[October 29, 2013]

St. Baldrick's Foundation Awards $2.2 Million in Pediatric Oncology Research Grants

The St. Baldrick's Foundation, a volunteer-driven and donor-centered charity dedicated to raising money for childhood cancer research, is proud to announce that its latest cycle of pediatric oncology research grants have totaled more than $2.2 million to fund 39 institutions across the U.S. These infrastructure grants provide resources to institutions enabling them to conduct more research and enroll more children in ongoing clinical trials. This series of grants, combined with the more than $22 million awarded in July to fund cutting-edge research, brings the St. Baldrick's Foundation's funding total to more than $24.5 million awarded in 2013.

Worldwide a child is diagnosed with cancer every three minutes, and one in five children diagnosed in the U.S. will not survive. A recent study shows that of those that survive, 80 percent will suffer from severe or life-threatening conditions as a result of treatment. It is because of these startling realities that the St. Baldrick's Foundation continues to fund the most promising research initiatives and is dedicated to its mission to find cures and provide kids with less toxic treatments, ensuring a healthier life for survivors.

"While fewer than 5 percent of adults with cancer participate in a clinical trial, more than 60 percent of childhood cancer patients receive their treatment as part of a clinical trial, designed to offer the best cutting-edge treatment or one that may be better than today's standard," said Kathleen Ruddy, chief executive officer for the St. Baldrick's Foundation. "The St. Baldrick's Foundation is proud to fund this latest round of infrastructure grants, many of which will make more clinical trials available for children closer to their homes. This offers today's patients more hope and tomorrow's patients more progress through research."

Grants were awarded based on the need of the institution and its patients, anticipated results of the grant and local participation in St. Baldrick's fundraising events and activities.

St. Baldrick's infrastructure grants were distributed to the following institutions:

• The Children's ospital at Providence Alaska Medical Center, Anchorage, Alaska*
• Children's Hospital Central California, Madera, Calif.
• Children's Hospital & Research Center, Oakland, Calif.
• University of California, San Diego, San Diego, Calif.
• The Children's Hospital Colorado, Colorado Springs, Colo.*
• Connecticut Children's Medical Center, Hartford, Conn.
• University of Miami, Miami, Fla.
• Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, Atlanta, Ga.
• Memorial Health University Medical Center, Savannah, Ga.*
• Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital, Chicago, Ill.
• University of Illinois - Chicago/Rush/Stroger Medical Centers, Chicago, Ill.
• Blank Children's Hospital, Des Moines, Iowa*
• University of Louisville, Louisville, Ky.
• Tulane University Medical School, New Orleans, La.
• University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Mich.
• Wayne State University, Detroit, Mich.
• University of Minnesota - Twin (News - Alert) Cities, Minneapolis, Minn.
• Saint Louis University, St. Louis, Mo.
• Alliance for Childhood Diseases, Las Vegas, Nev.
• Saint Peter's University Hospital, New Brunswick, N.J.
• University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, N.M.
• Albany Medical Center, Albany, N.Y.
• The Feinstein Institute for Medical Research, Manhasset, N.Y.
• Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, N.Y.
• SUNY Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, N.Y.
• Duke University Medical Center, Durham, N.C.
• Sanford Medical Center, Bismarck, N.D.*
• Akron Children's Hospital, Akron, Ohio*
• Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pa.
• University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas
• Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, Texas
• Vannie E. Cook Jr. Children's Cancer and Hematology Clinic, McAllen, Texas
• University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, Texas
• University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Va.
• Children's Hospital of The King's Daughters, Norfolk, Va.
• Sage Bionetworks, Seattle, Wash.*
• St. Vincent Hospital, Green Bay, Wis.*
• American Society of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology (ASPHO)
• Grupo América Latina de Oncología Pediátrica (GALOP)*

To locate or organize an event or Do What You Want fundraiser in your community, sign-up to shave, donate or volunteer, visit www.StBaldricks.org. Also become a fan on Facebook, follow us on Twitter, and visit the Foundation's YouTube and Vimeo channels.

About St. Baldrick's Foundation

The St. Baldrick's Foundation is a volunteer-driven charity committed to funding the most promising research to find cures for childhood cancers and give survivors long and healthy lives. St. Baldrick's coordinates its signature head-shaving events worldwide where participants collect pledges to shave their heads in solidarity with kids with cancer, raising money to fund research. Since 2005, St. Baldrick's has awarded more than $127 million to support lifesaving research, making the Foundation the largest private funder of childhood cancer research grants. St. Baldrick's funds are granted to some of the most brilliant childhood cancer research experts in the world and to younger professionals who will be the experts of tomorrow. Funds awarded also enable hundreds of local institutions to participate in national pediatric cancer clinical trials, and the new International Scholar grants train researchers to work in developing countries. For more information about the St. Baldrick's Foundation please call 1.888.899.BALD or visit www.StBaldricks.org.

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