Turning Early Funding Into Lifesaving Discoveries: Dr. Anthony Faber’s Neuroblastoma Breakthroughs

What if $100,000 could unlock $3.5 million and help bring new treatments to kids with cancer? 

That’s exactly what happened with Anthony Faber, Ph.D., a researcher at Virginia Commonwealth University, who received three grants from Rally Foundation for Childhood Cancer Research to fuel his groundbreaking work in neuroblastoma. 

Thanks to early seed funding from Rally Foundation: 

Dr. Faber discovered that venetoclax, a medicine that blocks a survival protein used by cancer cells, was effective against high-risk neuroblastoma.   

That discovery led to two high-impact publications and paved the way for clinical trials, providing real hope for children battling this aggressive cancer. 

His lab’s momentum didn’t stop there. 

Rally’s second grant funded research into SHP2 inhibitors, another promising class of drugs. These inhibitors are especially effective in cancers with mutations in the NF1 gene, which can cause cells to grow uncontrollably.   

This research is now guiding new clinical exploration and has been published in scientific journals. 

In total, Rally’s initial investment of $100,000 helped Dr. Faber secure an incredible $3.5 million in additional funding from the National Cancer Institute (NCI), which is a 35-fold return on investment. 

“Rally’s support has significantly moved us closer to better treatments for children with neuroblastoma,” said Dr. Faber. 

This is why early-stage research funding matters.

This is the power of philanthropic seed investing.

This is Rally.