Penn State advances pediatric cancer research through new targeted therapy collaboration
Penn State College of Medicine is advancing its commitment to cutting-edge cancer research and early-phase clinical trials through a new collaboration aimed at accelerating a promising targeted therapy for pediatric brain[...]
Penn State’s Beat Childhood Cancer Research Consortium welcomes SJD Pediatric Cancer Center Barcelona, strengthening global leadership in pediatric cancer research
The Pediatric Cancer Center Barcelona (PCCB) at Hospital Sant Joan de Déu has become the first center outside North America to join the Beat Childhood Cancer (BCC) Research Consortium, an international pediatric cancer research[...]
Penn State College of Medicine, Beat Childhood Cancer Research Consortium and Four Diamonds launch clinical trial that aims to combat solid tumors
In a step toward fighting solid tumors in children and young adults, Penn State College of Medicine, the Beat Childhood Cancer Research Consortium and Four Diamonds, along with Senhwa Biosciences, Inc. are launching a pioneering clinical[...]
Q&A: Finding novel therapies for childhood cancer
Since the first time she treated a child with neuroblastoma, Giselle Saulnier Sholler wanted to do the impossible for her patients. Neuroblastoma is the most common extracranial solid tumor in children with[...]
FDA approves pediatric neuroblastoma drug based on Penn State professor’s work
Giselle Saulnier Sholler, professor of pediatrics and of pharmacology, reflects on 20 years working to change cancer outcomes for children HERSHEY, Pa. — In 2003, the first year of her[...]
US WorldMeds Announces FDA Approval of IWILFIN™ (eflornithine) to Strengthen Fight Against Aggressive Childhood Cancer
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Penn State Health recruits leading researcher to fight pediatric cancer
Cris Collingwood//August 2, 2023 An internationally known physician-scientist and her research consortium have joined Penn State Health to continue efforts to eradicate pediatric cancer. Penn State Health and Penn State College of Medicine[...]
The Power of Will
Will Lacey was just a baby when doctors diagnosed a rare form of cancer and told his family there was only one end. Nobody then could imagine the journey ahead,[...]
Michigan Child Trials Target Genetic Roots of Cancers
Thank you Detroit News for featuring a story about the work we are doing. It wouldn’t be possible without the support of Dell, TGen Foundation and our generous community. Together,[...]
Research: Beat Childhood Cancer
The Beat Childhood Cancer Research Consortium is a group of 54+ universities and children's hospitals
Today we announced a new collaboration aimed at accelerating a promising targeted therapy for pediatric diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (DIPG).
The collaboration will complete the final preclinical studies required to initiate a Phase I/II clinical trial of GB13, an IL13Rα2-directed immunotoxin designed to target tumor cells while sparing healthy brain tissue selectively. Unlike many first-in-human studies that begin with adult populations, the planned trial is designed to enroll children and adolescents, reflecting both the urgency of the disease and the absence of effective treatments.
“This work represents what is possible when academic medicine, philanthropy and industry align around a shared mission,” said Sil Lutkewitte, CEO of Targepeutics.
Read the full press release here: pennstatehealthnews.org/topics/penn-state-advances-pediatric-cancer-research-through-new-targeted...
Yesterday, a new Case Report was published in Frontiers Pharmacology by two of our summer interns (Elizabeth Wert and Leah Menachery), Dr. Smita Dandekar, Dr. Giselle Saulnier Sholler, BCC, Penn State College of Medicine and Penn State Health Children's Hospital teams titled: "Molecular Guided Therapy Leading to Exceptional Response in Relapsed Osteosarcoma".
In this publication we took a closer look at a 9-year-old girl with refractory metastatic osteoblastic osteosarcoma with disease progression treated on the Molecularly Guided Therapy Clinical Trial, NMTRC009 (NCT02162732), utilizing genomic analysis to identify novel treatment options. The report details the rationale behind the tumor board recommendations that resulted in a novel therapeutic approach which led to long term response and survival for this patient.
For more details on this patient, check out the publication at: doi.org/10.3389/fphar.2025.1719832
We continue to use this approach today for clinical decision making through our Molecular Tumor Boards (MTBs) for other patients through our Precision Medicine Program. We currently host 2 patients at this MTBs per week to try to identify novel therapies for other patients with relapsed or refractory solid tumors.
On Friday was Penn State College of Medicine Pediatric Research Day, where our lab team and interns from this summer presented their work over the course of the past year.
One of our intern's, Madison Rozwat, and our BCC Assistant Professor, Jeremy Hengst, were also asked to give oral presentations on this research.
We are very proud of our Lab team as they help utilize the samples and resources from our clinical trials to move research forward into even more future clinical trials!
Beat Childhood Cancer Research Consortium welcomes The Pediatric Cancer Center Barcelona (PCCB) at Hospital Sant Joan de Déu as the first center outside North America to join the Consortium.
This is a major milestone in our mission to accelerate access to life-saving therapies for children worldwide.
The first study the site will open is our BCC018 trial using naxitamab as a first-line treatment in newly diagnosed patients with high-risk neuroblastoma.
Find Penn State's full press release here: pennstatehealthnews.org/2025/11/penn-states-beat-childhood-cancer-research-consortium-welcomes-sj...
We had the honor and the privilege to visit the Sant Joan de Déu (SJD) Children’s Hospital in Barcelona Spain led by Dr. Jaume Mora. Dr Mora is the scientific director of Oncology and Hematology at the SJD Pediatric Cancer Center and director of the developmental tumours laboratory.
The hospital and teams we met were amazing! The facility brings together the healthcare services aimed at patients with cancer in one single place, as well as spaces dedicated to research. The aim is to treat a large volume of patients more effectively, efficiently and adequately, > 400 new patients per year, with a highly specialised team.
We also got to watch the “step up” protocol of the naxitamab infusion, studied by Dr. Mora and his team, that titrates the dose and uses a different premedication regimen that is much better tolerated by the patient. We saw this difference in side effects first hand and are eager to advocate to our sites to move to this approach for a better patient experience.
We are excited for Dr. Mora and his team to be our first BCC site outside of North America! 🌎🇪🇸🔬
That is a wrap on our time at the Society of International Pediatric Oncology Conference! Thanks for everyone that stopped by our booth and connected with us throughout the meeting. The scientific program was very strong and we were honored to participate again this year! #pennstateuniversity #siop2025 #pediatriconcology #research