This grant program represents the first time that a research grant opportunity has been linked to an AACR scientific achievement award. The goal of the AACR-St. Baldrick’s Foundation Award for Outstanding Achievement in Pediatric Cancer Research initiative is to spotlight significant scientific accomplishments, while simultaneously fostering the career advancement of early-stage pediatric cancer researchers. It is intended to stimulate an ongoing mentor-mentee relationship between the awardees and the grant recipients.

Once selected, the awardee is afforded the opportunity to nominate junior faculty level researchers at any academic institution in the world to be considered to receive a one-year, $75,000 AACR-St. Baldrick’s Foundation Pediatric Cancer Research Grant. Candidates must have demonstrated promise for continued substantive contributions to pediatric cancer research. From the list of candidates provided by the awardee, a grant recipient is chosen by the award selection committee.

2023 grantee

Research

Cutting edge techniques in molecular pathology are transforming the standards of cancer care. Dr. Church’s research and clinical practice focus on molecular profiling to support the care of children with cancer. She has demonstrated that sequencing technologies have a significant impact on making the right diagnosis and in selecting the correct targeted treatment for children with cancer.

Biography 

Dr. Church received her master‘s and medical degrees at Queen’s University, Canada, before completing her residency in anatomic pathology at the same institution. She then moved to Boston to complete her education in both molecular genetic pathology and pediatric pathology at Harvard Medical School. She stayed at Boston Children’s Hospital as the founding director and the Associate Director of the Laboratory for Molecular Pediatric Pathology (LaMPP). She is currently the Program Director for the Harvard Molecular Genetic Pathology Fellowship and the Chair of Training and Education for the Association for Molecular Pathology.

Acknowledgement of Support

“I am so honored and grateful for this award. This grant will support my mission to bring the power of molecular profiling from research labs directly to the clinical care of children battling cancer, giving them the best available treatment, which each child deserves.”