ChadTough Defeat DIPG Foundation Awards $3.7M for Eight New DIPG-Specific Research Projects
Foundation Has Now Committed More Than $20M in Research Funding
SALINE, MI – ChadTough Defeat DIPG Foundation is funding eight new diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (DIPG) research projects totaling nearly $4 million over the next three years.
To date, the ChadTough Defeat DIPG grant program has committed over $20 million to 48 researchers across 31 institutions.
The eight new projects to be funded include: three Game-Changer Grants ($600,000 over three years), four New Investigator Grants ($250,000 over two years), and one Special Project ($930,000). All awards through the ChadTough Defeat DIPG grant program are multi-year grants, allowing researchers to spend more of their time in the lab and less time seeking additional funding for future years.
“Working collaboratively with other families and foundations in the DIPG community, we’ve been able to amplify our capacity to make significant investments in DIPG-specific research. We are thrilled to be able to offer these grants and foster the next generation of DIPG researchers,” said co-founder Jenny Mosier.
Applications for the ChadTough Defeat DIPG grant program are reviewed by the foundation’s Scientific Advisory Council, composed of leading experts on childhood brain cancer, to ensure the foundation uses its resources to fund the most promising DIPG research projects. The council is led by Suzanne Baker (St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital) and made up of David Ashley (Duke University School of Medicine), Oren Becher (Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine), Cynthia Hawkins (Hospital for Sick Children), Duane Mitchell (University of Florida College of Medicine), Michelle Monje (Stanford University), Javad Nazarian (George Washington University), and Robert Wechsler-Reya (Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute).
In addition to the grants made through the structured program, the foundation is excited to continue to support the promising Car T-cell trial led by Dr. Michelle Monje of Stanford University. The trial has shown great promise and, after decades, could finally offer patients with DIPG/DMG a new treatment option for a disease that has historically proven resistant to other therapies.
ChadTough Defeat DIPG Foundation has been able to provide such significant support for research because of dozens of families coming together to make a difference. Founded by the families of Chad Carr and Michael Mosier, the foundation works collaboratively with other families who have also faced a pediatric brain cancer diagnosis, including 32 Family Partners, 11 Research Partners, and others who help in additional ways. Working together enables the group to make an even bigger impact in the world of DIPG research. We truly are Tougher Together in the fight to #DefeatDIPG.
“DIPG is an incredibly tough cancer, but we are tougher,” said co-founder Tammi Carr. “Together with our Family and Research Partners, we have a shared passion for curing DIPG, and other pediatric brain tumors, by funding and inspiring more game-changing research.”
NEW INVESTIGATOR GRANTS
- Jamie Anastas, Baylor College of Medicine, “Combinatorial targeting of Cyclin-Dependent Kinases in DIPG”
- Zachary Reitman, Duke University, “Dissecting mechanisms of radio resistance associated with p53 mutations in DIPG”
- Humsa Venkatesh, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, “Targeting the electrical vulnerabilities of DIPG by modulating the neuronal microenvironment”
- Orazio Vittorio, University of New South Wales, “Exploring copper chelation as a novel epigenetic therapeutic strategy for DIPG”
GAME-CHANGER GRANTS
- Richard Lu, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, “Targeting Diffuse Midline Gliomas with Rational Combination Therapy”
- Praveen Raju and Oren Becher, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, “A clinically translatable nanotherapeutic approach to enhance BBB drug delivery in DIPG”
- Mark Souweidane, Weill Medical College of Cornell University, “Development of a Comprehensive Direct Drug Delivery Platform for the Treatment of Diffuse Midline Glioma”
SPECIAL PROJECT
- Michelle Monje, Stanford University, “Car T-cell Clinical Trial”
Co-funded by Austin Strong Foundation and Storm the Heavens Fund
About ChadTough Defeat DIPG Foundation
ChadTough Defeat DIPG Foundation inspires and funds game-changing research to discover effective treatments for pediatric brain cancer, with an emphasis on diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (DIPG), which is underfunded compared to most cancers. Powered by parents who have faced a pediatric brain cancer diagnosis, many of whom have lost a child, and guided by a Scientific Advisory Council made up of the leading experts in the field, the foundation ensures every dollar possible funds the most promising research anywhere in the world. The foundation was inspired by Michael Mosier, son of co-founders Jenny and Mark Mosier, and Chad Carr, son of co-founders Tammi and Jason Carr. Both boys passed away from DIPG in 2015.
ChadTough Defeat DIPG Foundation believes a collaborative approach is the only way a cure will be found. It therefore welcomes the help of other families who want to join in funding pediatric brain cancer research (with an emphasis on DIPG) in honor of their children through the foundation’s Family Partner program.
For more information, visit www.chadtough.org.
CHADTOUGH DEFEAT DIPG FAMILY PARTNERS:
The Albom Family: Team Chika
The Barr Family: Hunt for a DIPG Cure
The Basha Family: Team Elita
The Boivin Family: Team Julian
The Chhabra Family: Mirah’s Many
The DelVerne Family: #ColtStrong
The Engler Family: LukesSquad
The Finn Family: Team V-Sizzle
The Gibson Family: Dara’s Dream Team
The Grenfell Family: Kam’s Krew
The Hoogendoorn Family: Emerson the Brave
The Jackson Family: #mattiesjourney
The Lara Family: Eliana’s Love
The Marks Family: Team Olivia
The Mize Family: RallyforRaegan
The Montera Family: Callie’s Crew 305
The Nichols Family: Team Austin
The Olympia Family: Connor Man
The Overton Family: Team Jack
The Petrzelka/Shaker Family: Team Owen
The Ruddy Family: Team Tommy
The Sands Family: Hudson’s Hope
The Santin Family: Team Eugenio
The Sawtelle Family: Team Arden
The Shura Family: Maddie’s Fight Squad
The Sieck Family: Team LucyLove
The Steensland Family: Team Grant
The Tavana Family: Harrison T’s Heroes
The Thompson Family: Team Emma
The Varney Family: #SophieStrong
The Weaver Family: Team Vivian Rose
CHADTOUGH DEFEAT DIPG RESEARCH PARTNERS:
Austin Strong Foundation
Catching Up With Jack
Dylan Jude Harrell DIPG Foundation
Elle’s Angels Foundation
Lace Em Up For Libby
Love For Linley Foundation
NoahBRAVE Foundation
SoSo Strong Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation
Storm the Heavens Fund
The Taco Bob Foundation
Tough Like Jack Foundation
