Our Vision
To foster efficient translation of new scientific knowledge and technologies into more effective treatments that maximize the well-being of children with cancer and the quality of life of cancer survivors.
The Center
Under the direction of Dr. Irwin Bernstein, the Center for Childhood Cancer seeks to translate new scientific knowledge and technologies into effective treatments that maximize the well-being of children with cancer and the quality of life for survivors of childhood cancer. To realize this vision, the center will broaden its research program to a greater range of pediatric cancers, expand its laboratory-based research initiatives, strengthen its clinical research program in solid tumors and further invest in Seattle Children’s world-class clinical research programs in leukemia and stem cell transplantation (also known as bone marrow transplantation).
The center will also build on its partnerships with the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center and the University of Washington to achieve its goals and improve treatments and outcomes for children with cancer.
Strategic Priorities
To achieve our vision we will:
- Build upon the strong research and clinical partnerships of Children’s, the University of Washington and the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center to assure Seattle has all of the elements in place to recruit and retain world-class pediatric hematology/oncology faculty members.
- Recruit new leadership with the stature, energy and vision to grow the program in order to broaden investigation into a greater range of pediatric cancers. This individual should be a well-funded translational laboratory scientist with an expressed interest in childhood cancer, preferably someone trained as a pediatric physician.
- Expand the laboratory component of the Center by recruiting an additional three to five faculty members. These individuals should be a combination of outside recruits and internal recruits developed from the fellowship program.
- Invest in our world-class translational clinical research programs in pediatric leukemia and stem cell transplantation.
- Strengthen our translational clinical research program in pediatric solid tumors.
- Maintain our leadership in childhood cancer clinical trials and outcomes research/survivorship.
- Assure that appropriate numbers of clinical investigators are available to apply novel approaches derived from the translational research program.
- Secure the necessary resources and technologies available to support the Center.
- Focus on synergies with existing and emerging Consortium strengths in developmental and stem cell biology, gene expression, epigenetics, pharmacogenomics and imaging.
- Assure proximity to scientists in relevant research areas to maximize development of novel discoveries applicable to pediatric cancer.