New Grants Provide Support for Childhood Cancer Clinical Trials

Great Cycle Challenge grants map

Children’s Cancer Research Fund, in partnership with Momcology, a national peer support foundation for pediatric cancer families, has awarded $180,000 in grants to nine hospitals to conduct early phase research and clinical trials for children with cancer.

The funds were raised as part of the 2016 Great Cycle Challenge USA presented by Macy’s in which 26,000 cyclists from all 50 states pedaled 1.9 million miles in June, raising $3 million to fight childhood cancer. Momcology helped select nine hospitals to receive grants of $20,000 each. All hospitals are members of the Children’s Oncology Group Phase I & Pilot Consortium, which was formed in 2002 to ensure more rapid development of new therapies for childhood cancer patients.

The hospitals receiving the grants are:

  • Ann and Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago
  • Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta – Egleston
  • Children’s Hospital of Colorado
  • Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles
  • Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia
  • Children’s National Medical Center
  • Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
  • St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital
  • Seattle Children’s Hospital

In addition to these grants, Great Cycle Challenge USA funds will continue to support groundbreaking childhood cancer research at the Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota.

“We’re proud to partner with Momcology in providing these research grants to the top pediatric cancer centers in the country,” says John Hallberg, Chief Executive Officer of CCRF. “The COG Phase I and Pilot Consortium plays a critical role in advancing new and better treatments for children battling cancer. These grants are especially valuable as they help doctors and researchers open up more clinical trials in their areas and enroll more patients in their trials. By increasing their capacity, they’re improving the chances for survival and quality of life for more children with cancer.”

“Funding pediatric cancer research is a priority for childhood cancer families,” says Kim Buff, Founder and Executive Director of Momcology.  “Providing families an opportunity to direct funds to premier research institutions, while re-engaging them with self-care and health through the Great Cycle Challenge, was the perfect complement to our foundation’s mission of peer support and family empowerment.”