Projects Supported by STOP!® CHILDREN’S CANCER, INC.

Since its founding, STOP!® CHILDREN’S CANCER, INC., has been responsible for contributions in excess of $3.5 million to fund pediatric cancer research at the University of Florida College of Medicine. All research funding is specifically aimed at the prevention, control and cure of pediatric cancer.

It is the policy of STOP!® that no monies are used to pay overhead and administrative fees of any outside organizations. No monies may be used to pay organizations engaged in fundraising or for costs incurred in obtaining grants.

Some grants given by STOP!® provided the seed money for new research which later provided a basis for substantial, nationally-sponsored grants from such entities as National Cancer Institute/National Institute of Health. Listed here are the grants and other funding provided by STOP!® since its inception.

• In 2009, STOP!® funded $150,000 in research grants as follows:  $50,000 to Dr. Eric Laywell for a study on pediatric brain cancers, $50,000 to Dr. Shoudong Li for studies on acute lymphoblastic leukemia and $50,000 to Dr. Daiqing Liao for a study on treating neuroblastoma.
• In 2008, STOP!® funded $150,000 in research grants as follows:  $50,000 each to Dr. Xingming Deng and Dr. Jianrong Lu for studies on childhood leukemia and $50,000 to Dr. Daiqing Liao for a study on treating neuroblastoma.
• In 2007, STOP!®  funded a $25,000 grant to Dr. David Muir to test photodynamic therapy for treatment of neurofibromatosis tumors.
• In 2006, STOP!® CHILDREN’S CANCER, INC. donated a gift of $1,000,000 to the University of Florida Foundation to establish The STOP!® CHILDREN'S CANCER/Bonnie R. Freeman Professorship for Pediatric Oncology Research. In 2007, this endowment received a $750,001 matching grant from the State of Florida Trust Fund for Major Gifts.
• In 2004, STOP!® funded $92,000 in research grants as follows:$50,000 Dr. Stephen Hunger for continued studies on childhood leukemia, $26,000 Dr. Amir H. Shahlaee for evaluation of IDO expression in lymph nodes of cancer patients, $16,000 Dr. Susan Staba for studies on quality of life following pediatric stem cell transplant.
• In 2003, STOP!® funded $100,000 in research grants as follows:  $50,000 Dr. Stephen Hunger for studies on childhood leukemia, $25,000 to Dr. C. Parker Gibbs and $25,000 to Dr. Mingli Yang, both focusing on aspects of osteosarcomas, a form of bone cancer.  STOP!® also announced an additional 9-year commitment to fund future Grant applications through the UF College of Medicine in the amount of $100,000 annually.  This 10-year commitment totals $1 Million in Research Grants toward the prevention, control, and cure of cancer in children!
• In 2002, STOP!® funded $50,000 in research grants to continue support for two of the 2001 researchers, Dr. David Bloom and Dr. Lijan Yang. Dr. Bloom was awarded $25,000 for continued studies regarding treatment of Malignant Glioma. Dr. Yang was awarded $25,000 for continued studies related to Acute Promyelocytic Leukemia.
• In 2001, STOP!® funded $100,000 in research grants. $50,000 was awarded to “Distinguished New Investigator,” David Bloom, M.D. Two “Promising New Investigators” were awarded $25,000 each.
  In 2000, STOP!® presented a $10,000 gift to the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery for studies on Ewing’s Sarcoma in honor of Greg Goldfaden and in memory of Juan DeLaRua.
• In 2000, STOP!® sponsored the second annual Visiting Scholar. Dr. Jonathan Finlay of Hassenfeld Cancer Center, NYU, presented seminars and Grand Rounds to the faculty and students at the UF college of Medicine.
• In 1999, STOP!® awarded $50,000 in three research grants dealing with Pediatric Cancer projects at the University of Florida College of Medicine.
• In 1999, STOP!® sponsored the first annual Visiting Scholar. Dr. Curt Civin, Director of Pediatric Oncology Service at John Hopkins University School of Medicine, presented seminars and Grand Rounds to the faculty and students at the UF College of Medicine.
• In 1998, STOP!® fulfilled its pledge of $20,000 to North Central Florida Hospice to furnish the activities room at the Hospice House.
• In 1996-97, STOP!® funded $122,000 in research grants dealing with Acute Lymphocyctic Leukemia, Glioma Brain Tumors, and Pediatric and Adolescent Osteosarcoma.
• In 1995-96, STOP!® funded a two-year $80,000 fellowship for Dr. William Slayton in the Pediatric Hematology/Oncology program at UF.
• In 1994, STOP!® funded four grants totaling over $60,000. Studies of The Umbilical Cord as a Source of Transplant Material; Tumor Invasion of the Nervous System; Graft vs. Host Disease and Leukemia Patient L-Asparaginase Resistance and Sensitivity were funded by these grants.
• In 1992, STOP!® funded a $150,000 grant which established the Southeastern Brain Tissue Bank in the Pediatric Neuro-Oncology Division. This grant was matched by state funds.
• In 1991, STOP!® donated $100,000 for research in Stem Cell and Tumor Biology at the Division of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology.
• In 1990, STOP!® purchased for the Division of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, a Fluorescence Activated Cell Sorter Epics II Flow Cytometer and a Gene Machine totaling $54,000. This equipment enhanced efficiency in the research process.
• Prior to 1990, STOP!® raised over $400,000 for Cancer research and scientific research equipment, including a pilot project, in 1985, using the Magnetic Bead Process. This process extracted cancer cells from bone marrow and proved to be a major breakthrough in the fight against leukemia.