Our Mission
To aid in the fight against Acute Myelogenous Leukemia (AML), in cooperation with Cook Children's Hospital, through funding research, treatment, and assisting affected families.

For pediatric AML, the second most common pediatric leukemia, only approximately 50-60% of patients are cured with modern intensive regimens, compared with over 80% of patients with pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia, the most common pediatric malignancy.  This disparity is not acceptable and underscores the need for further development of comprehensive AML research programs.  It is only through cutting-edge research activity and dedicated resources that we will be able to improve our therapeutic armamentarium and dramatically increase our cure rate for children with AML.

Cook Children’s Leukemia & Lymphoma Program has always participated in the most advanced, pioneering AML research in the world.  We participated in the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital AML2002 Protocol, and our institution was one of the largest contributors of patients to the study.  The results of this study, the first to use minimal residual disease evaluation to determine risk stratification-based therapy, have recently been published in the medical literature.  Due to the success of our past relationship with St. Jude, we were one of a select group of six institutions to be invited to participate in their current AML2008 Protocol, and the only center located in the Southwestern United States.  We have been involved in the planning and development of this protocol from its inception, and through our collaboration with our colleagues in Memphis we have already been able to offer the most novel therapies, including natural killer cell transplantation, to our patients here in Fort Worth.

Funding to be used for the following:

Ongoing program development:

Research nurse / support staff funding
Research internships and infrastructure support for internal projects and analyses
Quality improvement initiatives
Staff education and training
Providing lectures and research updates for other institutions to enhance recognition and                 build collaborative relationships

Scholarly Activity:

Dedicated opportunities for in depth study of current AML literature and research activity
Attendance and participation at national meetings / symposia
Visiting professorships