Dana-Farber/Boston Children's Cancer and Blood Disorders Center and co-investigators are leading the way in the fight against childhood cancer, and their research has been recognized by Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation (ALSF). Dana-Farber/Boston Children's is part of a multi-center study that received the ALSF Crazy 8 Award for their research on early detection and innovative treatments for children predisposed to cancer.
This $5 million award will support a 4-year project, planned in collaboration with investigators in the Department of Newborn Medicine at Brigham and Women's Hospital and researchers at Baylor College of Medicine. Lisa Diller, MD, is the Vice Chair of the Department of Pediatric Oncology at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and a pediatric oncologist in the Dana-Farber/Boston Children's Cancer and Blood Disorders Center. She and her colleagues will evaluate the promise of an expanding newborn blood testing to screen for several genetic cancer predisposition syndromes. The newborn "heel-stick" test currently is used to identify infants with dozens of diseases, but cancer risk is not yet included. This intervention could reduce the toxicity of cancer treatment or even deaths from cancer by promoting cancer screening in infants found to be at risk.
"Over the past decade we have been able to determine that as many as 10% of young children who develop cancer have an underlying genetic predisposition to the disease," says Diller. "If we know who is at risk, we can intervene and find cancers early or even learn how to prevent them."
This is one of two grants funded by ALSF's Crazy 8 Initiative, an ambitious grant category that funds collaborative teams that are tackling the most challenging problems in childhood cancer. Launched in 2020, the Crazy 8 has invested $35 million in 8 collaborative projects. These two new projects will each receive $5 million over 4 years to complete their studies.
"For 25 years, Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation has been dedicated to bringing hope and better outcomes to children with cancer," said Liz Scott, Alex's mother and Co-Executive Director of ALSF. "These groundbreaking studies represent the future of pediatric oncology-moving beyond treatment to prevention and early detection. Alex believed in the power of research to change lives, and these initiatives are a testament to her vision."
Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation emerged from the front yard lemonade stand of 4-year-old Alexandra "Alex" Scott, who was fighting cancer and wanted to raise money to find cures for all children with cancer. ALSF is a leader in funding pediatric cancer research projects across the globe and providing programs to families affected by childhood cancer.
