2024 Impact
2024 brought a year of growth for our foundation. We were able to create more awareness on pediatric cancer and the critical need for more funding. At the end of the year, we were able to donate a total of $75,000 to fund promising pediatric research. We donated $50,000 to propel breakthrough DMG research by Dr. Jessica Foster and Dr. Cassie Cline at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. Their work in finalizing lab experiments is crucial to setting the stage for an application for a clinical trial that will bring CAR-T for DMG to CHOP, and if successful, will redefine treatment options for children who currently have no cure for their disease. The therapy would be the first of its kind and available for pediatric patients across the East Coast to ease the burden of access.
We also donated $25,000 to the ChadTough Defeat DIPG Foundation to fund one of their approved research grants. Their scientific board will compile a list of research applications that are showing the most promising to fight DIPG and in the Spring of 2025, our foundation will decide which specific research grant we will fund. By becoming a research partner with ChadTough, we are further able to enhance the impact our foundation is helping to find treatments for tough to treat brain tumors throughout the nation. We could not have done it without the help of so many! 2024 brought donations large and small, from coast to coast and even internationally. We are honored that so many have trusted us in honoring Taylor while funding research for pediatric brain cancer.
2023 Impact
Despite just becoming a foundation in the Spring of 2023, we were able to make a huge impact in the world of pediatric cancer research. We were able to raise and then donate over $50,000. After interviewing several research organizations and institutions, we chose the labs of Dr. Cassie Kline, of Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and Dr. Michelle Monje, of Lucile Packard Hospital for Children to receive $25,000 each. Our donation at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia was matched up to $21,000, making a total of $71,000 being donated in Taylor Anne’s honor to fund pediatric cancer research. In addition to the funds raised, we were able to share Taylor’s story across the globe reaching thousands. Our foundation has received donations from coast to coast and together we are raising awareness on the need for more funding for pediatric cancer research. Together we have and will continue to make a difference!
2023 Recipients of Research Funds
Dr. Cassie Kline
Dr. Cassie Kline works at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia as an attending physician and the director of clinical research in Neuro-Oncology. Currently, Dr. Kline along with Dr. Jess Foster are working towards new therapy options, that provide safer, less toxic approaches to treating DMGs. With the support of the Taylor Anne Foundation, they are working to test mRNA GD2-directed CAR T cell therapy in a preclinical study, which will provide information needed on the best route of delivery and dosing to move into a Phase 1 clinical trial.
Dr. Michelle Monje
Dr. Michelle Monje works at Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital, as a neuro-oncologist and neurologist. Her research lab has been leading the way in CAR T, seeing unprecedented results in tough to treat pediatric brain tumors. With the support of the Taylor Anne Foundation, her research lab will continue to work on finding hopeful treatments for DIPG, osteosarcomas, and neuroblastomas with more studies on the horizon.