Pediatric Cancer Research Receives a Boost During Childhood Cancer Awareness Month

Raya Saab, MD, a pediatric oncologist and famend strong tumor researcher at Stanford Medicine Children’s Health, has been awarded a $400,000 Hyundai Scholar Hope Grant from Hyundai Hope on Wheels, a nonprofit group devoted to supporting pediatric most cancers analysis. The grant will assist Dr. Saab’s analysis on CD147, a glycoprotein concerned in tumor growth and development, aimed toward discovering simpler remedies.

Dr. Saab, who can also be the Lindhard Household Professor of Pediatric Most cancers Biology on the Stanford College of Drugs, accepted the award throughout a test presentation ceremony on September 24 at Lucile Packard Kids’s Hospital Stanford, the middle of the Stanford Kids’s Community. The occasion was attended by hospital management, representatives from Hyundai Motor America, and pediatric most cancers survivor Tyler and his household.

“I’m actually excited in regards to the investigator Hyundai Hope on Wheels is supporting this 12 months,” mentioned Tanja Gruber, MD, PhD, the Chambers Household Endowed Professor for Pediatric Most cancers and division chief of pediatric hematology, oncology, stem cell transplantation, and regenerative drugs.

Dr. Gruber defined, “Dr. Saab focuses on strong tumors, particularly soft-tissue sarcomas, and proper now we’re not curing all of our sufferers with soft-tissue sarcomas. Considered one of hardest issues about these sufferers is metastatic illness, which is when the tumors unfold all through the physique. So, understanding and with the ability to goal metastatic illness is admittedly essential. Dr. Saab’s analysis is filling a void in our present data and has a number of potential to translate into higher remedies for youths.”

Considered one of Dr. Saab’s sufferers, Tyler, 19, was recognized with a malignant germ cell tumor throughout his senior 12 months at Gilroy Excessive College. He feared that sickness would put a cease to his soccer profession.

He advised these gathered, “Your donations to most cancers researchers who develop new remedies have helped me not solely beat most cancers but additionally return to taking part in soccer solely six months after remission. I sat in a hospital mattress for 5 months, dreaming of with the ability to play soccer once more, and now right here I’m, dwelling out my goals that appeared so far-off.”

Supporters and members of the family then cheered as Tyler left colourful imprints of his arms on a automobile, symbolizing hope and progress within the battle towards childhood most cancers.

The test presentation and handprint ceremony are held yearly in September throughout Childhood Most cancers Consciousness Month, which is devoted to growing consciousness of pediatric most cancers and elevating funds for analysis.  

“My time within the hospital opened me as much as what number of different youngsters and youngsters there have been, identical to me, that had their objectives derailed by most cancers,” mentioned Tyler. “We put our lives within the arms of groups akin to Dr. Saab’s to make sure that finally we’d be capable of return to some type of regular.”

With this newest grant, Packard Kids’s Hospital has acquired practically $5.5 million for pediatric most cancers analysis since 2004 from Hyundai Hope on Wheels.

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