Recipients of $1 Million Quantum Grant to Fund Transformational Pediatric Cancer Research

The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Fred Hutchison Cancer Research Center and the University of Florida each receive $1 million in funding

Hyundai Hope On Wheels® (HHOW) (@hopeonwheels), a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping kids fight cancer, announced four $1 million grants to Children’s Oncology Group (COG) institutions: The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Fred Hutchison Cancer Research Center and the University of Florida. Through the Hyundai Quantum Grant, each institution will receive $250,000 per year over the course of four years to fund their research on pediatric cancers with the lowest survival rates.

Although 80 percent of cancers are being cured today, it still remains the leading cause of death by disease in children (source). Through the Hyundai Quantum Grant, HHOW is committed to providing resources to leading institutions’ groundbreaking research in the fight against pediatric cancer. The winning proposals will help advance new immunotherapies and therapeutic strategies for the most high-risk childhood cancers, including Acute Myeloid Leukemia and Medulloblastoma tumors.

The Hyundai Quantum Grant Winners include:

• The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (Philadelphia, PA) – Richard Aplenc, MD, PhD, MSCE
• Dana-Farber Cancer Institute (Boston, MA) – Loren D. Walensky, MD, PhD
• Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center (Seattle, WA) – Soheil Meshinchi, MD, PhD and Marie Bleakley, MD, PhD
• University of Florida (Gainesville, FL) – Duane A. Mitchell, MD, PhD

The winners were recognized alongside 12-year-old cancer survivors at the annual Hyundai Hope On Wheels ceremony on March 24th in New York City. The ceremony took place on the sidelines of the New York International Auto Show and was co-hosted by Aubrey Peeples, film and TV actress known for her roles in Nashville and Jem and the Holograms. Hyundai Motor America President and CEO, Dave Zuchowski, led the annual launch activities in New York City. This year marks the organization’s 18 years of commitment to the cause and a total of $115 million donated in its pledge to end childhood cancer. This year alone, the organization will award $13 million in new pediatric cancer research grants.

“The Hyundai Quantum is a terrific grant. Outside the NIH, this is one of the largest grants available to pediatric cancer researchers. This is a significant amount of money and it will provide researchers the time and funding they need to drive real advances in the field. We applaud Hyundai for its leadership” said Dr. Crystal Mackall, former head of the NCI pediatric cancer division and current associate director of the Stanford Cancer Institute and HHOW committee reviewer.

“We are honored and eager to announce this year’s winners for the Hyundai Quantum Grant, an award we believe echoes and further builds upon Hyundai Hope On Wheels’ commitment in the fight against pediatric cancer,” said Dave Zuchowski, President and CEO, Hyundai Motor America. “On behalf of Hyundai and our dealers across the country, we are proud to support this cause. No child should ever have to hear the words ‘You have cancer,’ and we will continue to support the efforts fighting for that day to come.”

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HYUNDAI HOPE ON WHEELS

Hyundai Hope On Wheels® is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that is committed to finding a cure for childhood cancer. Launched in 1998, Hyundai Hope On Wheels provides grants to eligible institutions nationwide that are pursuing life-saving research and innovative treatments for the disease. Primary funding for Hyundai Hope On Wheels comes from Hyundai Motor America and its more than 800 U.S. dealers. At the end of its 16th year, Hyundai Hope On Wheels will have awarded more than $86 million towards childhood cancer research in pursuit of a cure.

HYUNDAI MOTOR AMERICA

Hyundai Motor America, headquartered in Fountain Valley, Calif., is a subsidiary of Hyundai Motor Co. of Korea. Hyundai vehicles are distributed throughout the United States by Hyundai Motor America and are sold and serviced through more than 820 dealerships nationwide.