News: Childhood Cancer

The Nashville Predators hockey team, longtime supporters of Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt and its programs, presented the hospital with the proceeds raised throughout the year from the team’s 365 Pediatric Cancer Fund.

The nature of childhood cancer is different than adult cancer, and so is the approach to treatment.

Mary Jo Gilmer, PhD, recently received a grant from nonprofit Human Animal Bond Research Institute (HABRI) for a pilot program investigating the health benefits of human-animal interactions (HAIs) in reducing suffering of children with cancer undergoing debilitating treatments.

A recent study suggests that blocking the MYC protein could be “unexpectedly effective” in treating malignant rhabdoid tumor (MRT) is one of the most aggressive and lethal childhood cancers.

The annual Pumpkin Patch, which runs this year until Oct. 31, in Franklin, Tennessee, is a fundraising effort by the Cooper Trooper Foundation. Profits from the fundraiser support a pediatric cancer research fund and other efforts set up with Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt.

Nashville Predators goaltender Pekka Rinne, Predators executives and executives from Tri Star Energy (Twice Daily) made their annual presentation recently of proceeds from the team’s 365 Pediatric Cancer Fund to Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt.

Debra Friedman, MD, director of the Division of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, has been awarded a $100,000 Hyundai Hope on Wheels Impact Award. The grant was celebrated in a “handprint ceremony” with Hyundai representatives on June 12.

A new study by Dai Chung, MD, and colleagues reports that a protein, called SIRT6, plays an important role in the growth of neuroblastoma and suggests that SIRT6 may be a target for new therapeutics for the disease.

The Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center Neurofibromatosis (NF) Clinic has joined the Children’s Tumor Foundation NF Clinic Network. The network consists of 50 clinics dedicated to improving care and advancing research for people diagnosed with NF, a group of diseases that is often inherited and cause benign tumors to grow on nerves throughout the body.

Nashville Predators goaltender Pekka Rinne, Predators executive leaders, executives from Tri Star Energy (Twice Daily) and team mascot Gnash recently presented the proceeds of the team’s 365 Pediatric Cancer Fund to Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt.