country. The Reach Grant provides much needed funding at a critical point in the development of a cancer therapy – preparation for FDA approval. Each recipient will receive a total of $250,000 over the course of two years. The projects began in February 2016.

The 2015 Reach Grant recipients are: Yong-Mi Kim, MD, PhD, MPH and co-investigator Nora Heisterkamp, PhD of Children’s Hospital Los Angeles to study a new therapy for children with relapsed acute lymphoblastic leukemia; Soheil Meshinchi, MD, PhD of Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center to identify drugs to target gene mutations unique to childhood acute myeloid leukemia; and Maria-Grazia Roncarolo, MD and co-investigator Rosa Bacchetta, MD of Stanford University to develop a Tr1 cell based clinical protocol for acute myeloid leukemia therapy. Full summaries of all projects can be found on Our Funded Projects page.  

“For many children and their families facing a childhood cancer diagnosis and subsequent fight, the traditional treatment protocol will fail,” said Jay Scott, Co-Executive Director of Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation. “Similarly to my daughter Alex’s battle, children and families will turn to clinical trials, whose outcomes can provide hope and the possibility of potential cures. We are dedicated to bringing promising research forward from the lab to the clinic.”

The aim of Reach Grant is to fund studies which will result in the initiation of a clinical trial within a short time period, ideally 2-3 years. 

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