Announcing our Powered by Pablove 2020 Grant Recipients
During a time when many organizations are pausing or even cutting research funding altogether, The Pablove Foundation is proud to be stepping up on our commitment to finding a cure for kids with cancer. This year, we’ve awarded five new Powered by Pablove Childhood Cancer Seed Grants, to daring scientists across the world. Yes, this year’s innovative researchers hail from Barcelona to Texas! They truly are at the leading edge of their fields. Meet our newest 2020-2021 Powered by Pablove Researchers now…
Dr. Thais Armangue MD PhD
Institute for Biomedical Research August Pi i Sunyer, Barcelona, Spain
Studying: OMS
Project Title: Opsoclonus myoclonus syndrome: a novel approach to antigen identification and disease modeling
All the way in Barcelona, Spain, Dr. Armengue is studying a rare autoimmune condition called Opsoclonus-myoclonus Syndrome (OMS). With her Powered by Pablove funds, she’s using novel technical approaches to identify the specific antibodies involved in OMS for a more thorough understanding of how the disease develops.
Grant funded in partnership with The Viswanatha Family + Friends.
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Dr. Vicki Huff PhD
MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
Studying: Wilms Tumor
Project Title: Assessment of a cancer preventive agent for Wilms tumor
As a scientific researcher Dr. Huff’s work is focused on tumors of the kidneys called Wilms Tumor. There is a genetic predisposition tied to Wilms Tumor and in this Powered by Pablove Research project, Dr. Huff is studying an agent she hopes will counter the effects of that genetic predisposition to prevent the growth of Wilms Tumor in the first place!
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Dung-Fang Lee PhD
The University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston, TX
Studying: Osteosarcoma
Project Title: The Epitranscriptomic Pathway is a Therapeutic Vulnerability in p53-mutant Osteosarcoma
Osteosarcoma is among the most frequent primary malignant bone cancers in childhood and adolescence. A scientist by training, Dr. Lee is studying a genetic mutation in the p53 tumor suppressor gene to help illuminate how it contributes to the development of osteosarcoma. A successful Powered by Pablove research project will aid greatly in diagnosis or treatment of this cancer, and provide insight into personalized osteosarcoma treatment.
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Alexandra Stevens MD PhD
Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX
Studying: Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML)
Project Title: Identification of cellular diversity and tumor-initiating cells driving NF-to-MPNST and drug resistance by single-cell multiomics for targeted therapy
Only about half the children who develop acute myelogenous leukemia will survive. A physician scientist, Dr. Stevens has identified an antibiotic that is extremely effective in the laboratory at killing AML or slowing it’s progression. With her Powered by Pablove funds, Dr. Steven will try and identify which children will derive the most benefit from including this antibiotic in their treatment plan.
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Lai Man (Natalie) Wu PhD
Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH
Studying: Malignant Peripheral Nerve Sheath Tumor (MPNST)
Project Title: Identification of cellular diversity and tumor-initiating cells driving NF-to-MPNST and drug resistance by single-cell multiomics for targeted therapy
Neurofibromatosis type I (NF1), an inherited condition in children, affects one in every 3,000 individuals worldwide. Although benign in nature, in some cases, the slowly growing NF1-mutated nerve tumors can become malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors (MPNST), killing 50% of the patients within five years. Dr. Wu’s Powered by Pablove research projects aim to unravel the puzzle of how benign neurofibromas (NF) become cancerous MPNST.
Want to contribute to building a cancer-free tomorrow? Kids with cancer and the Pablove researchers speeding their cures need your support now more than ever! Every dollar you give goes a long way in our careful investment of the most urgent, life-saving ideas! Give to help us accelerate safer treatment options and cures for our kids. Donate here!
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A fundraiser with serious appetite – meet the donors behind Drive by Dinners
In Houston, our Friends of Pablove supporters started Drive by Dinners as a way to help their friends and local business owners during the pandemic. But the generosity of these women did more than just bring delicious dinners to locals — their love spilled over to Pablove’s plate too– turning a meal-pickup event into a hugely successful fundraiser to help fight childhood cancer!
Michele Bua, owner of Bua’s Bistro & Catering has been a small business owner in Houston for many years. Her life and her business, like many others around the world, changed drastically when the virus hit. So, her friends, Jeanne Kugler and Carla Schraub of Allegiance Title Company Memorial stepped in to find a creative way they could help their community and small business survive. The group organized a weekly meal pick-up where Houstonians could pick up delicious, home cooked dinners curbside for just $5, (a suggested donation for The Pablove Foundation).
The palette-popping plates created by Chef Michele for the Drive by Dinners were so popular that after the first week, the event had customers asking to order 3 – 5 extra meals.
The event lasted for 4 weeks, and was fortunate to have numerous sponsors including Title Resource Guaranty, Old Republic Title Underwriters, Survey1 Surveyors, Certainty Home Loans – Joady Rubin & Debbie Cash and Tammy Rose with Old Republic Home Warranty.
These sponsors were vital to support Michele and her fabulous food. Of the experience, Kugler says:
“Before our lives changed I had wanted to do a little fundraiser for The Pablove Foundation. The pandemic changed all that! We are all trying to stay healthy and safe. But, children with cancer and other chronic health issues are always fighting to stay healthy and survive! We thought if we asked for a small ($5.00) donation for each dinner we could help support The Pablove Foundation. Our little idea to help a friend and raise a little money for Pablove was so fulfilling and a big success!”
We are proud to announce that Drive by Dinners raised $875.00 for Pablove. But it didn’t stop there, when Jeanne told her friend Scott Talley of NIA “Network In Action” about the Drive By Dinners fundraiser, Scott jumped in and donated $125.00 to get to the goal of $1,000 total!
We are so grateful and thank all of the sponsors, donors and volunteers who made this delicious event possible!