Rally-Funded Discovery: Protecting Hearts After Cancer

When kids go through cancer treatment, it’s not just the cancer doctors have to worry about. Sometimes, those powerful treatments can also hurt the heart. That’s where Eric Chow, M.D., a researcher at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, comes in. 

Thanks to funding from Rally Foundation for Childhood Cancer Research, Dr. Chow and his team are working to spot heart problems early, before they become serious. 

Using Ultrasound to Watch the Heart 

Rally Foundation’s early funding helped Dr. Chow collect thousands of ultrasound images of the heart, called echocardiograms, from kids and teens who had been treated for cancer. These images gave scientists a closer look at which kids developed heart issues and which ones didn’t. 

By comparing the two groups, the team began to understand what early signs to look for. That helps doctors keep a closer eye on kids who may need extra care for their hearts. 

Better Research, Better Treatments 

Dr. Chow’s work didn’t stop with one study. Rally’s support helped his team get even more funding from the National Institutes of Health, a big win for childhood cancer research. 

The data from the Rally-funded project has also been used in: 
– A major clinical trial for kids with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) to test if heart-protecting drugs help during treatment. 
– Another long-term study that watches kids after treatment to see how their hearts are doing over time. 

Training the Next Generation 

Rally’s impact goes beyond just science. Dr. Chow’s project also helped young scientists, called trainees or junior faculty, get started on their own research. Many of them were the lead authors on papers published in top medical journals. Because of Rally’s early investment, they were able to grow their careers while making a difference for kids. 

The Bottom Line 

Dr. Chow’s work is helping doctors catch heart problems sooner and keep kids safer, during cancer treatment and after it’s over. It’s also helping train the next generation of scientists to keep pushing forward. 

This is why early-stage research funding matters.

This is the power of philanthropic seed investing.

This is Rally.