DONATIONS AT WORK
Grants given are spent on technology and tools that enhance early detection of cancer, promising new programs that promote research that would help prevent cancer relapses, projects that demonstrate research in the area of cancer, and programs that enhance the lives of Minnesota’s Cancer Community by providing aid and assistance. Perspective Grant seekers are required to submit a detailed descriptive proposal as well as a budget.
In 2009, the Fund awarded about $300,000 in grant monies. Here are the organizations/projects funded in 2009:
Miracles of Mitch Summer Camp
The Randy Shaver Cancer Research and Community Fund facilitated 40 campers to attend Camp Courage, a camp for children battling cancer. The camp allows the children and their siblings to participate in normal summer camp activities with the supervision of oncologists and medical staff to ensure their safety.
Hennepin County Medical Center
This grant was funded to purchase a Breast Board for Mammography. This allows doctors at HCMC to more accurately test patients in hopes of detecting earlier stages of breast cancer.
University of Minnesota Masonic Cancer Center MRI Spectroscopy
of the Ovaries at 3 Tesla
Dr. Levi Downs
This grant was funded in hopes in the long term information obtained regarding MRI at an increased magnetic field will educate researchers and doctors about what the difference between normal, benign and malignant tumors look like and how they develop which will lead to various treatments for ovarian cancer.
University of Minnesota Masonic Cancer Center Targeted Therapy Against Malignant Melanoma
Dr. Arik Dudek
This grant was funded for data collection to develop an effective novel combination targeted therapy to develop very specific treatments for advanced Melanoma cancer.
University of Minnesota Masonic Cancer Center Immunotherapeutic Targeting of Malignant Peripheral Nerve Sheath Tumors
Dr. Steven M Wiesner Ph.D.
This grant was funded to establish a different approach to treating tumors in which the immune system would attack the cancer cells. This approach is far more selective than chemotherapy and would only target the cancer cells. Because this type of cancer is so specific it is hopeful that by finding out more about this specific type of cancer it will lead to information that will be valuable in developing treatments for other types of cancer.
University of Minnesota Masonic Cancer Center Therapeutic Targeting
of Tumor Promoting Immune Cells
Dr. John Ohlfest Ph.D.
This grant was funded to continue brain cancer research specific to Glioblastoma brain tumors. Dr. Ohlfest and researchers at the University of Minnesota are developing several experimental therapies for treating the most malignant forms of brain cancer.
University of Minnesota Masonic Cancer Center Duel Targeted Multifunctional, Nanoparticles for the Treatment of Brain Tumors
Dr. Jayanth Panyam Ph.D. and Dr. John Ohlfest Ph.D.
This grant was funded to provide research to develop a new drug therapy for brain cancer which acts to eliminate BTSC, a known protein in brain tumors, and also initiates the body to have an anti-BTSC immune response.
University of Minnesota Masonic Cancer Center Engineering
of Anti-Cancer Drugs
Dr. Daniel Vallera Ph.D.
This grant was funded to take part in the Engineering of anti-cancer drugs specific to pancreatic cancer. The grant will help to synthesize and test a new drug designed to treat pancreatic cancer. This new drug would help in eliminating secondary tumors that often develop after the initial tumor was removed.
Children's Hospitals and Clinics of Minnesota - PPB Research
Dr. Yoav Messinger
This grant was funded to continue research of PPB, a rare form of lung cancer that originates in the lungs of children and behaves very different than adult lung cancer. Dr. Yoav Messinger has started collecting data from around the world to develop a database to ensure that all patients are receiving the same protocol. With more information gathered doctors all over the world can view which treatments are working and help detect and treat this rare form of childhood cancer.
Fairview Foundation Youth Grief Services
This grant was funded to help the kick off night for Camp Erin, an annual three-day bereavement camp for children ages 6-17 who have experienced the loss of a parent, family member or friend.
North Memorial Foundation Hospice Massage Therapy Program
This grant was funded to aid an additional massage therapist so that more hospice patients can receive a therapeutic massage to ease the pain experienced in the end stages of battling cancer.
