St. Baldrick's Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to raising money for childhood cancer research, awarded a grant of almost $53,000 to Mattel Children's Hospital UCLA. These grants are designated to either help institutions treat more kids on clinical trials (their best hope for a cure), or provide resources to make more research possible.
"The funding received from the St. Baldrick's Foundation will be an infrastructure grant to support our clinical research efforts in the division of pediatric hematology/oncology," said Dr. Cecelia Fu, assistant clinical professor of pediatrics and associate clinical director of pediatric hematology/oncology at Mattel Children's Hospital UCLA. "The majority of our clinical research is with the Children's Oncology Group. This grant will provide necessary funds to maintain the clinical research associate (CRA) staff, as well as give our CRA staff and a nurse researcher a chance to participate in research workshops or attend meetings, such as the annual Children's Oncology Group meeting."
St. Baldrick's began as a challenge between friends and has exploded into the world's largest volunteer-driven fundraising program for childhood cancer research. St. Baldrick's donors and volunteers made possible more than $15 million in funding for childhood cancer research in 2008 alone; UCLA is one of 28 institutions to receive funding as part of St. Baldrick's fall grants which totaled over $2.4 million.
"Our volunteers and donors give hope to children and families touched by this dreadful disease," said Kathleen Ruddy, executive director for the St. Baldrick's Foundation. "Their passion and dedication to the cause turn that hope into reality and have helped make grants like these possible."
Mattel Children's Hospital UCLA, one of the highest-rated children's hospitals in Southern California, is a vital component of UCLA Medical Center, ranked by U.S. News & World Report as the third best hospital in nation and best in the Western United States. Mattel Children's Hospital offers a full spectrum of primary and specialized medical care for infants, children and adolescents. The hospital's mission is to provide state of-the-art treatment for children in a compassionate atmosphere, as well as to improve the understanding and treatment of pediatric diseases. For more information, visit www.uclahealth.org/mattel.
About The St. Baldrick's Foundation
The St. Baldrick's Foundation coordinates worldwide head-shaving events, with volunteer "shavees" raising money to support childhood cancer research. Since 2000, head-shavings have taken place in 18 countries and 48 U.S. states, raising more than $51 million, and shaving more than 73,000 heads.
The St. Baldrick's Foundation makes grants to research institutions to find new cures for childhood cancer, and to find treatments to ensure a better quality of life for patients and survivors. The Foundation funds research projects conducted by established pediatric cancer experts, as well as younger professionals who will be the experts of tomorrow. Funds also enable hundreds of local institutions to participate in national pediatric cancer clinical trials, offering the best available care for every child. For more information about St. Baldrick's, please call 1-888-899-BALD or visit www.StBaldricks.org.
-UCLA-
