(New York) – Today pediatric cancer researchers got a huge boost after The Samuel Waxman Cancer Research Foundation (SWCRF) and The Max Cure Foundation awarded them a grant worth $100,000.
The Max Cure/SWCRF Collaborative Pediatric Cancer Research Grant will be given to John Crispino, Ph.D., from the Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center of Northwestern University in Chicago and Shai Izraeli, M.D., from the Tel Aviv University Sackler School of Medicine Sheba Cancer Research Center in Israel. The grant will aid in finding treatments for acute megakaryocytic leukemia (AMKL), a rare form of leukemia that has a dismal prognosis. In pediatric cases of AMKL, the most prominent are in children with Down Syndrome, many of whom are sensitive to chemotherapy. “So our vision was to develop a differentiation therapy that specifically targets this type of leukemic cell,” explained Dr. Crispino.
“We know that these investigators have been vetted by a leading scientific advisory board within the SWCRF and have met its high standards. We are proud to be identified with SWCRF and the great work it does to advance the cause of cancer research, including research for childhood cancers,” said David Plotkin, Co-Founder and Chairman of Max Cure Foundation.
“Our collaboration with Max Cure benefits everyone,” said Samuel Waxman, M.D., SWCRF Founder and CEO. “Collaboration between foundations with similar goals is what’s needed to develop new, minimally toxic treatments.”
The scientists plan to further investigate the role of two proteins in AMKL. “We still don’t know how these proteins contribute to leukemia,” Dr. Crispino explained. “But we hope to gain new insights into the biology of the disease and find new targets for therapy.”
About the Max Cure Foundation (MCF)
The mission of Max Cure Foundation is to advance cures for pediatric cancers, fund the development of less toxic treatments for children, including the funding of an immune cell therapy laboratory at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center dedicated to alternative treatments for children battling the disease. MCF also provides emotional and financial support to both low-income families and military families who are battling pediatric cancers, while at the same time inspiring children with the disease to confront it with courage and bravery. For more information, visit www.maxcurefoundation.org.
About the Samuel Waxman Cancer Research Foundation (SWCRF)
The SWCRF is an international organization dedicated to curing and preventing cancer. The Foundation is a pioneer in cancer research, focusing on uncovering the causes of cancer and reprogramming cancer cells. We dedicate ourselves to delivering tailored, minimally toxic treatments to patients. Our mission is to eradicate cancer by bridging the gap between lab science and the patient. Through our collaborative group of world-class scientists, the Institute Without Walls, investigators share information and tools to speed the pace of cancer research. Since its inception in 1976, the SWCRF has awarded more than $85 million to support the work of more than 200 researchers across the globe. For more information, visit www.waxmancancer.org.
