We’re celebrating a big win — and it’s all thanks to YOU.
Because of your passion, generosity, and commitment to kids with cancer, the St. Baldrick’s Foundation is granting $10 million to fund groundbreaking childhood cancer research.
Let that sink in: 26 projects. 22 institutions. One mission — to find cures and give kids a future.
Whether you shaved your head, hosted a fundraiser, made a donation, raised awareness, advocated, became a partner, or cheered us on from the sidelines — you made this moment possible.
Why This Matters
Every 2 minutes, a child somewhere in the world is diagnosed with cancer.
In the U.S., 1 in 5 kids won’t survive.
And for those who do, many face lifelong side effects.
We can change that. You’re helping to change that.
With this latest round of funding, we’re backing bold ideas, fresh perspectives, and cutting-edge science — and giving kids everywhere a better chance at a cure.
What Kind of Research Are You Powering?
This isn’t just one type of grant — it’s a powerful mix of strategies that work together to accelerate progress:
Scholar Grants – These multi-year grants support early-career scientists with bold ideas and a passion for helping kids with cancer. Without this funding, many of these promising researchers might be forced to leave the field — taking their innovative ideas with them.
International Scholars – These awards support the training of researchers from low- and middle-income countries, equipping them to lead impactful childhood cancer research tailored to the needs of kids in their home countries.
Research Grants – These two-year grants support innovative research projects aimed at finding safer, more effective treatments — and ultimately, cures — for childhood cancers.
By funding bold ideas in their early stages, these grants help researchers explore new paths and push the boundaries of what’s possible in pediatric cancer care.
Children’s Oncology Group (COG) – A multi-million dollar grant from St. Baldrick’s helps fund the COG— the world’s largest organization devoted exclusively to childhood and adolescent cancer research.
This support is distributed to over 200 institutions, enabling thousands of kids to access cutting-edge clinical trials, no matter where they live. It helps fund virtually every institution in the U.S. that’s qualified to treat children with cancer, making this grant one of the most impactful tools in the fight for cures.
Where the Research Is Happening
Here’s the full list of institutions receiving a grant:
California
- Beckman Research Institute of City of Hope, Duarte
Research Grant: Ling Li, Ph.D. - Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, Los Angeles
Extended Scholar: Babak Moghimi, M.D. - Scripps Institution of Oceanography at the University of California San Diego, La Jolla
Extended International Scholar: Jehad Almaliti, Ph.D. - Stanford Medicine, Stanford
Research Grant: Sneha Ramakrishna, M.D. - University of California San Diego School of Medicine, La Jolla
Research Grant: Jing Yang, Ph.D. - University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco
International Scholar: Alfonso Ramirez-Ristori, M.D.
Colorado
- University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora
Extended Scholar: Kelly Faulk, M.D.
Florida
- University of Florida, Gainesville
Research Grant: Jianping Huang, M.D., Ph.D.
Georgia
- Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University, Atlanta
Research Grant: Tobey MacDonald, M.D.
Indiana
- Indiana University School of Medicine, Bloomington
St. Baldrick’s Scholar: Jennifer Belsky, D.O.
Minnesota
- University of Minnesota School of Public Health, Minneapolis
Extended Scholar: Tianzhong Yang, Ph.D.
Mississippi
- University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson
St. Baldrick’s Scholar: Nicole Anderson, Ph.D.
Missouri
- Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, St. Louis
St. Baldrick’s Scholar: Sena Kim, Ph.D.
North Carolina
- Duke University School of Medicine, Durham
Research Grant: Kris Wood, Ph.D.
Ohio
- The Abigail Wexner Research Institute at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, Columbus
St. Baldrick’s Scholar: Emily Theisen, Ph.D.
St. Baldrick’s Scholar: James Reinecke, M.D., Ph.D.
Research Grant: Benjamin Stanton, Ph.D. - University Hospitals Rainbow Babies & Children’s Hospital, Cleveland
Research Grant: John Letterio, M.D.
Pennsylvania
- The Children’s Oncology Group Foundation, Philadelphia
Douglas Hawkins, M.D.
South Carolina
- Medical University of South Carolina Hollings Cancer Center, Charleston
St. Baldrick’s Scholar: Casey Langdon, Ph.D.
Tennessee
- St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis
St. Baldrick’s Scholar: Aditi Bagchi, M.D. Ph.D.
St. Baldrick’s Scholar: Michael McNeil, M.D., M.P.H.
Texas
- Baylor College of Medicine, Houston
St. Baldrick’s Scholar: Arianexys Aquino-López, M.D., Ph.D. - The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center (UT Southwestern), Dallas
St. Baldrick’s Scholar: Puja Umaretiya, M.D.
Utah
- Huntsman Cancer Institute at the University of Utah, Salt Lake City
Research Grant: Rodney Stewart, Ph.D.
Washington
- Seattle Children’s, Seattle
St. Baldrick’s Scholar: Rebecca Ronsley, M.D., FRCPC
What Comes Next?
This is a moment to celebrate, but there’s more work to do.
The next round of grants will be announced this fall, powered by the donations being made right now. That means the next breakthrough is already waiting in the wings, and you can help bring it to life.
Want to be part of the next big win for kids with cancer?
Donate Today
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