Phoenix Children’s Hospital to receive $1.5M grant to fund cancer research

PHOENIX — Phoenix Children’s Hospital announced Wednesday it is receiving a $1.5 million grant that will fund pediatric brain cancer research.

The grant was recently approved by Gateway, a nonprofit that is dedicated to funding cancer research, according to a press release.

The grant will help physician scientists at PCH combat Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma (DIPG) which is one of the most aggressive tumors in kids, according to the release.

The research study will be led by a doctor from PCH and a doctor from Arizona State University.

“Our mission instills a sense of urgency to accelerate the pace of cancer research, especially for children, our most vulnerable patients,” Michael Burton, president of Gateway for Cancer Research, said in the release.

“By investing in novel patient-centric approaches, combined with the increasing rate of treatment advances, we will help courageous patients where there is an unmet need, conquer cancer and save more lives.”

According to the release, brain tumors account for 25 percent of all childhood cancers, with DIPGs representing 75 percent of those brain tumors.

These tumors cannot be taken out surgically, so the only effective treatment is radiation therapy.

If the study is successful, this will be the first progress for DIPGs in over 30 years, according to the release.

“Leading research of this magnitude helps Phoenix Children’s Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders achieve its national standing as a top 20 pediatric cancer program in the U.S.,” Robert L. Meyer, president and CEO of PCH, said in the release.

“This shows our physicians seek out and implement new solutions for pediatric populations suffering from aggressive illness. We want to change these trends.”

Gateway has raised more than $85 million for cancer research since it was founded in 1991.

Gateway is currently funding 57 active trials at institutions like Columbia University, Mayo Clinic and Duke University.