02/08/2025
Did you know....that in addition to providing direct resourcing to families battling pediatric cancer, TMLTF also funds research grants to support the eradication of pediatric cancer, as follows:
Research Grant #1: Dr. Wing Leung, St Jude Children's Research Hospital - $25k
TMLTF specific interests are aligned with Dr. Leung’s U.S. patent for genetically modified human immune cells for cancer therapy; Protocol INFT2: HLA - Nonidentical Stem Cell and Natural Killer Cell Transplantation for Children Less than 2 years old. TMLTF is eternally grateful to The St Jude Children’s Hospital, Dr. Leung, and his entire team (clinical support staff and ICU team), who tried desperately to save Mya, and who gifted us with an additional two years of life, having been sent home previously, on hospice.
Research Grant #2: Dr. Paul Jedlicka, Children’s Hospital of Colorado - $5k
The Jedlicka laboratory has identified a molecular pathway in Ewing Sarcoma that promotes tumor growth and tumor metastasis. Excitingly, since this pathway involves an enzyme (a protein called KDM3A, a type of “epigenetic modifier”) allowing the
Jedlicka laboratory to work hard to understand exactly how KDM3A promotes Ewing Sarcoma cell growth and metastasis, to determine how best to inhibit its action. These funds may also be used for so-called pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic studies to determine optimal drug dosing in our animal tumor model.
Research Grant #3: Dr. Shukla and Dr. Armstrong at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, regarding mixed lineage leukemia - $10k
Mechanism and Rational Therapy of Refractory Epigenetic Targets in Acute Leukemia:
Despite extensive efforts and intensive combination chemotherapy, the cure rates of patients with acute leukemias remain inadequate. The need for improved treatments for patients whose leukemias is resistant to conventional chemotherapy is particularly dire. Recent studies have begun to emphasize the importance of aberrant gene expression in leukemia pathogenesis. However, there is a shortage of accurate laboratory models and rational approaches to interfere with molecular factors that drive leukemogenesis. Dr. Shukla and Dr. Armstrong have begun to use recently developed genome editing technologies to generate faithful models of human leukemias suitable for rapid preclinical testing. To specifically block leukemogenic gene expression, they have developed rationally designed peptidomimetic inhibitors of the key epigenetic regulator MYB, critical for the survival of most leukemias, including refractory leukemias driven by MLL and CBP rearrangements. This project aims to leverage accurate genetically engineered models of human leukemia and rationally designed MYB inhibitors to develop effective therapies.
Research Grant #4: Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh Foundation - $25k
The Mother’s Hope campaign. The purpose of the fund is to provide flexible resources to help as many families as possible who are experiencing financial hardship because of their children battling cancer. The hope is that by alleviating some of the financial worry the families will be better able to cope and support their children throughout the cancer treatment whether as an inpatient or outpatient. The funds are used for food, house-hold expenses, car repairs, travel needs, lodging, phone bills, out-of-pocket expenses for medications or medical supplies, child-care for siblings, or any other expenses that will help to ease a family’s financial burden and allow them to be at their child’s side. Social workers at The Children’s Hospital work closely with families to understand their situation and connect them with the services and resources they need. The social workers act as liaisons to distribute Mother’s Hope Foundation Endowment Fund resources to families.
Research Grant #5: Dr. Soheil Meshinchi, Project Stella - $50k
Project Stella is led by Dr. Soheil Meshinchi, a world-renowned pediatric AML expert at The Fred Hutch Cancer Center. This unique initiative is focused on developing targeted treatments for an aggressive form of Acute Myeloid Leukemia called AML-RAM/CBF-GLIS. This form of AML impacts children under the age of five and currently carries a dismal 8-14% survival rate. The aim of Project Stella is simple: identify the targets, attack the targets, cure the cancer.
Research Grant #6: Dr. Johannes L. Zakrrzewski, Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation - $25k
Our efforts pertain to targeting Cancer-Specific Non-Protein Molecular Signatures for Immunotherapy of Pediatric AML, by Johannes L. Zakrzewski, MD. Immunotherapy is a type of treatment that uses the body’s own immune system to fight disease. One of the major limitations of using immunotherapy for AML has been the lack of suitable targets on the surface of AML cells. The goal of this project is to develop therapeutic molecules designed to bind to and bring cancer fighting cells close to the surface of AML cells, resulting in cancer cell death.
Research Grant #7: Dr. Jessica Scerbo, Tackle Kids Cancer Partnership - $50k
In partnership with Tackle Kids Cancer, this donation will fund programs Dr. Jessica Scerbo is helping to grow:fertility preservation and behavioral health services. Mya showed clear signs of mental distress during her cancer battle and “always wanted to be a mommy.” Fighting cancer can give tunnel vision. You do not always think about other health priorities because you are so focused on treating the disease, this can leave mental health and fertility underserved. The hospital offers a process to remove and store a child’s o***y. When they reach adulthood, they can choose to harvest eggs for in vitro fertilization. Meanwhile, the behavioral health program focuses on the psychological challenges of cancer care.
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