CAC2 Childhood Cancer Community News Digest (August 8-14)

Assorted News from the Last Week:

Leukemia and Lymphoma Society’s (LLS) has launched its Dare to Dream Project as an extension of itself Children’s Initiative.  It will expand education and support services for patients and families, drives advocacy and policy efforts, and increases investments in childhood blood cancer research.

Neuroblastoma cells have an extreme need for amino acids. Scientists at the Hopp Children’s Cancer Center Heidelberg (KiTZ), the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), the University of Heidelberg, and HI-STEM gGmbH have now discovered the molecular mechanisms underlying this and how the cancer cells could be turned off.

From the Washington Post:  Pushed by parent activists and buoyed by new funding, scientists explore novel strategies to treat deadly pediatric cancers

Upcoming Webinars, Online Opportunities, and Meetings:

Join advocates from around the country for the 2022 Rally for Medical Research! The Hill Day will take place on Wednesday, September 14, with advocates meeting their congressional representatives and staff. The evening before, on September 13, there will be a  reception to celebrate medical research with all partners and participants.

Children’s Cancer Cause is hosting a virtual externally-led Patient-Focused Drug Development (PFDD) meeting on Reducing Cardiac Late Effects in Pediatric Cancer Survivors, on September 15, 2022. The conference is an opportunity for survivors and caregivers to educate representatives of the FDA, academic researchers, and pharmaceutical companies about their personal experiences managing the impact of cardiac late effects on daily living and long-term health.  Registration link.

Save the Date:  Key experts from across the pediatric cancer ecosystem will address the promise and challenges of artificial intelligence implementation in drug development, diagnosis and clinical trial design in the CureSearch Summit Prelude: The Challenges and Promise of Artificial Intelligence in Drug Development on September 15, 2022  3:30PM –5PM (EST).

On September 29th from 3:00-5:00 ET, join the NIH Common Fund’s Gabriella Miller Kids First Pediatric Research Program (Kids First) for their fall webinar to hear updates on the program and latest research findings from Kids First investigators.  Registration Link.

Take Action:

Submit all September Childhood Cancer Awareness Events for inclusion on the CAC2 Event Calendar/Map.

The Communication Team at the Childhood Cancer Data Initiative is hoping to identify personal stories from the patient/caregiver/survivor perspective to feature in their monthly newsletter debuting next month.  Each month the CCDI progress update will include three stories of people in the childhood cancer community that either relate directly to childhood cancer data sharing or allow them to highlight a need that CCDI would help meet.  Please email Vickie at of you have a story or would like more information.

For the second year, CureFest will feature a powerful memorial on the National Mall to pay tribute to children who have passed away from cancer.