Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta is pleased to announce four new research projects to be headed by pediatric hematologists and oncologists at the Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center aimed at targeting childhood cancers, including brain tumors, osteosarcoma and leukemia. Funding was provided by Peach Bowl, Inc. and the Peach Bowl LegACy Fund, which was established in 2019 as a $20 million commitment that is hyper-focused on funding clinical trials for the most challenging childhood cancers.

The overall goal of the Peach Bowl LegACy Fund is to ensure that high-priority novel agents, devices and treatment strategies can be tested in patients at an accelerated pace, eventually leading to additional treatment options and cures. Funding is used specifically for developing drugs and novel treatments – including cellular therapies – that physicians at the Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center believe have the best chance of success.

“The Peach Bowl was created to give back, and we continue to follow that mission through our donation and commitment to fund the most promising clinical trials,” said Gary Stokan, Peach Bowl, Inc. CEO. “Our goal in creating the Peach Bowl LegACy Fund was to partner with Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta and give them the resources they need so that together we can work to advance treatment for childhood cancer.”

The studies selected to receive funding include:

• Thomas Cash, MD will study a potential tumor-suppressing drug for all eligible patients with solid tumors.

• Sarah Mitchell, MD will launch the first immunotherapy trial for children with osteosarcoma using a drug that has shown success as an upfront therapy for other pediatric cancers.

• Building off years of collaboration with Augusta University, Tobey MacDonald, MD’s study will aim to increase survival for children with incurable brain tumors using immunotherapy.

• Michelle Schoettler, MD will study a novel drug intended to prevent thrombotic microangiopathy following a blood and marrow transplant.

“We are thankful for the tremendous support from Peach Bowl, Inc. as our researchers continue to tirelessly work to find new treatments and cures for some of the most difficult pediatric cancers,” said Douglas Graham, MD, PhD, Chief, Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center of Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta.

The Peach Bowl has a long history of giving to Children’s. In September 2018, Anna Charles “AC” Hollis, a patient at the Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center, passed away from acute myeloid leukemia. Anna Charles is the daughter of Peach Bowl, Inc. VP of Sales, Benji Hollis and she is the inspiration for the Peach Bowl LegACy Fund, named in her honor.