Feinstein Institute to Receive $330,000 Grant to Support Research of Childhood Cancer
Manhasset, NY (PRWEB) September 19, 2013 -- The Feinstein Institute for Medical Research announced today it will receive $330,000 in grants aimed at gaining a better understanding of a pediatric cancer syndrome called Diamond Blackfan anemia. The grants were awarded by the St. Baldrick’s Foundation, a volunteer-driven and donor-centered charity dedicated to raising money for childhood cancer research. It will support the work of a Feinstein Institute physician-researcher and consortium.
Sharon Singh, MD, will receive $230,000 to support her research project focused on Diamond Blackfan anemia. Diamond Blackfan anemia is an inherited condition that leads to anemia, possible birth defects and cancer. Dr. Singh’s team is working to understand the conditions that promote the formation and survival of cancer cells in this syndrome, to improve early diagnosis and treatment of childhood cancer.
“I am very thankful to receive this grant as it will support me in working to identify what conditions may lead to the development of cancer in children,” said Dr. Singh. “If my colleagues and I can identify why certain children develop cancer while others do not, we may be able to prevent future children from suffering from cancer.”
The Pediatric Myelodysplastic Syndromes and Ribosome Dysfunction Consortium at the Feinstein Institute, led by Johnson Liu, MD, will receive $100,000 to support ongoing work. The consortium is focused on a group of childhood disorders including Diamond-Blackfan anemia. Specifically, the researchers who comprise the consortium are exploring different ways they can manage Diamond-Blackfan anemia once a patient is diagnosed with it so that it doesn’t lead to anemia and cancer.
“The Pediatric Myelodysplastic Syndromes and Ribosome Dysfunction Consortium is a very unique group – I don’t know of another group in the world that has the concerted effort and capability to study Diamond Blackfan anemia or pre-leukemia in children,” said Dr. Liu. “The support by the St. Baldrick’s Foundation will enable us to continue and expand our research and hopefully identify new ways to manage or treat this deadly disease.”
About The Feinstein Institute for Medical Research
Headquartered in Manhasset, NY, The Feinstein Institute for Medical Research is home to international scientific leaders in many areas including Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer’s disease, psychiatric disorders, rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, sepsis, human genetics, pulmonary hypertension, leukemia, neuroimmunology, and medicinal chemistry. The Feinstein Institute, part of the North Shore-LIJ Health System, ranks in the top 5th percentile of all National Institutes of Health grants awarded to research centers. For more information, visit http://www.FeinsteinInstitute.org.
Emily Ng, North Shore-LIJ Health System, +1 516-465-2600, [email protected]
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