Hope for Kids Battling Cancer

The $50,000 grant is earmarked specifically to enroll children with cancer at UNM Hospital in clinical trials. Patients are not burdened with the financial costs of a clinical trials, but there is a cost that hospitals must take on. It takes a team of researchers, staff and clinicians to carry out the treatment plan and monitor and record the progress of every patient receiving a therapy through a clinical trial.  

Having the support staff to offer clinical trials is especially important for UNM Hospital because its patients come from diverse backgrounds.  

“There is a huge under-representation of minorities in research,” said Jessica Valdez, MD, MPH, FAAP, assistant professor of Pediatric Hematology Oncology and pediatrician at the UNM Children’s Hospital. “Most of our research study protocols are based off those with Western backgrounds. There is a huge under-representation of Hispanics and Native Americans, so UNM Hospital is a very important part of the research initiative because we need to increase the enrollment of these particular patient populations.” 

The data from UNM’s diverse patient population benefits the research community as a whole.   

"Research is hope, and the dedication and generosity of the St. Baldrick's community equips researchers to save children's lives," said  St. Baldrick's CEO Kathleen Ruddy. "Countless children are alive today because of volunteers, donors and researchers.  Together, they make more childhood cancer survivors."  

Equally important – patients who enroll in clinical trials often yield positive, lifesaving results. Valdez believes medical research has helped change the prognosis for children with cancer today.  

Fifty years ago, 80 percent of children diagnosed with leukemia were likely to die of the disease, she said. Today, that number has flipped, with about 80 percent of children surviving. Children have an opportunity to get the latest, most cutting-edge science-based therapies. Often, these therapies mean the difference between survival and death. Additionally, when a therapy is offered at UNM Hospital, it means a family gets to stay home and not travel out of state.    

“Research shows that patients do better when they are near their support system,” Valdez said. “Plus, it’s a huge financial burden when families have to go out of state. This grant allows us to keep New Mexico’s families in instate and treat their children for cancer. That’s vital.” 

This year, the St. Baldrick's Foundation awarded 27 grants across 20 states to expand patient access to pediatric cancer clinical trials and to accelerate scientific discoveries to conquer kids' cancer.