Cameron's Research Fund gives $100,000 to advance ependymoma research. The Cameron Corno Research Fund at the Lilabean Foundation is giving $100,000 to the Children's Brain Tumor Network (CBTN) to test a new immunotherapy for children whose ependymoma recurs. What this gift supports When ependymoma returns, children have very few treatments that work. This gift will advance a project led by Dr. Peter Madsen at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) to test a new CAR T cell therapy developed by Dr. Leyuan Ma. CAR T therapy trains a patient's own immune cells to find and attack cancer. The team will first test Dr. Ma's CAR T cells on patient-derived ependymoma tumoroids: lab-grown models built from real children's tumors. If those results are promising, the next step is testing the approach in mouse models. Because the tumoroids and the research infrastructure already exist through CHOP and CBTN, the team can start right away. They won't need to spend the first years building tools. They can go straight to the question families currently facing a diagnosis are asking, "Could this work for my child?" Why every answer moves research forward This project will show whether Dr. Ma's approach should advance toward treatment for recurrent ependymoma. Either outcome has value. If the results are strong, the therapy moves a step closer to becoming a reliable treatment option for children facing recurrent ependymoma. If they reveal limits, researchers, doctors, and funders learn where not to spend precious time and money. That focus speeds progress toward safer, more effective treatments. Cameron is still helping researchers today Cameron's impact reaches beyond this gift. She was enrolled in CBTN from the day she was diagnosed, so the network captured clinical information across her entire journey, including data from her care. Those de-identified data remain available to researchers and can help answer new questions for years to come. Some of Cameron's tissue samples also remain in the CBTN biobank. A single tissue donation can fuel many studies over time, from new types of data to research approaches that don't exist yet. A research model grown from Cameron's tissue also exists at Children's National Hospital. The team is now exploring whether it could play a role in this project. Thank you, Cam's Crew This $100,000 gift was made possible because of you. Every birthday donation, every tribute gift and every shared post builds Cameron's Research Fund into a force for children facing ependymoma and continues Cameron's impact.

MCW receives $50 million for precision medicine. The Medical College of Wisconsin will use a $50 million donation - an amount that ties the largest philanthropic gift in the educational institution's history - to advance its work in precision medicine. The gift from Linda and John Mellowes and the Charter Manufacturing Foundation will help MCW build data infrastructure; attract, support and retain talent; provide medical education based in genomics and data science; and welcome Dr. Marni Falk, a leader in genomic medicine, mitochondrial disease and precision therapeutics. "We hope this gift helps more people receive the care they need close to home," the Mellowes said in a Monday statement. Falk, who joined MCW on Oct. 1 from Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, will lead the newly named MCW Linda T. and John A. Mellowes Institute for Genomic Sciences and Precision Medicine. MCW is also renaming Hub for Collaborative Medicine the MCW Linda T. and John A. Mellowes Health Innovation Center. "For years, medical treatments have been designed to serve most people," Falk said in a statement. "Through genomic science, we can better understand what will work best for each individual patient."

Virtua Voorhees Hospital receives advanced certification for hip and knee replacement surgery. Virtua Voorhees Hospital has earned advanced certification from The Joint Commission for total hip and knee replacement surgery. The recognition highlights comprehensive patient care from consultation through recovery across its extensive network in South Jersey. 2 days ago Tuesday, Oct 6 By F. B. Baumgartner Virtua Voorhees Hospital has received advanced certification in total hip and knee replacement surgery, the highest level available, according to an Oct. 6 announcement. The Joint Commission awarded the hospital its Gold Seal of Approval for Advanced Total Hip and Knee Replacement Certification, conducted in collaboration with the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. Dr. Jeremy Reid, lead physician for joint replacement at Virtua Reconstructive Orthopedics, said, "This advanced certification is a testament to the excellence of our joint replacement surgeons and teams. In fact, it's an important quality indicator for both our surgical and non-surgical hip and knee patients." The Gold Seal of Approval covers all aspects of patient care including initial consultation with orthopedic surgeons, rehabilitation activities such as physical therapy and aquatic therapy, follow-up visits, as well as surgical procedures. Dr. Reid said, "At Virtua, we offer a number of non-surgical and non-replacement interventions, as well as advanced surgical options including robotic-assisted procedures. We work with each patient to base their treatment on their individual situation, level of pain, and activity goals." Virtua Reconstructive Orthopedics includes more than 150 providers - 10 hip- and knee-replacement surgeons among them - and dozens of support staff. Patients have access to 28 outpatient rehabilitation centers across South Jersey. Most hip or knee replacement patients are able to return home within 24 hours after surgery without requiring a stay at a rehabilitation facility. Ken Grubbs, executive vice president of Accreditation and Certification Operations at the Joint Commission, said, "Virtua Voorhees Hospital underwent a rigorous unannounced onsite review." He added, "Advanced Total Hip and Knee Replacement Certification recognizes healthcare organizations committed to striving for excellence and fostering continuous improvement in patient safety and quality of care... We commend Virtua Voorhees Hospital for using Joint Commission's certification process to reduce variation in clinical processes and to strengthen its clinical program to drive safer, higher quality and more compassionate care for individuals served." According to the official website, Virtua Health aims to deliver comprehensive health care services supporting wellness throughout South Jersey via five hospitals - including Virtua Voorhees - and over 400 locations staffed by more than 3,000 affiliated doctors; it also maintains academic ties with Rowan University along with partnerships with Penn Medicine for cancer care as well as Children's Hospital of Philadelphia for pediatrics.