NEWSLETTER | February 2018
Posted on February 20, 2018 by Sarah Turner Davis
Press On Grant Proves Crucial to Six Clinical Trials
In 2017, Press On granted $50,000 to a study developing immunotherapy treatments for Medulloblastoma, Neuroblastoma, and other solid tumors at Medical University of South Carolina Children’s Health. The grant was a match of a $50,000 donation made by the South Carolina band The Blue Dogs, bringing the total to $100,000. Run by Dr. Jacqueline Kraveka, the study that received the grant is now in clinical trials.
We are thrilled to bring you this update from the Kraveka team.
“Support from the Press On Fund has been crucial for MUSC Children’s Health to open and conduct six neuroblastoma and early phase clinical trials,” reports Dr. Kraveka’s team. Three of those trials are Phase I trials – MUSC Children’s Health is the only facility in South Carolina to offer Phase I pediatric cancer trials! Another trial, an exciting pilot study titled the PEDS-PLAN, is the first to incorporate precision medicine into upfront therapy for newly diagnosed high-risk Neuroblastoma. The current survival rate for high-risk Neuroblastoma is 60% – something Press On and Dr. Kraveka’s team would like to change. There are currently 14 patients enrolled across the six trials, with goals to increase their clinical trial portfolio and enroll more patients in 2018.
These are your dollars at work! Because of you, 14 children with high-risk neuroblastoma and other cancers have new hope, and that’s only the beginning. Good work team!
Atlanta Teen Running Half Marathon For Patrick
Save the Date!
May 10
Call for Prayers for Annual St. Jude Pilgrimage
Brennan is headed to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital March 4-7th for his annual bone marrow biopsy to confirm 7 years of remission! Send up your prayers for lucky number 7!
The Simkins Family thanks you for your support in the nine years since Brennan’s original diagnosis, on the eve of his 7th birthday. Above, you can see a cancer-free Brennan on his 16th birthday! Prayers for many more!
