Childhood cancer is considered a rare disease that accounts for about 1% of all U.S cancers. However, childhood cancer is not just one disease – there are more than 12 major types of pediatric cancers and over 100 subtypes. Although pediatric cancer death rates have declined over the past four decades due to improved tumor detection and treatment, for some types of cancer the survival rates remain devastating.
“The Swifty Foundation appreciates and is excited by Oncoheroes’ laser focus on pediatric oncology drug development. Swifty’s founder was treated with 30-year-old drugs and when his medulloblastoma returned his chance of survival dropped to 5% because there were no viable treatment options to offer,” statedPatti Gustafson, Executive Director of Swifty Foundation. “Oncoheroes drug discovery lab, dedicated to finding more effective and less toxic treatments using pediatric models, could be a game-changer for some cancer types like medulloblastoma”.
Michael Gustafson, the founder of the Swifty Foundation, chose to donate his tissue for research after his death at the age of 15 to help find a cure for pediatric brain cancer. Gift from a Child is a national initiative led by Swifty Foundation. The mission is to increase post mortem pediatric brain tissue donations and accelerate breakthrough cancer research, improve treatments and ultimately find new cures for childhood brain cancer. The Swifty Foundation is also focused on supporting research collaboration and medulloblastoma research.
“We are excited to announce the investment of the Swifty Foundation during childhood cancer awareness month. September is time to advocate for and honor those who have been affected by childhood cancer, ”said Ricardo Garcia, co-founder, and CEO of Oncoheroes Biosciences. “Thank you, Swifty Foundation for joining our efforts to accelerate the discovery and development of new therapies for children and adolescents with cancer.”
