Introduction
The St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital recently announced its FY22–27 strategic plan. The $12.9 billion budget is the institution’s commitment to accelerate its progress and growth to manage and eradicate pediatric cancer. The six-year plan is intended to provide $2.3 billion in renovations, infrastructure expansion, and operational needs, as well as support 2,300 additional jobs and facilitate new scientific and clinical programs (St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, n.d). Regarding the funding sources, a large proportion of St. Jude’s finances come from different sources. These include organizational partners, corporate entities, and public members partnering with the hospital to raise funds for children with cancer and other terminal illnesses.
Potential Funders for St. Jude
The potential funders for St Jude Children’s Research Hospital include the National Pediatrics Cancer Foundation (NPCF), Children’s Cancer Research Fund (CCRF), and the American Cancer Society (ACS). This is because the NPCF’s Sunshine Project coordinates improved treatment to end pediatric cancer (National Pediatrics Cancer Foundation [NPCF], 2022a). Similarly, the CCRF supports research on battling childhood cancer (Children’s Cancer Research Fund [CCRF], 2022a). Additionally, the ACS funds cancer research and helps patients manage the disease (American Cancer Society [ACS], 2022a). Hence, it can share vital cancer information and finance the hospital’s research.
National Pediatric Cancer Foundation
The National Pediatric Cancer Foundation’s (NPCF) priority areas include eradicating childhood cancer. The organization focuses on finding more effective or less toxic treatments through a multidisciplinary research program dubbed the Sunshine Project. The foundation’s headquarters is in Tampa, Florida, but it operates in different areas across the United States. The NPCF is dedicated to financing specific projects, such as research programs to eliminate pediatric cancer. Since its inception, the organization has funded over 28 project initiatives (NPCF, 2022a). The organization only serves the pediatric cancer patient population by bringing together the nation’s top physicians and scientists to develop new treatments.
NPCF is dedicated to financing specific projects, such as research programs to eliminate pediatric cancer. Since 2005, the NPCF has funded translational studies and multiple clinical trials. These include donating over $30 million to research and financing more than 28 projects (NPCF, 2022a). Over the years, the organization has provided seed grants at Moffitt Cancer Center in Tampa, St. Joseph’s Children’s Hospital, and various children’s research institutes in different states (NPCF, 2022b). In recognition of pediatric cancer, the foundation offered a $4.3 million grant in April 2022 (Morey, 2022). This funding is aimed at improving the lives of children diagnosed with cancer.
Children Center Research Fund
CCRF channels its funding on five priority areas to help pediatric cancer patients. These areas include emerging scientists, hard-to-treat diseases, survivorship, health disparities, and data and infrastructure. The non-profit organization’s main office is situated in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Regarding geographic areas, CCRF operates in all regions across the United States. In addition, the organization has contributed millions of dollars to specific projects and program funding, such as education, awareness, research, and quality-of-life initiatives for childhood cancer families (CCRF, 2022a). Lastly, the organization is dedicated to serving children patients by ending cancer.
From its national donations, CCRF has contributed more than $200 million to specific projects and program funding, such as education, awareness, research, and quality-of-life initiatives for childhood cancer families (CCRF, 2022a). According to the CCRF website, it welcomes applications in the grant categories, such as Hard to Treat Cancers, Survivorship, and Eliminating Disparities in Childhood Cancer Awards. These priority areas are usually allocated $250,000 for a two-year period (CCRF, 2022b). These funding initiatives are aimed at supporting population and basic clinical studies focused on deadly cancers where effective treatment and therapies required to enhance survival have remained out of reach.
American Cancer Society
The priority areas for ACS include etiology, treatment, obesity, survivorship, screening and diagnosis, and health equity across the cancer continuum. All prioritized areas except obesity aim to help in the management of cancer (ACS, 2022b). The geographic areas include all regions across the United States. This is because the ACS is based in Atlanta, Georgia, and has over 350 offices countrywide (ACS, 2022c). The organization’s type of funding is the specific project only because it finances research on particular subjects. Additionally, ACS funds research involving all populations regardless of age.
The ACS is the biggest funder of cancer-related research. It has also had a long history of supporting childhood cancer research and treatment. For instance, the ACS has provided 55 grants worth $34,151,000 for childhood cancer (ACS, 2020). Nevertheless, the amount of grants given to applicants depends on the cancer type. Additionally, in 2021, the ACS collaborated with the St Baldrick’s Foundation to give eight grant awards totaling $4 million for childhood cancer research (ACS, 2022d). Therefore, ACS can effectively fund St Jude’s research to gather insights on various pediatric cancers.
Dollar Range of Grants
Organizations provide a varying range of grants depending on the project. NPCF often awards institutions with groundbreaking ideas with about $1 to $4.3 million in grants (Morey, 2022). The funding is aimed at facilitating the fight against pediatric cancer. On the other hand, the CCRF grant is $250,000 for a two-year period (CCRF, 2022b). Alternatively, the ACS grant awards extend to four years within a range of up to $165,000 annually for direct costs and an additional 20% on indirect costs (ACS, 2022e). Nevertheless, more extensive research may last for five years with a limit of $200,000 yearly on direct costs.
Conclusion
Grants are given to individuals who meet certain criteria. In this case, NPCF supports leading a non-profit organization whose mission is to find a faster cure for pediatric cancer. CCRF mainly provides funding to national nonprofit organizations committed to finding safer, more effective therapies for children fighting cancer. On the other hand, the eligibility for an ACS grant on the priority areas dictates that one must work in an academic institution or a qualified non-profit organization in the United States (ACS, 2022e). In addition, the individual should have a particular amount of funding and be at any stage of their faculty career.
References
American Cancer Society. (2020). Current grants by cancer type. Web.
American Cancer Society. (2022a). About the American Cancer Society. Web.
American Cancer Society. (2022b). ACS research priority areas. Web.
American Cancer Society. (2022c) Contact us. Web.
American Cancer Society. (2022d). Cancer doesn’t care which child it attacks: Every few minutes, a parent learns it’s theirs. Web.
American Cancer Society. (2022e). Research scholar grants. Web.
Morey, A. (2022). National Pediatric Cancer Foundation issues call for research proposals – Total value of $4.3 million. Business Wire.
Children Cancer Research Fund. (2022a). About us. Web.
Children Cancer Research Fund. (2022b). Research grant programs. Web.
The National Pediatric Cancer Foundation. (2022a). About the National Pediatric Cancer Foundation. Web.
The National Pediatric Cancer Foundation. (2022b). Top-rated foundation. Web.
St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. (n.d). St. Jude strategic plan 2022–27: Accelerating progress globally. Web.