Results
See what we have accomplished with your support in our latest annual report » |
- Tested all 2816 FDA approved drugs in 2 chordoma cell lines to determine if any existing drugs could effectively treat chordoma.
- Provided seed grants to help start new research projects in 10 labs, two of which have since leveraged our seed funding to obtain federal grants.
- Initiated and funded the Chordoma Genome Project at the Sanger Institute to decode the chordoma genome. This project identified a genetic risk factor shared by 97% of chordoma patients and helped lead to the discovery of an entirely new way that cancer can form through shattering of chromosomes – “chromothripsis.”
- Funded the development of the first chordoma xenograft mouse model, a critical tool needed for testing and developing new treatments.
- Partnered with researchers at Duke University to characterize 6 published chordoma cell lines, leading to a publication showing that only two were valid, and stopping the future use of invalid cell lines.
- Created the Chordoma Cell Line Repository, a one-stop source of valid cell lines, and distributed 3 valid cell lines to more than 50 labs, including several pharmaceutical companies.
- Launched a prize for new chordoma cell lines which spurred dozens of researchers to attempt to develop urgently-needed cell lines. Awarded a $10,000 prize for the second valid chordoma cell line ever created.
- Launched the Chordoma Foundation Biobank which enables any chordoma patient to donate their tumor for research, and makes much-needed biospecimens available to researchers.
- United and expanded the chordoma research community by hosting 3 international research workshops, which brought together over 150 physicians and scientists, many of whom were new to the field. Also connected chordoma patients from around the world by hosting 3 chordoma community conferences.
- Created a Researcher Directory with more than 150 members to connect the entire chordoma research community and help researchers find collaborators.
- Raised awareness for this once-ignored disease among physicians, researchers, policy makers, and the public through national media appearances, presentations at international conferences, and visits to more than 25 medical centers across the world.