In the evolving landscape of philanthropy, the Pediatric Cancer Research Foundation (PCRF) has always prided itself on being at the forefront of new trends. So it wasn’t surprising when we began accepting cryptocurrency donations in 2021, unlocking new avenues of support to fund critical pediatric cancer research. What we may not have expected was how quickly the cryptocurrency community would begin to make its impact. Donations were received almost from the very first day they were accepted and gained significant momentum in 2023. Close to $200,000 was donated in the form of cryptocurrency l ..read more

The application of Artificial Intelligence (AI) techniques to a range of disciplines has been rapidly developing. Emerging AI can train on large sets of complex data, applying novel algorithms to these data sets, in order to produce results rapidly and accurately. One area where the use of AI holds great potential is in the medical field. AI techniques are being explored in all areas of medicine, from diagnosis to personal treatment to prediction of clinical outcomes. A growing number of research papers are reporting the impressive diagnostic performance of computer systems built using machine ..read more

From leukemias and lymphomas to carcinomas and sarcomas, there are many, many different types of cancer, and no two are identical. Just as there are major differences between brain cancer and blood cancer, so too is there a world of difference between cancers in children and cancers in adults. Here at the Pediatric Cancer Research Foundation, we’ve made it our mission to help advance pediatric cancer research so that, someday, no child will have to perish due to cancer or cancer-related complications. Our vision is of a world where every form of childhood cancer has a cure. Before we can make ..read more

BY KELLY SPRINGER, MS, RD, CRN Founder KELLY’S CHOICE, LLC In today’s world, many people are seeking ways to prioritize their mental well-being. More people are meditating to deal with their stress and others are increasing their time outdoors. It may come as a surprise, then, that one area gaining growing acclaim for its ability to improve mental wellbeing is good nutrition. It is even spawning a new scientific field called nutritional psychiatry. At the core of this emerging area of science that is rapidly becoming mainstream is increasing evidence supporting the link between what we eat an ..read more

It’s been said that dogs are humans’ best friends. They are good for our health. They provide companionship, calm anxiety, lower blood pressure and cholesterol, and motivate us to exercise. Now, dogs are helping pediatric cancer researchers make inroads into treating cancer and developing revolutionary new treatment techniques. Pediatric cancer specialist Dr. John Ligon, an assistant professor of pediatrics at the University of Florida College of Medicine, who is board-certified in pediatric hematology and oncology, is one of those researchers. Dr. Ligon collaborates with Dr. Rowan Milner, a ..read more

Pediatric cancer researchers have long suspected that genetic factors play a role in the development of second cancers in childhood cancer survivors. Recent findings from a study led by researchers at the National Cancer Institute (NCI) provide new evidence supporting this link. Published in the journal Nature Medicine on March 7, 2024, the study evaluated the combined effect of common variants with a history of radiation treatment and found the resulting elevated cancer risk was greater than the sum of the individual associations for treatment and genetic factors alone. “Knowledge about a pe ..read more

BY KELLY SPRINGER, MS, RD, CRN Founder KELLY’S CHOICE, LLC Nutrition is the cornerstone of overall well-being, influencing not just physical health but also mental acuity and performance in every area of life. In this blog, I’ll explore how you and your family members can utilize nutrition to fuel your performance in sports, learning, and the workplace. 1. Sports Performance: When we think of performance, sports often come to mind, so I will begin this blog with a discussion on fitness. Whether you run or walk, are an experienced athlete or new to fitness, these tips can help. If you are par ..read more

Kelly Springer’s first brush with the devastation wrought by pediatric cancers was ten years ago. She and her daughters participated in a 5K run organized to raise funds for pediatric cancer research and patient programs at a nearby hospital. While attending the event, Springer met the father of an 8-year-old Leukemia patient who had passed away due to complications from a bone marrow transplant. “It was just so sad. I got to run with my two little girls and he was standing there next to me and he’d lost his. Any child that is suffering really tugs at your heartstrings, especially when you ..read more

If you’re reading this, then you share something in common with everyone here at the Pediatric Cancer Research Foundation (PCRF). That is, we are all united in our goal of helping children beat cancers so they can go on to live long and happy lives. Over the years, PCRF has provided funding to dozens of pioneering researchers across the country. The work we’ve supported has contributed to numerous breakthroughs, increasing survival rates and providing better treatment options, sometimes where there were none at all. Even with the advancements that have already been made, we know even more pro ..read more

SAMUEL C. BLACKMAN, MD, PhD Co-founder and Head of Research & Development DAY ONE BIOPHARMACEUTICALS A little-known fact in the world of oncology is that the field of cancer drug development started with the treatment of pediatric patients. Dr. Sidney Farber’s observation, in 1948, that a child with acute lymphoblastic leukemia could be put into remission with the drug aminopterin sparked the search for newer and better medicines to treat all forms of human cancer. So there’s a certain bitter irony that 75 years later, the pace of drug development for childhood cancers is far, slower than ..read more