Clinical researchers Ostronoff, Ho win pediatric oncology grants

Ostronoff, a senior hematology-oncology fellow will use her grant to research transcriptome sequencing (RNA-Seq) for identification of novel markers of disease outcome and therapeutic targets in acute myeloid leukemia.

For Ho, a pediatric oncology research associate, the grant will support his study in exploiting WT1 genomic alterations for target identification and MRD monitoring in pediatric AML.

Foundation representative Lisa Towry visited the Hutchinson Center in July to meet the researchers and present the awards.

The two awards are part of 48 new ALSF medical research grants totaling more than $4 million to doctors and researchers at institutions nationwide. Within the scope of the foundation's first round of funding for 2012 are projects focusing on brain tumors, Ewing's sarcoma, germ cell tumors, gliomas, hepatoblastoma, leukemias, neuroblastoma, osteosarcoma and rhabdomyosarcoma

Apply now for next grant cycle

The foundation will award more than $10 million in the course of the year and is now accepting applications for its 'A' Award and Bridge Grants. Introduced by the foundation earlier this year, Bridge Grants will help keep scientists' projects on track while they reapply for funding from the National Institutions of Health. Learn more by visiting the foundation's website at alexslemonade.org/grants/.

Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation emerged from the front yard lemonade stand of 4-year old Alexandra "Alex" Scott. In 2000, after receiving a stem-cell transplant for neuroblastoma, she wanted to raise money to help find a cure for all children with cancer. Alex's first stand generated $2,000. Before she died at age 8, her annual stands had raised more than $1 million. To date, Alex's nonprofit has raised more than 55 million and funded more than 250 research projects in the U.S. and Canada.