The Pediatric Cancer Foundation currently funds research through its one program, The Sunshine Project.  We no longer fund seed grants.

The Sunshine Project

In 2005, the Pediatric Cancer Foundation formed The Sunshine Project, an innovative collaboration with one goal: to bring together the nation’s top doctors and researchers to fast-track new treatments and increase the survival rate for children battling cancer. 

The creation of The Sunshine Project, though simple in theory, was complex in nature. But by establishing this program, the Pediatric Cancer Foundation has developed a business model unlike any other in the field of pediatric cancer research. We have essentially capitalized on the strengths of researchers from all different fields of science and streamlined the process that has accelerated the development of new treatments.

Why is The Sunshine Project Unique?

The Sunshine Project is the first of its kind in the field of pediatric cancer research.

Over the past three years, we have implemented the groundwork necessary to introduce three new drugs into clinical trials in 10 hospitals throughout the nation. New compounds have been, and continue to
be, tested in these trials and hold great promise for children who have not experienced positive results under the standard treatment protocol.

Investigators are performing three vital phases of research simultaneously. Basic Science, Translational Research and Clinical Trials are the major research components that not only allow doctors to identify new agents in fighting cancer, but also help researchers to understand the cancer cells’ response to the drug. In identifying new treatment options through clinical
trials, researchers are focusing on developing treatments that target only specific cancer-causing molecules in the body, unlike more traditional treatments that often prove toxic to healthy cells. Because the new gene-targeted therapies are less toxic than traditional treatment, it is also more
effective because it targets the source of the cancer and does not compromise the rest of the body by eliminating the immune system.

We currently work with leading doctors from around the United States from the following participating institutions: All Children’s Hospital of St. Petersburg, Dana Farber Cancer Institute, Aflac Cancer Center & Blood Disorders Service of Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, Alberta Children's Hospital, MD Anderson Cancer Center, City of Hope National Medical Center,
H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center, Memorial Sloan- Kettering Cancer Center, Nemours Children’s Clinic of Jacksonville, Phoenix Children’s Hospital, Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins University Medical Center, University of Colorado Health Sciences Center/The Children’s Hospital, University of Florida Shands Cancer Center, Vanderbilt
University Medical Center.

Through The Sunshine Project, we are directly addressing the 20% of children for whom the standard protocol of chemotherapy and radiation is not successful. We are one of the only research-funding organizations focused solely on early phase pediatric cancer research. This means that via The Sunshine Project, we are at the forefront of developing treatments and drugs for less common and less curable childhood cancers.

This what research can do - save children's lives.