Funding the Future: Closing Critical Gaps in Childhood Cancer Research

Childhood cancer research faces unique challenges, from limited funding opportunities to fewer treatment options compared to adult cancers. In this episode of Moving Medicine Forward, host Jeremy Schrand is joined by Jill Brink, Executive Director of CancerFree KIDS, Dr. Meisam Nami of Cincinnati Children's, and Dr. Ezgi Elmas of CARTx Therapeutics to discuss how early-stage funding is helping researchers pursue bold ideas that could transform pediatric cancer care. Together, they explore the critical role nonprofit organizations play in advancing innovation, the promise of next-generation cell therapies, and how collaboration across research, healthcare, and industry is helping bring new treatment options closer to the children and families who need them most. 00:00 | Introduction to CancerFree KIDS and pediatric cancer research01:37 | Why childhood cancer research needs bold, early-stage funding  04:01 | Bridging the gap between scientific discovery and patient care06:18 | How nonprofit funding helped launch a breakthrough cell therapy innovation 07:06 | Understanding gene-edited and off-the-shelf cancer therapies 10:28 | Closing critical gaps in pediatric cancer research and treatment development 14:54 | The power of collaboration across nonprofits, healthcare, and biotech 18:29 | What gives researchers hope for the future of pediatric cancer care