Hyundai Hope On Wheels Awards $150,000 Research Grant To The Beckman Research Institute At City Of Hope In Honor Of National Childhood Cancer Awareness Month

LOS ANGELES, Sept. 6, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Hyundai Hope On Wheels® will today present The Beckman Research Institute at City of Hope with a $150,000 Hyundai Young Investigator Grant. The grant funds will support the research of principal investigator Dr. Leo David Wang.

The dual-trained pediatric oncologist and scientist is working in the lab to understand how blood cells develop and grow, and plans to use that information to help patients with cancer live longer and experience fewer side effects of treatment. He is currently building City of Hope's pediatric immuno-oncology program. One of his first efforts will be to bring CAR-T cell therapy for brain tumors to the pediatric clinic.

CAR-T cell therapy is one of the most innovative ways to train the body's own immune system to fight cancer. At City of Hope, this type of therapy has already shown promising results for adults with blood cancers and advanced brain tumors.

This award is part of the organization's efforts during National Childhood Cancer Awareness Month.  In September alone, Hope On Wheels will award 40 research grants totaling $8.5 million to institutions nationwide. This brings the organization's donation total to $130 million since Hyundai joined the fight against pediatric cancer in 1998. With this latest grant, Hope On Wheels has awarded more than $350,000 to City of Hope.

"September is a special time for all of us at Hyundai because it's National Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. It's a time when we honor the courageous children battling cancer while also funding the doctors and researchers that are working tirelessly to provide care and develop new treatments," said Scott Fink, chairman, Hyundai Hope On Wheels Board of Directors. "Throughout the month we will share stories of the brave children battling cancer through our campaign theme called 'Every Handprint Tells A Story' and invite the public to join our fight."

The $150,000 Hyundai Young Investigator Grant will be officially presented to Dr. Wang today, September 6, 2017 at 9 a.m. Doctors and researchers that receive a grant from Hope On Wheels are named Hyundai Scholars and are presented with a special lab coat.

During the event, Greater Los Angeles Area children battling cancer will participate in the program's signature Handprint Ceremony, in which they'll dip their hands in paint and place their handprints on a white 2017 Hyundai Santa Fe. Their colorful handprints on the official Hope Vehicle represent their individual and collective journeys, hopes and dreams.

The Hope On Wheels September campaign theme is 'Every Handprint Tells A Story.' This theme recognizes that there are many stakeholders in the fight to end childhood cancer – the child, family, doctors, nurses, caregivers and researchers. The public is encouraged to visit our website at HyundaiHopeOnWheels.org to view videos of child cancer fighters, learn about the work of Hope On Wheels-funded researchers or add a virtual handprint of support on the website. Supporters are also asked to join our movement to End Childhood Cancer and to share our stories on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

For more information about Hyundai Hope On Wheels and to view a complete list of this year's grant winners, please visit HyundaiHopeOnWheels.org/research. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram at facebook.com/HyundaiHopeOnWheels, twitter.com/HopeOnWheels or instagram.com/HyundaiHopeOnWheels. 

HYUNDAI HOPE ON WHEELS
Hyundai Hope On Wheels® is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that is committed to finding a cure for childhood cancer. Launched in 1998, Hyundai Hope On Wheels provides grants to eligible institutions nationwide that are pursuing life-saving research and innovative treatments for the disease. Hyundai Hope on Wheels is one of the largest non-profit funders of pediatric cancer research in the country, and primary funding for Hyundai Hope On Wheels comes from Hyundai Motor America and its more than 835 U.S. dealers. Since its inception, Hyundai Hope On Wheels has awarded more than $130 million towards childhood cancer research in pursuit of a cure.

HYUNDAI MOTOR AMERICA
Hyundai Motor America, headquartered in Fountain Valley, Calif., is a subsidiary of Hyundai Motor Company of Korea. Hyundai vehicles are distributed throughout the United States by Hyundai Motor America and are sold and serviced through 835 dealerships nationwide. All new Hyundai vehicles sold in the U.S. are covered by the Hyundai Assurance program, which includes a 5-year/60,000-mile fully-transferable new vehicle limited warranty, Hyundai's 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain limited warranty and five years of complimentary Roadside Assistance.

For more details on Hyundai Assurance, please visit www.HyundaiAssurance.com
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About City of Hope
City of Hope is an independent research and treatment center for cancer, diabetes and other life-threatening diseases. Designated as one of only 49 comprehensive cancer centers, the highest recognition bestowed by the National Cancer Institute, City of Hope is also a founding member of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network, with research and treatment protocols that advance care throughout the world. City of Hope is located in Duarte, California, just northeast of Los Angeles, with community clinics throughout Southern California. It is ranked as one of "America's Best Hospitals" in cancer by U.S. News & World Report. Founded in 1913, City of Hope is a pioneer in the fields of bone marrow transplantation, diabetes and numerous breakthrough cancer drugs based on technology developed at the institution. For more information about City of Hope, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube or Instagram.

SOURCE Hyundai Hope on Wheels

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