Grants to Fund Life-Saving Pediatric Cancer Research Projects
Curing Kids Cancer (CKC) has awarded $2.1 million to a total of 14 research grants and projects in 2025, supporting physicians and scientists focused on improving outcomes for children with cancer and expanding access to better, safer treatments.
2025 CKC-Funded Grants and Projects:
- Albert Einstein College of Medicine – Dr. XingXing Zang
TOP CAR-T Therapy for Medulloblastoma
Support for preclinical development of a B7-H3–targeted CAR-T therapy aimed at advancing new treatment options for medulloblastoma. - Children’s Health Dallas
Mecum Auctions & Curing Kids Cancer Endowment
The $2 million Mecum Auctions and Curing Kids Cancer Endowment funds innovative clinical studies in pediatric oncology, focusing on improving treatments and outcomes for childhood cancer. This endowment supports research aimed at enhancing survival rates and the long-term well-being of young cancer patients. - Children’s Hospital Los Angeles – Dr. Anat Epstein
Summer Oncology Research Fellowship (SORF)
The NIH-supported Summer Oncology Research Fellowship (SORF) is a summer program for medical students interested in cancer research, held at CHLA and the Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center at USC. Students gain hands-on research experience and are paired with mentors based on their interests within a Team Science framework. - Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia – Dr. Stephan Grupp
Genetic Insights to Improve T-Cell Therapies
Support for Dr. Stephan Grupp’s research at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia studying why some children with leukemia have exceptional long-term responses to CAR T-cell therapy, with the goal of identifying biomarkers that improve effectiveness, reduce side effects, and optimize future treatments for pediatric cancer patients. - Emory University – Dr. Biplab Dasgupta
Killian Owen Distinguished Professorship for Pediatric Cancer Research Endowment - Emory University – Dr. Kelly Goldsmith
Curing Kids Cancer Professorship
Support for a professorship at Winship Cancer Institute dedicated to advancing cancer drug development, precision immunotherapy, or other impactful research areas, with the potential to benefit pediatric and adult cancer patients. - Emory University – Dr. Trent Spencer
Gamma-Delta T Cell Immunotherapy
Funding to support development and scalable manufacturing of a novel γδ T-cell therapy with potential to treat both blood cancers and solid tumors, including neuroblastoma. - Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital – Dr. David Hoogstra & Dr. Jeffrey MacKeigan
Radiopharmaceutical Therapy for Rhabdomyosarcoma
A pilot grant supporting early testing of a novel radiopharmaceutical treatment to determine readiness for future translational research. - Nationwide Children’s Hospital – Dr. Maryam Fouladi
CONNECT Program
The CONNECT x CKC International Brain Tumor Consortium Endowment is dedicated to advancing global research on pediatric brain tumors through collaborative efforts across leading institutions. This endowment will fund innovative studies and provide critical support for breakthrough treatments aimed at improving outcomes for children with brain cancer worldwide. - Osteosarcoma Institute (OSI)
Phase 2 Pilot Study of OMO-103
Funding for a Phase 2 study evaluating the safety and anti-tumor activity of the Myc inhibitor OMO-103 in patients with advanced high-grade osteosarcoma. - Prisma Health Children’s Hospital–Midlands – Dr. Stuart Cramer
Killian’s Hope for a United South Carolina
A statewide endowment benefiting pediatric cancer research through collaboration between Prisma Health and the University of South Carolina to advance novel therapies and improve care for children with cancer across South Carolina. - Seattle Children’s Hospital – Dr. Todd Cooper
High-Risk Leukemia and Lymphoma Fellowship
Fellowship provides a dedicated year of combined clinical and academic immersion in pediatric high-risk leukemia management for trainees who have already completed a pediatric hematology/oncology fellowship - Texas Children’s Hospital – Dr. Eric Schafer
Nelarabine Neurotoxicity Research and Scientific Collaboration
The Nelarabine Neurotoxicity Project, led by Dr. Eric Schafer at Texas Children’s Cancer Center, investigates the neurological side effects of Nelarabine in pediatric leukemia patients. The study aims to identify biomarkers for neurotoxicity and develop strategies to reduce the long-term impact of these side effects on survivors. - UT Southwestern – Dr. Hao Zhu
Therapeutic Protein Circuits for Pediatric Liver Cancer
Funding to develop RNA-based protein circuits designed to selectively kill cancer cells driven by traditionally undruggable targets.
Curing Kids Cancer continues to drive bold research, support emerging and established leaders, and accelerate discoveries from the lab to the clinic. These projects display CKC’s commitment to ensuring children with cancer have access to better treatments and more cures.
About Curing Kids Cancer:
Curing Kids Cancer is a nonprofit organization founded in 2005 with the mission to fund innovative research and treatments for pediatric cancer. Since its inception, Curing Kids Cancer has raised over $34 million to support cutting-edge research, providing hope to families dealing with childhood cancer.
