What is OSI Connect?
OSI Connect is a free, easy-to-use, invaluable resource for those diagnosed with osteosarcoma Osteosarcoma is a difficult and frightening diagnosis, but you are not alone. You can actually connect with leading sarcoma physician experts for a free consult. Yes, free. Yes, a consult not an email. An actual conversation. Founded by parents who have walked the road you are now on, OSI Connect is a resource they wish they would have had. Diagnosis and relapse are overwhelming. It is impossible to know all the treatment options and questions to ask. OSI Connect is here to help you. You can ask any questions including but not limited to treatment plans, side effects, treatment options and available clinical trials and get advice about how to get the most out of every visit with your treating physician. In addition, the OSI Connect Administrator, sits in on the call and follows up with you...
What is a Free DIPG Nurse Navigator?
Rally Kid Tyson (Image Above), brain cancer (2016-2020)Tyson was just two and a half years old when he was diagnosed with DIPG You Are Not Alone In Your DIPG / DMG Battle Hearing that your child has cancer is devastating. Hearing that your child has cancer and that it is a DIPG / DMG brain tumor is unfathomable - because in the same sentence you learn there is no known cure for DIPG / DMG. Every time we hear that a kid has received this diagnosis, Rally’s heart breaks. However, for parents who face this, we want to share this amazing and free resource. My DIPG Navigator is a unique, no-cost resource for families that gives parents access to one-on-one support from a DIPG / DMG experienced pediatric oncology nurse navigator. Parents can discuss and learn about treatment options, talk about what is happening, learn what to expect, and be connected to leading experts through a...
What Is a Rally Career Development Award?
Career development awards are important. But why? Investigators in their first independent faculty appointment are at a critical career stage where they must establish themselves through research, publications and grant funding. It is important to support the development of independent research by these individuals to move them from mentorship to independence. Career development awards provide the opportunity for investigators to develop independent research by funding a significant portion of their salary to ensure protected research time. RESEARCH GRANTS Rally Foundation for Childhood Cancer Research (Rally) helps fund the most promising research initiatives through research grants including the Rally Career Development Award. Invited institutions may nominate one researcher for the Rally Career Development Award. A Rally research grant is a financial award provided to universities,...
What Is a Consortium Grant?
What exactly is a consortium? Let us explain. Rally Foundation for Childhood Cancer Research (Rally) defines a consortium as three or more institutions (i.e., university, hospital) collaborating on a grant-supported research project. A principal investigator from the lead institution applies with the support of at least two other collaborating institutions. The success of the project depends on the unique contributions of each collaborating institution. RESEARCH GRANTS Rally helps fund the most promising research initiatives through research grants including our Consortium Grant. A Rally research grant is a financial award provided to universities, hospitals and private research institutions to support a specific research project. Rally grants are awarded based on a competitive dual peer-review process conducted by our Medical Advisory Board, which is made up of leading childhood...
Discovering the Reality of Childhood Cancer Treatment
On our diagnosis day, we were told that our four-year-old Gus had Ewing Sarcoma. What doctors didn’t know was the particular type or variant he had. Tumor Sequencing Tumor sequencing is vital, as some variants of Ewing’s sarcomas have poorer outcomes, require specific drugs, and prohibit the use of other drugs. The variant determines the treatment plan. Parents need to know the type of cancer their child is fighting- and if the hospital doesn’t know, parents should demand to have the tumor genetically sequenced. As Dean taught me, “The pathology report is king.” Treatment I could go on and on about the horrors of the treatment Gus endured: scary nights when our son’s heart was beating so fast it seemed as though he was having a heart attack… or beating so slowly that he was unresponsive; the endless needle pokes for blood and platelet transfusions; the horrific bowel movement issues;...
What is Big Data and Childhood Cancer Research
After being born and living in Turkey my whole life, I came to the US for college to study biological sciences at the University of Chicago. When the laboratory research internship I found for the summer of my first year was cancelled due to COVID-19, I joined a resume match program of my school’s Career Advancement Office, which matched students with employers based on experience and preferences. It was initially through this program that I matched with the Pediatric Cancer Data Commons (PCDC) and started working as their undergraduate summer intern. Later, this internship extended into a part-time job, and I worked with them for nearly a year. Previously in high school, I had worked with a non-profit organization called Cancer Warriors (Kanser Savaşçıları) for more than a year. Through this organization, I had visited the pediatric hematology and oncology departments of an...
What is OSI Connect?
OSI Connect is a free, easy-to-use, invaluable resource for those diagnosed with osteosarcoma Osteosarcoma is a difficult and frightening diagnosis, but you are not alone. You can actually connect with leading sarcoma physician experts for a free consult. Yes, free. Yes, a consult not an email. An actual conversation. Founded by parents who have walked the road you are now on, OSI Connect is a resource they wish they would have had. Diagnosis and relapse are overwhelming. It is impossible to...
What is a Free DIPG Nurse Navigator?
Rally Kid Tyson (Image Above), brain cancer (2016-2020)Tyson was just two and a half years old when he was diagnosed with DIPG You Are Not Alone In Your DIPG / DMG Battle Hearing that your child has cancer is devastating. Hearing that your child has cancer and that it is a DIPG / DMG brain tumor is unfathomable - because in the same sentence you learn there is no known cure for DIPG / DMG. Every time we hear that a kid has received this diagnosis, Rally’s heart breaks. However, for parents who...
What Is a Rally Career Development Award?
Career development awards are important. But why? Investigators in their first independent faculty appointment are at a critical career stage where they must establish themselves through research, publications and grant funding. It is important to support the development of independent research by these individuals to move them from mentorship to independence. Career development awards provide the opportunity for investigators to develop independent research by funding a significant portion of...
What Is a Consortium Grant?
What exactly is a consortium? Let us explain. Rally Foundation for Childhood Cancer Research (Rally) defines a consortium as three or more institutions (i.e., university, hospital) collaborating on a grant-supported research project. A principal investigator from the lead institution applies with the support of at least two other collaborating institutions. The success of the project depends on the unique contributions of each collaborating institution. RESEARCH GRANTS Rally helps fund the...
Discovering the Reality of Childhood Cancer Treatment
On our diagnosis day, we were told that our four-year-old Gus had Ewing Sarcoma. What doctors didn’t know was the particular type or variant he had. Tumor Sequencing Tumor sequencing is vital, as some variants of Ewing’s sarcomas have poorer outcomes, require specific drugs, and prohibit the use of other drugs. The variant determines the treatment plan. Parents need to know the type of cancer their child is fighting- and if the hospital doesn’t know, parents should demand to have the tumor...
What is Big Data and Childhood Cancer Research
After being born and living in Turkey my whole life, I came to the US for college to study biological sciences at the University of Chicago. When the laboratory research internship I found for the summer of my first year was cancelled due to COVID-19, I joined a resume match program of my school’s Career Advancement Office, which matched students with employers based on experience and preferences. It was initially through this program that I matched with the Pediatric Cancer Data Commons...