IMPORTANT UPDATES

The Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center of Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta Receives $6 Million Gift Commitment From CURE Childhood Cancer


ATLANTA (Aug. 7, 2017)­­ – The Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center of Children's Healthcare of Atlanta announces a $6 million gift commitment from CURE Childhood Cancer to support the development of the center's new Precision Medicine Program, fellowship program and 10 childhood cancer research projects.

Over the next three years, $4.5 million of CURE’s gift will go toward the development of the Precision Medicine Program, which will provide personalized, cancer therapies for children. Through the systematic implementation of integrated, comprehensive tumor profiling and development of novel strategies to identify individual tumors’ vulnerabilities, the program will provide state-of-the-art care for children with the highest risk tumors.

“We are so grateful to CURE for this generous gift and their continued support of our patients and researchers as we work to develop new treatments for childhood cancer,” said Douglas K. Graham, MD, PhD, Director of the Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center and Professor of Pediatrics at Emory University School of Medicine, who will lead the Precision Medicine Program. “Our hope is that we will be able to share the treatments and protocols developed through our program with centers around the country as our new approaches are adopted elsewhere.”

In addition to the Precision Medicine Program initiative, nearly $1 million of the gift will fund research projects from 10 investigators at the Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center who will explore new treatments for childhood cancers, including neuroblastoma, leukemia and medulloblastoma.

“We are very excited to grow our long-standing relationship with the Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center by fully funding the new Precision Medicine Program,” said Kristin Connor, Executive Director at CURE Childhood Cancer. “CURE’s mission is to drive innovative childhood cancer research that will move the needle closer to therapies with fewer side effects for children with cancer and, eventually, cures. We believe bringing precision medicine capabilities to Atlanta is a very important step in advancing our mission.”

The remaining $500,000 of CURE’s gift commitment will be used to fund two fellowships, as well as CURE’s fellowship endowment, and family emergency funds to support families who may be struggling to pay for housing or basic necessities while their child is being treated.

For more information:

Alanna Gardner

Public Relations Coordinator

404-785-7741

Alanna.Gardner@choa.org

CURE Childhood Cancer

Founded in 1975, Atlanta, Georgia-based CURE Childhood Cancer is dedicated to conquering childhood cancer through funding targeted research while supporting patients and their families. With cancer as the second leading cause of death in children, CURE dedicates more than $4.3 million annually to specific research projects aimed at curing cancers that affect children. Through innovative programming, CURE Childhood Cancer also provides crisis oriented support to patients and their families, addressing their most critical and urgent needs. For more information visit www.curechildhoodcancer.org.

About The Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center of Children’s

The Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center of Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta is a national leader among childhood cancer, hematology, and blood and marrow transplant programs, serving children and young adults. Recognized as one of the top childhood cancer centers in the country by U.S. News & World Report, the Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center cares for more than 500 newly diagnosed cancer patients and treats nearly 2,000 unique sickle cell disease patients each year. Our program offers patients access to more than 380 clinical trials, including 28 innovative Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center investigator-initiated trials. Visit choa.org/cancer for more information.

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