Childhood Cancer

In February 2024, NFCR President and CEO Sujuan Ba, Ph.D., participated in the first global OncoThon event co-hosted by Oncoheroes Biosciences, a biotech company dedicated to pediatric cancer and is a recipient of long-term support from NFCR through our AIM-HI Translational Research Initiative. Dr. Ba joined fellow community leaders, including the Rally Foundation for Childhood Cancer CEO Dean Crowe, to raise awareness for pediatric cancer research. During the event, Ms. Crowe offered a $200,000 match to organizations willing to raise funds, to which Dr. Ba proudly pledged to help meet this challenge through a new NFCR fundraising campaign. Give Now >>> Childhood Cancer Research is Underfunded and Under-researched In the U.S., cancer is the leading cause of death by disease in children and adolescents (15-19 years.) Did you know many cancer drugs are in use to treat pediatric cancer patients, but only five drugs are specifically developed or approved for children with certain types of cancer? The lack of development of pediatric cancer drugs forces oncologists to use adult cancer drugs to treat their young patients. This approach can be harmful to the patients and, in some cases, have long-term side effects. More support and more research are needed to provide those diagnosed with childhood cancer with better survival outcomes and less harmful treatments. Learn more about Pediatric Cancer, including risk factors and warning signs to look for. NFCR is Committed to Reducing the Disparity of Treatment Options for Childhood Cancer Patients Under the leadership of Dr. Sujuan Ba, NFCR's President and CEO, we embarked on an unconventional venture philanthropy approach to support and launch the first biotech solely dedicated to developing pediatric cancer drugs, led by two dads touched by childhood cancer. The National Foundation for Cancer Research (NFCR) is the first non-profit organization that provided seed funding to support the critically needed pediatric cancer drug development by Oncoheroes Biosciences. We are working towards better outcomes for ALL cancer patients through collaboration with other cancer leaders like Ricardo Garcia, Founder and CEO of Oncoheroes Biosciences, and Ms. Dean Crowe of the Rally Foundation for Childhood Cancer. Together, we make cures possible and can create a world without cancer. Every dollar NFCR raises to improve treatment options for childhood cancers will have double the impact from now through the end of April, thanks to the Rally Foundation. {{ vc_btn: title=Double+Your+Impact+Now&style=custom&custom_background=%23ff5012&custom_text=%23ffffff&align=center&button_block=true&link=url%3Ahttps%253A%252F%252Fnfcr.donorsupport.co%252F-%252FXKJDMWYR }}

Cancer is devastating at any age. Can you imagine having to experience such an awful disease at the age of three? Around this age, Greyson Banovich started having excruciating pain in his lower back. Neither he nor his family could understand. Finally, when it became disruptive in school, the Banoviches realized the pain was severe and needed attention as soon as possible.   Thankfully, Greyson’s cancer was deemed treatable through surgery. His recovery only required a short hospital stay post-treatment. To help lift Greyson’s spirits while in recovery, the nurses at his treatment facility would throw him glow stick parties. This tradition continued Saturday night, October 22, 2022, at NFCR’s Global Summit and Award Ceremonies for Cancer Research & Entrepreneurship. NFCR Board Member Lance Kawaguchi brought Greyson and his Mother, Katie, on stage to talk about their experience with cancer. That’s when Kawaguchi encouraged guests of the Summit to pull out their glow sticks and wave them around in Greyson’s honor. The 6-year-old, who can now live a relatively normal life, was overjoyed with the lights. Greyson even gathered as many glow sticks as he could hold to take back with him as the night wrapped. NFCR Board Member @LanceKawaguchi surprises our young cancer survivor guest, Greyson, with one of the things that brought him joy when going through treatment - a glow stick party! #youngcancersurvivors pic.twitter.com/h1deghWqnL— National Foundation for Cancer Research (@NFCR) October 23, 2022 The National Foundation for Cancer Research is grateful to the Banovich Family for attending this special event, sharing their story with us, and reminding us why funding cancer research is so critical. “Greyson’s story is a story of triumph. That isn’t always the case with cancer, but it is becoming the case more and more thanks to research.” – Katie Banovich, Cancer Advocate and Mother of Greyson. Make a gift to accelerate cancer research today to help fund the next generation of breakthroughs that can help save patient lives >>> WATCH to Hear Their Full Story: What other's are saying: Thank you ⁦@NFCR⁩ for supporting the cancer research that saves lives. 🙏 pic.twitter.com/bi1uisGzh7— Dr. Ron DePinho (@RonDePinho) October 23, 2022 @NFCR pic.twitter.com/jM4RgX1XNo— Nick Banovich (@NeBanovich) October 23, 2022 Read the Full Event Recap: RECAP – NFCR’s Global Summit and Award Ceremonies for Cancer Research & Entrepreneurship 2022

In February 2022, the Biden Administration announced the reigniting of the Cancer Moonshot program. This ambitious program was launched in 2016 with three key goals:  accelerating scientific discovery in cancer,  fostering greater collaboration, and  improving the sharing of data The 2022 reignition includes two new goals:  reducing the death rate from cancer by at least 50% over the next 25 years and  improving the experience of people and their families living with and surviving cancer Maryland's Cancer Moonshot Details Following the exciting reigniting, Governor Lawrence J. Hogan Jr. of Maryland announced a $216 million plan to boost funding for cancer treatment, prevention, and research in Maryland. Linking its efforts to the National Cancer Moonshot, Hogan appropriately refers to this plan as the Maryland Cancer Moonshot.  According to Hogan, the Maryland Cancer Moonshot will dramatically accelerate Maryland's efforts to detect, prevent, treat, and find a cure for cancer. Ultimately, the end goal is to save more lives. The initiative will make it easier to expand the early detection of cancer, screenings, and patient education. It will also provide advanced services for inpatient and outpatient care. How the Budget Will Be Spent Nearly half of the $216 million budget will help expand services provided by the University of Maryland Medical System's Greenebaum Comprehensive Cancer Center in Baltimore. This project alone will benefit thousands of Marylanders whose lives are touched by cancer annually. A further $67M will be used to fully fund the construction of a Prince George's Comprehensive Cancer Center in Largo.  In addition to state-of-the-art cancer centers, Maryland Cancer Moonshot will utilize $25 million towards cancer research at the University of Maryland School of Medicine and Johns Hopkins University and a further $20.5 million for the Maryland Stem Cell Research Fund for research on regenerative treatments. Hogan has also budgeted $2.5 million for the Maryland Tech Council. This funding will bolster talent development and outreach to students in underserved communities.  Spotlight on Pediatric Cancer While each aspect of the Maryland Cancer Moonshot will make significant strides in cancer research, one particular area excites experts in Maryland and worldwide. Maryland Cancer Moonshot includes $1 million to boost pediatric cancer research at the University of Maryland School of Medicine. Despite the progress in cancer research, children and adolescents who are cancer patients have only a few treatments designed explicitly for their cancer. The lack of development of pediatric cancer drugs results in pediatric oncologists using adult cancer drugs to treat their young patients. While these drugs may still yield positive results, many experts suggest that developing pediatric medicines could significantly improve outcomes.  National Foundation for Cancer Research (NFCR) has funded pediatric cancer experts to explore such developments. The support from Maryland Cancer Moonshot means these researchers can utilize more resources to launch their discoveries.  Local Maryland NFCR-funded researcher Dr. Curt I Civin, for example, paved the way in bone marrow stem cell transplantation. Dr. Civin's commitment to finding innovative ways to treat cancer has saved thousands of lives, continuing with support from the AIM-HI Translational Research Initiative. This funding will also benefit experts worldwide by building upon existing research and initiating new findings [...]