First CAR T-cell therapy Trial for Children in the UK with DIPG/DMG Brain Tumours Funded by Parent-Led Charities and Foundations.
In a first ‘in-child’ use for brain tumours in the UK, 12 children will access a new clinical trial using CAR T-cell therapy for DIPG/DMG brain cancers.
Following the release of early data and encouraging results from a US clinical study taking place at Stanford University, a total award of £1.2m has been awarded to a team of researchers at University College London (UCL) and Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH).
Lead Investigators Dr Karin Straathof and Prof Darren Hargrave will utilise a ‘GD2-CAR’ as previously used in the UK in clinical trials for the children’s cancer neuroblastoma. Patients are being treated by an expert multi-disciplinary team at Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH) but will be referred from throughout the UK to take part in the clinical trial.
Abbie’s Army have been instrumental in the provision of funding for the trial.
Using our position within the childhood cancer community the charity has made a collaborative grant award of £275,000 to Great Ormond Street Hospital Children’s Charity (GOSH Charity). We were also able to direct further funding from The Azaylia Foundation and CRIS Cancer Foundation towards the study.
We are incredibly grateful for their interest and willingness to help to support the trial.
Driven by research funding from Abbie’s Army the direct amount funded includes support from six other parent-led charities: Islastones Foundation, Bradley Lowery Foundation (including Kaleigh’s Trust and The Spider Ede Appeal- DIPG Awareness), Robert Andrew Munro Foundation, Eva’s Angels, Doing It For Daniel and Edie’s Kindness Project.
Speaking on behalf of Abbie’s Army Amanda Mifsud said, “I’m overwhelmed at the response from our own DIPG/DMG ‘community’ joining us to fund collaboratively and support this new innovative clinical trial. All family groups know how precious some ‘hope’ can be and it means everything to them to provide other families with opportunities previously unavailable to them, in memory of their own children”
We're grateful to GOSH Children’s Charity who coordinated funding between Abbie’s Army and the other main funding groups involved.
Principal investigators:
Dr Karin Straathof, Associate Professor at the UCL Cancer Institute and Honorary Consultant at GOSH.
Prof Darren Hargrave, GOSH Charity Clinical Professor in Paediatric Neuro-Oncology and Honorary Consultant at GOSH.)
Phase 1 Clinical Trial of GD2 CAR-T cells for 12 patients: £1.2 million
Abbie’s Army Collaborative award: £275,000
