Based on progress to date, Dr. Das was awarded a new grant in 2022 to fund an additional year of this International Scholar grant. When a cell divides, the DNA duplicates. However there may be errors in this process. Most are corrected by an in-built replication repair mechanism. If not corrected, this may lead to mutations. The repair mechanism itself may be faulty in some children with an inherited condition. They develop cancers in the brain, intestines and blood, with very high number of mutations. These cancers are difficult to diagnose and do not respond to standard chemotherapy and radiation. Dr. Das and colleagues have developed cutting edge yet inexpensive genomic tool, called 'signatures' which will help better diagnose this disease. The tool will also predict which children will benefit from a new, promising treatment known as immunotherapy. It will also help diagnose other family members before they develop cancers and initiate surveillance to improve their chances for survival. The condition is more prevalent in the developing world where the custom of marrying within one's community is prevalent. Hence validation of the utility of this tool and developing local capacity to use this will benefit large number of children and their families in underserved areas across the globe.

The 2022 portion of this grant is funded by and named for the Kai Slockers Pediatric Cancer Research Fund. Kai was diagnosed at 2½ with Atypical Teratoid Rhabdoid Tumor (ATRT), a rare and very aggressive brain cancer. Within two weeks of diagnosis, he passed away, a mere 3 months shy of his third birthday. When Kai took his last breath, the cloudy sky opened up with a bright ray of sun that streamed through the windows of his hospital room – the darkness of the disease was replaced with the light of hope and the peace of no more suffering. Whenever the sun is out, his family thinks of him, assured that his legacy of hope shines on. In his brief life, Kai shared his warmth, energy, goofy sense of humor, and caring heart with all those he met. This Hero Fund was created in his memory and will support research to help other kids with cancer have a better chance to fight and survive. It has a special focus on brain tumor research, specifically treatments that could minimize the harsh effects of brain tumor treatment. The Slockers family hopes to continue his legacy of light and hope through the funding of childhood cancer research.

A portion of this grant is generously supported by The Team Campbell Foundation. The Foundation was established in memory of Campbell Hoyt, who courageously battled anaplastic ependymoma, a rare cancer of the brain and spine, for five years before passing away in August of 2014 at the age of eight. Its mission is to improve the lives of families facing a childhood cancer diagnosis through raising awareness, funding research and providing psycho-social enrichment opportunities.

This institution is a member of a research consortium which is being funded by St. Baldrick's: The Malignant Germ Cell Tumor International Consortium (MaGIC). For a description of this project, see the consortium grant made to the lead institution: Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA.

Through this partnership with CanKids, the proceeds from St. Baldrick's events in India are used to fund childhood cancer research in India.

This institution is a member of the Children’s Oncology Group (COG).  From the first event in 2000 through 2004, St. Baldrick’s funds benefitted the COG.  Since the St. Baldrick’s Foundation began making grants in 2005, each of the 200 member institutions of the COG has received a portion of a multi-million dollar St. Baldrick’s grant every year.  These funds have been distributed based on the number of patients at each institution who are treated on COG clinical trials, their best hope for a cure.

This institution is a member of the Children’s Oncology Group (COG).  From the first event in 2000 through 2004, St. Baldrick’s funds benefitted the COG.  Since the St. Baldrick’s Foundation began making grants in 2005, each of the 200 member institutions of the COG has received a portion of a multi-million dollar St. Baldrick’s grant every year.  These funds have been distributed based on the number of patients at each institution who are treated on COG clinical trials, their best hope for a cure.