St. Baldrick's Foundation and American Cancer Society Announce a New Partnership to Conquer Kids' Cancers

The groundbreaking partnership aims to raise $11 million to fund the most innovative and cutting-edge research

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Feb 07, 2019, 09:00 ET

LOS ANGELES, Feb. 7, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, the St. Baldrick's Foundation, the largest charitable funder of childhood cancer research grants, and the American Cancer Society (ACS), a health organization dedicated to eliminating cancer, announce a bold new partnership to raise $11 million to fund the most innovative biological and clinical laboratory studies that have the greatest potential to quickly deliver new and improved treatments for kids with cancer.

St. Baldrick's and the ACS both recognize that while science has made tremendous strides in cancer research and treatments, there is still more to be done, particularly in the fight against childhood cancers. Childhood cancer remains the second leading cause of death in children, and the leading disease-related cause of death for children ages 1 - 19.

Through this joint initiative, ACS and St. Baldrick's, an organization that has been a part of nearly every childhood cancer research breakthrough made in the last 20 years, will support research that will expand testing within clinical trials, maximize the access to information and help identify novel approaches to treatment.

More than half of childhood cancer patients in the U.S. are treated on a clinical trial – and even those who are not, benefit from past clinical trials. Each of these trials is created to learn the answers to specific questions, with the goal of improving outcomes for kids with cancer and decreasing late effects. Very rarely is there enough funding to do anything outside of the trial's primary purpose, even though additional information gathered could help deliver new treatments for kids with cancer and impact future generations.

"During the State of the Union, funding pediatric cancer research was recognized as a national child health priority," said Kathleen Ruddy, Chief Executive Officer, St. Baldrick's Foundation. "Together in partnership, St. Baldrick's and ACS are working to advance childhood cancer research and will be able to fund other correlative studies, arming researchers with more information to save more lives."

"Each organization recognizes this partnership allows each to be stronger together and to support a goal that is dear to all of us—to conquer kids' cancers," added Ruddy.

"The Cancer Moonshot emphasized collaboration is the key to accelerating cancer progress and making more therapies available to more patients," said Sharon Byers, Chief Development, Marketing and Communications Officer at ACS. "In that spirit, we're enthusiastic about the potential of this groundbreaking partnership to drive solutions and improve outcomes in childhood cancer."

To learn more about this collaboration and how to get involved, please visit www.stbaldricks.org/timeout or www.cancer.org/stbaldricks.

About St. Baldrick's Foundation
As the largest private funder of childhood cancer research grants, the St. Baldrick's Foundation is leading the charge to take childhood back from cancer. St. Baldrick's funds some of the most brilliant childhood cancer research experts who are working to find cures and better treatments for all childhood cancers. Kids need treatments as unique as they are – and that starts with funding research just for them. Join us at StBaldricks.org to help support the best childhood cancer research, no matter where it takes place.

About the American Cancer Society
The American Cancer Society is a global grassroots force of 1.5 million volunteers dedicated to saving lives, celebrating lives, and leading the fight for a world without cancer. From breakthrough research, to free lodging near treatment, a 24/7/365 live helpline, free rides to treatment, and convening powerful activists to create awareness and impact, the American Cancer Society is attacking cancer from every angle. For more information go to cancer.org.

SOURCE St. Baldrick's Foundation