Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation Announces New Psychosocial Grant Recipients

Funding supports researchers who have novel approaches to understanding the psychosocial aspects of pediatric cancer and will have clinically significant impact.

Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation (ALSF), a nonprofit dedicated to finding cures for all kids with cancer, recognizes the importance of investing in research that enables better quality of life and care for children fighting this disease and their families. ALSF recently awarded Psychosocial Grants to three researchers from leading institutions across North America: Cindy Gerhardt, PhD, Pamela Wolters, PhD and Anita Villani, MD. The Psychosocial Grant category has two components, the Family Impact Grant for senior researchers and the Launch Grant which requires a mentor.

The Psychosocial Family Impact Grant is designed for established investigators whose studies aim to explain and/or improve psychosocial outcomes of children and their families affected by childhood cancer. Grantees receive $300,000 over the course of three years for their projects. Cindy Gerhardt and her co-investigators Lisa Humphrey, MD and Randal Olshefski, MD of the Research Institute at Nationwide Children’s Hospital will characterize symptom burden, quality of life, goals of care and family outcomes of children with advanced cancer. Results of the study will provide further understanding of the experiences of these families and will have an impact by addressing needs and promoting resilience in families with sick children. Pamela Wolters and her co-investigators Katherine Warren, MD and Staci Martin, PhD of the National Cancer Institute will evaluate a new home program to increase physical activity and improve the cognitive functions of children treated with radiation for brain tumors. Establishing effective interventions will improve the long-term outcomes of these children.

The Psychosocial Launch Grant is designed for early career researchers whose studies aim to explain and/or improve psychosocial outcomes of those affected by childhood cancer. Grantees will receive up to $100,000 over two years. Anita Villani and her co-investigators Maru Barrera, PhD, C. Psych, Bailey Gallinger, MSc, CGC, Brittney Johnstone, MSc, CGC, CCGC and David Malkin, MD, FRCPC of Hospital for Sick Children will characterize patients’ and parents’ experiences with next generation sequencing (NGS), a new genetic technology incorporated into clinical care for pediatric patients with difficult-to-treat cancers. The information gathered from the study will generate recommendations for patient-centered delivery of NGS in pediatric clinical oncology care. 

“We are conscious of the effects the fight against childhood cancer can have emotionally and behaviorally on children and their families,” said Liz Scott, Co-Executive Director of Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation. “With these grants, we aim to address the psychosocial aspects of childhood cancer treatment and hope to make a difference in the quality of life and care for these children and their families.” 

For more information about the Psychosocial Grants or Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation’s various grant categories and successes, visit ALSFgrants.org.