Wipe Out Kids’ Cancer Awards $310,000 in Pediatric Cancer Research Grants and Programs

DALLAS - Jan. 29, 2014 - PRLog -- Wipe Out Kids’ Cancer (WOKC) announced the 2014 WOKC grant recipients this week, awarding $310,000 in pediatric cancer research grants and programs to three Texas hospitals. This year’s recipients include:  Dr. Dinesh Rakheja, Children’s Medical Center Dallas; Dr. Eveline Barbieri, Texas Children’s Hospital; and Dr. Steffan T. Nawrocki, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio.  The 2014 grant recipients were selected by the WOKC Medical Advisory Committee based on their medical expertise and commitment to funding projects that will have the biggest impact in the fight against pediatric cancer.

Children’s Medical Center Dallas:  Awarded $140,000
Children’s Medical Center will allocate $90,000 of the $140,000 grant to a research project on Wilms tumor, the most common type of kidney cancer in children, and $50,000 to a patient support program.  Dr. Dinesh Rakheja will lead the research project, and will focus on a particular type of Wilms tumor called unfavorable histology Wilms tumor.  This subtype is resistant to conventional treatments and much harder to cure.  Dr. Rakheja and his team of researchers will work on identifying targets for safer and more effective treatments of unfavorable histology Wilms tumor. The remaining $50,000 will provide 2014 funding for a Spanish Translator on the cancer floor of CMC to help non-English speaking patients and their families understand the cancer diagnosis and treatment options.

Texas Children’s Hospital:  Awarded $80,000
The $80,000 grant will be used to fund a research project led by Dr. Eveline Barbieri on neuroblastoma, an aggressive cancer of the peripheral nervous system found in very young children. It is the most common tumor found in children, and strikes approximately 650 children a year in the U.S., usually before age 5. There is a high relapse rate, and the cancer is much harder to cure when it returns.  Many children with neuroblastoma do not survive despite intensive treatments.   Dr. Barbieri will investigate a novel potential treatment for high-risk cases with hopes to identify a way to regulate the disease and improve survival rates.

University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio:  Awarded $90,000
The $90,000 grant will be used to fund a research project led by Dr. Steffan T. Nawrockionrhabdomyosarcoma (RMS). RMS is a cancerous tumor of the muscles that attaches to the bones, and the most common form of soft-tissue sarcoma diagnosed in children. Survival rates range from 90% to 15%, depending on the stage of the disease when diagnosed.  New treatment options are desperately needed, and Dr. Nawrocki will investigate a new treatment therapy that should translate into a clinical trial, with the potential to significantly impact survival rates for children with RMS.

“Every advancement in curing pediatric cancer has come through research but cancer is still the #1 disease killer of American children. We are thankful for the support from our donors in 2013 that allowed us to provide funding for these critical research initiatives and hope for a cure to pediatric cancer patients,” said Evelyn Costolo, CEO for Wipe Out Kids’ Cancer.  Researchers can now apply for a 2015 WOKC grant.  Applications are being accepted through October 1, 2014.  For more information,  contact ecostolo@wokc.org or visit www.wokc.org.

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Wipe Out Kids’ Cancer (WOKC) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization based in Dallas with the mission to work relentlessly for the day when all children are living cancer-free.  Founded in 1980, WOKC is dedicated to raising funds and awareness for pediatric cancer research in search of a cure and better treatments for children battling cancer.  For every dollar received,75 cents goes to support this mission.  WOKC also provides emotional support and hope to children undergoing cancer treatment through the Ambassador Program and Buddy Bag Program. For more information about WOKC, visit www.wokc.org.