Donors make a difference for kids living with cancer

Manitoban Families Impacted by Childhood Cancer will Benefit from New Multi-Disciplinary Research Theme

Winnipeg, MB (March 20, 2024) – Generous Manitobans are making a difference for kids living with cancer. Thanks to incredible donors to the Children’s Hospital Foundation of Manitoba, the Children’s Hospital Research Institute of Manitoba (CHRIM) is thrilled to announce its newest research theme, PROMISE: Pediatric Research in Oncology in Manitoba: Innovation, Science, Excellence.

Approximately 1000 children 0-14 years of age are diagnosed with cancer each year in Canada, and over 100 will die from the disease every year. In Manitoba, this equates to approximately 50 new pediatric cancer patients each year. Although pediatric cancers are rare compared to adult cancers, childhood cancer remains the most common disease-related cause of death with brain tumors, leukemia and neuroblastoma representing the deadliest forms of malignancies for children 14 years of age and younger. Similarly, in the adolescent and young adult (AYA) population (15-39 years of age), cancer is rare, representing 5-6% of all cancer diagnoses. Like pediatric population, leukemia and brain tumor account for largest number of deaths in this subgroup.

“Kids everywhere deserve the best care possible,” said Stefano Grande, President and CEO of Children’s Hospital Foundation. “CHRIM’s research teams focus on issues that kids face right here and work closely with the healthcare teams across the province to bring that research into action.”

“PROMISE is the latest example of how our communities’ generosity benefits kids and families.”

PROMISE will be led by CHRIM research scientist Dr. Cedric Tremblay, assistant professor in University of Manitoba’s Department of Immunology, and Investigator at the Paul Albrechtsen Research Institute CancerCare Manitoba. Drs. Britt DrogemoIIer, CHRIM scientist and assistant professor in Biochemistry and Medical Genetics at the University of Manitoba and Sapna Oberoi, CHRIM scientist and Assistant Professor in the Department of Pediatrics and Child Health at the University of Manitoba, and Adolescent and Young Adult Oncology Lead at CancerCare Manitoba complete the executive leadership team.

“We are very excited about this opportunity and believe the research conducted by PROMISE will improve outcomes for children and youth living with cancer,” says Dr. Cedric Tremblay.

“One of the best outcomes for bringing together this new team in pediatric, adolescent and young adult research will be the development of novel therapies and treatments for children in Manitoba.”

The theme will combine interdisciplinary, fundamental, translational, and clinical research conducted by highly qualified researchers with diverse expertise in hematologic and solid tumor pediatric and AYA malignancies, thus creating new and exciting networking and collaborative opportunities among theme members.

In addition, the PROMISE theme will bring together trainees with a common interest in pediatric and AYA oncology and enable them to present their work in a more focused forum.

“CHRIM believes in the power of bringing together clinicians and researchers to investigate and address complex health issues to positively impact the quality of life for children and their families,” says Dr. Terry Klassen, CEO and Scientific Director at the Children’s Hospital Research Institute of Manitoba.

“For this reason, we are investing in this new theme PROMISE to work with children and families to address their important challenges.”

Donors can continue making a difference for kids living with cancer through supporting the PROMISE theme at goodbear.ca.