Right now, researchers are working around the clock thanks to your generous support to find breakthroughs and save the lives of kids fighting cancer.  

Here are 5 things you need to know about childhood cancer research:

1. Childhood cancer research does not happen overnight. From idea formulation to discovery to preclinical testing to clinical trial, research takes years before patients can access treatment. Childhood cancer research is 5-10 years behind similar research for adult cancers; making funding critical to help get our children closer to cures. ALSF funds all stages of the process—the early stages of ideas and data collection, preclinical research and clinical trial—to make sure childhood cancer research results in breakthrough treatments. 

2.  Building infrastructure helps expedite childhood cancer research and train the next generation of researchers. By funding clinical trial infrastructure development through our Center Of Excellence grants program, ALSF helps expedite the development of novel therapeutic approaches to treating childhood cancers. These Centers Of Excellence use funding to build their childhood cancer research programs ensuring that research continues for the long haul. 

3. Taking educated risks in research works. Our boards of scientists, researchers and nurses use a comprehensive review process to evaluate groundbreaking projects and  choose projects that take risks—all to accelerate us faster towards a cure. Testing cutting edge treatments, like immunotherapy and genetic testing are helping to save children’s lives now. 

4. Collaboration is the key to breakthroughs. Scientists, researchers and oncologists all work together to collect data, test therapies, analyze results and find cures. ALSF believes in collaboration. Annually, our Young Investigators Summit brings together top young researchers from all over the world to present, collaborate and share research. Our new bioinformatics lab will harness the power of big data, the data being generated by scientists researching childhood cancer, to help us get closer to a cure. 

5. Finding a cure for childhood cancer is not simple; but we are closer than ever before. Childhood cancer research is complex, time-consuming and requires collaboration. As we continue to push forward, we are closer to finding cures. ALSF has already funded over 650 research grants designed to push innovation further and accelerate the rate at which scientists can get funding. As our grant list grows, so will the breakthroughs and the cures. 

Read more about our grants program and meet our childhood cancer heroes.