The Childhood Cancer Blog

The Childhood Cancer Blog

Welcome to The Childhood Cancer Blog
from Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation!

As a young trainee, many people gave Dr. Michelle Monje, Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation (ALSF) grantee from Stanford University the (unsolicited) advice that one cannot have a big career in medicine or science and also have children.

She ignored the advice. 

Dr. Monje (mother of four) was just awarded a research grant from ALSF. This grant is a $1 million commitment over two years to study CAR T cell immunotherapy for spinal cord diffuse midline gliomas in a Phase 1 clinical trial. Diffuse midline gliomas are inoperable, lethal, high-grade central nervous system tumors... Read More

It is estimated that 400,000 children under the age of 20 are diagnosed with cancer each year.  

However, there are most likely more cases of childhood cancer that go unreported. Not every country has a universal childhood cancer registry or a public health protocol for tracking cases. And in poorer countries, diagnosis and treatment delays not only limit the knowledge of cases, but limit long-term survival for these children.  

In high-income countries, 80% of children diagnosed with cancer are cured and in some low and middle-income countries, only 20% of children survive... Read More

  • Michelle Monje, MD/PhD
    Michelle Monje, MD/PhD
  • Dr. Cigall Kadoch
    Dr. Cigall Kadoch
  • ALSF researcher Dr. Patrick Reynolds
    Dr. Patrick Reynolds

While the pandemic continues to bring uncertainty in the world, Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation (ALSF) funded researchers are continuing to push ahead and make strides in the search for safer treatments and cures for all children. Fueled by ALSF funded research grants, these researchers utilize collaboration, innovation and cutting-edge science in their labs all around the world. 

These researchers are aiming to not just level the playing field — but to give children what they need: cures and safer treatments. 

... Read More

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