CureSearch and funding partners award $1.5M for osteosarcoma research

Dr. Patrick Grohar receives Fight Osteosarcoma Together Super Grant to address critical, unmet need in pediatric osteosarcoma treatment 

Bethesda, Md. – June 6, 2023 – CureSearch for Children’s Cancer announced today a three-year, $1.5 million grant to Patrick Grohar, MD, PhD, of Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia to develop a new targeted treatment approach for pediatric osteosarcoma, an aggressive form of bone cancer.  

The award – the Fight Osteosarcoma Together Super Grant – is a joint funding award with St. Baldrick’s Foundation, CureSearch, Battle Osteosarcoma, Michael and April Egge; The Osteosarcoma Collaborative, and the Zach Sobiech Osteosarcoma Fund of Children’s Cancer Research Fund. 

“I have dedicated my life to the care of patients with bone tumors,” said Dr. Grohar. “My team has a history of translating therapies to pediatric bone tumor patients, and are now seeing responses in the clinic. The work proposed has the potential to be highly impactful for the patients we serve. Our group is honored and humbled to have been selected for this award.”  

Treatments for osteosarcoma haven’t changed in 30 years, and few targeted agents have successfully translated to the clinic for patients. Dr. Grohar’s team will study the role of the MYC gene, a common gene in osteosarcoma tumors, and determine how MYC makes osteosarcoma aggressive.  

If a novel and effective MYC inhibitor is developed as a result of this project, it could potentially improve the treatment of many cancers, including osteosarcoma. 

“Real progress in childhood cancer research requires collaboration, so we are honored to be a funding partner on this award,” said Holly Zink, Director of Research and Programs at CureSearch. “Dr. Grohar’s project aligns with our laser focus on addressing critical, unmet need in pediatric cancer treatment. We look forward to seeing the impact of this groundbreaking research on pediatric osteosarcoma patients who are counting on novel treatment options.” 

To learn more about how you can support innovative projects like this and help advance childhood cancer research, visit curesearch.org/donate. 

About CureSearch for Children’s Cancer 
CureSearch for Children’s Cancer, a national nonprofit organization that works to end childhood cancer by driving targeted and innovative research with measurable results in an accelerated time frame. Using a unique funding strategy, CureSearch only funds translational research projects with the strongest potential to become a new treatment and quickly reach patients. To learn more visit curesearch.org. 

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