Press Releases

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Hope Street Kids and I Care I Cure Foundation Team Up to Advance Pediatric Cancer Research

Alexandria, Va/Ft. Lauderdale, FL, November 21, 2008 — Working in conjunction with Hope Street Kids (HSK), The I Care I Cure Foundation (ICIC) of Ft. Lauderdale, FL has awarded its first pediatric cancer research grants of $50,000 for ground breaking studies that could lead to targeted therapies for childhood cancer. Both Hope Street Kids and I Care I Cure are foundations that were established by parents who lost their children to cancer and are dedicated to the radical improvement of pediatric cancer treatments and, ultimately, to curing pediatric cancer. HSK, was founded in (1999) by Congresswoman Deborah Pryce and Randy Walker, in honor of their daughter Caroline and ICIC was established in 2007 by Beth and Brad Besner in honor of their son, Ian.

The research grants will underwrite studies at the New York University Langone Medical Center in New York and Cincinnati Children's Hospital in Ohio. Both studies focus on developing targeted therapies and treatments for children that promise to be far less toxic, thus, gentler than current cancer treatments.

These innovative projects were selected and approved for funding by the HSK Scientific Advisory Council. The HSK Scientific Advisory Council is a panel of the country's top pediatric cancer experts who review all HSK grant submissions. In 2008 Hope Street Kids awarded $700,000 in new grants and fellowships, including the two newly named I Care I Cure Foundation Targeted Therapy awards.

"These innovative research projects are our hope for a cancer-free future and we are delighted to team up with I Care I Cure Foundation in support of this life-saving work. I am confident that strong collaborative efforts will lead us to making the changes necessary to ensure a healthy future for all children," says Congresswoman Deborah Pryce, Co-Founder of Hope Street Kids.

Childhood cancer continues to be the number one cause of death by disease in children, as more than 12,500 new cases are diagnosed each year. One-third of all children who are diagnosed with cancer will not survive. And yet, childhood cancer research is vastly under-funded by the government and the pharmaceutical industry. As a result, there has been very little change in pediatric cancer treatment in the last decade.

"Pediatric cancer foundations - largely founded by parents of children who have witnessed the harshness and inadequacy of current treatments -are recognizing that they must work together to make the necessary breakthroughs happen faster," commented Beth Besner, Co-Founder of the I Care I Cure Foundation. "Through our joint efforts with Hope Street Kids, a nationally-recognized leader in funding important childhood cancer research, and other pediatric cancer foundations, we believe we can bring about change and also make the public aware of the desperate need for better cures," added Besner.

Congresswoman Deborah Pryce was instrumental in passing in 2008, the first-ever pediatric cancer research legislation, the Caroline Pryce Walker Conquer Childhood Caner Act.

"As a parent and leader, Deborah Pryce is inspirational in her commitment to innovative research and conquering childhood cancer - we are so pleased to be working with her and HSK at this critical time," Besner commented.

Caption: I Care I Cure Co-Founders Beth (left) and Brad Besner (right) meet in DC with
Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman-Schultz (D-FL) and Co-Founder of Hope Street Kids,
Congresswoman Deborah Pryce (R-OH), to discuss plans to improve childhood cancer funding

I Care I Cure Foundation Targeted Therapy HSK Awards

NYU Langone Medical Center
Principle Investigator: Iannis Aifantis, Ph.D.
Fellow: Severine Cathelin, Ph.D

Drs. Iannis Aifantis and Severine Cathelin project will examine Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) the most common pediatric malignancy. The etiology of this disease remained enigmatic until the recent discovery of Notch1 mutations in the majority of T-ALL patients making Notch1 the major oncogene in the T-ALL. This discovery fueled an effort to understand Notch1 function in leukemia and identify pharmacological interventions that block its activity.

Drs. Aifantis and Cathelin discovered that the NF-kB signaling pathway is an important downstream target of Notch1 activation. In their research project they will directly address the importance of the NF-kB signaling pathway in the T- cells transformation and hope to suggest therapeutic approaches that could affect disease progression and patient survival.

Cincinnati Children’s Hospital
Principle Investigator: James C. Mulloy, Ph.D.
Fellow: Kevin Link, Ph.D.

Drs. James Mulloy and Kevin Link at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital, are working on finding better therapeutic options for Acute leukemia which impacts adults and children of all ages with 18,610 new cases and 10,410 deaths estimated this year. They are hopeful that they will demonstrate that through the unique model systems that they have generated, they can determine the stage at which a specific signaling pathway (namely FLT3 tyrosine kinase that often becomes deregulated in leukemia), becomes deregulated and the specific signals that are important in this activation. This project will provide necessary knowledge for the identification of alternative targets for treatment of leukemia harboring deregulation in this signaling pathway.



About the Organizations:

Hope Street Kids mission is to eliminate childhood cancer through pioneering research, advocacy and education. The organization was founded by Congresswoman Pryce and Randy Walker in memory of their nine-year-old daughter, Caroline Pryce Walker, who lost a valiant battle against Neuroblastoma on September 4, 1999.

Since its inception, Hope Street Kids has raised more than $9 million to support its battle to eliminate childhood cancer, and awarding over 94 grants and fellowships to more than 36 leading pediatric cancer institute’s across the United States.

For further information contact: www.hopestreetkids.org
1600 Duke Street, Alexandria, VA 22314


The I Care I Cure Foundation supports the development of, and raises awareness about, cutting-edge, targeted therapies for childhood cancer, so that the treatment for childhood cancer will be gentler and more tolerable.

The I Care I Cure Foundation was founded by Beth and Brad Besner (along with a community of their friends and family) in honor of their son, Ian, who was diagnosed with T-Cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL) in January, 2006, one week before his 11th birthday. Ian was an extraordinary boy who shared his joy and love of life with everyone who met him.

For further information contact: www.icareicurefoundation
10433 S. Lake Vista Circle, Davie, FL 33328

*Photos are available upon request.

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Contacts
Cynthia Duncan - HSK
cynthia.duncan@preventcancer.org
or
Beth Besner - ICIC
bethb@icareicure.org

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