Children’s of Alabama for the second year in a row has received a $75,000 grant from the Starr Children’s Fund, run by the Vince Lombardi Cancer Foundation.
This grant will support continued research to improve understanding of the biological drivers of high-risk pediatric cancer.
“Our ultimate goal is to find cures for pediatric solid tumors,” said Dr. Jamie Aye, who works in pediatric hematology oncology at Children’s of Alabama and is assistant professor of pediatrics at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. “Our research is unique in that we are using actual patient tumors, which is a more accurate way of looking at these cancers. In addition to finding cures, we hope to find treatments that will not involve some of the current late side effects we see so that our patients have the healthiest life possible.”
The foundation’s board of directors and medical advisory board selected Children’s from among 18 top-ranking organizations across the country.
“Since the Vince Lombardi Cancer Foundation’s inception, we have given more than $21 million to fund our mission of preventing cancer, providing the best care to those fighting it and finding a cure,” foundation President Trace Tendick said in a statement. “We are proud of our national impact and are excited to be funding some of the most innovative work taking place within the cancer community.”
Cancer is the number one cause of death by disease among children, but only 4% of cancer research dollars are spent for projects directed at childhood cancers, according to the statement.
The Starr Children’s Fund, created by the late Bart Starr and his wife, Cherry, is devoted to raising funds specifically for pediatric cancer research and treatments.
“Childhood cancer is very badly underfunded,” Cherry Starr said in a statement issued by the foundation. “Bart and I decided that our future efforts would be to work with children with cancer and raise the money they so badly need.”
The foundation is funding five grants totaling $373,864. In addition to Children’s of Alabama, recipients include Children’s Cancer Therapy Development Institute in Beaverton, Oregon; American Family Children’s Hospital in Madison, Wisconsin and Children’s of Wisconsin; and Team Phoenix-Aurora Health Care in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
To learn more about Vince Lombardi Cancer Foundation’s funding process or to apply for a grant, visit lombardifoundation.org/fundingprocess.
