Current Status

In addition to the $2,115,000 that was raised for research and the development of a new CAR-T Immunotherapy, our partnership with the Children's Cancer Research Fund (CCRF) generated an additional $1,375,000 in grants which will provide the full cost of treatment for the first 10-12 patients enrolled in the CAR-T clinical trial approved on May 17, 2024, by the FDA.  In large part, this grant was made possible by the Shook Foundation’s incredibly generous $900,000 gift to CCRF for this purpose. In all, $3.5 million has been given to support Project Stella research.

In December of 2023, we announced a need for an additional $500,000 in funding needed to support ongoing work in advancing and supporting the clinical trial and the pursuit of two additional targets, PRAME & WT1.  Dr. Meshinchi and his team have found that these targets are present in 30 to 40% of all pediatric AML patients. Thanks to generous Project Stella donors this goal was met by June of 2024. Additionally, the Meshinchi Lab has recently been awarded a significant grant from the Washington Research Fund to be used to pursue these targets. Again, none of this would have been possible without the resources provided by Project Stella enabling Dr. Meshinchi and his team to focus on these rare diseases.

Your ongoing support continues to bring us that much closer to our goal and honor Stella's inspiring legacy by helping bring cures to so many children.

As parent advocates and sponsors of this website; we do not have any paid employees and 100% of all donations go directly to this vital research via Fred Hutch’s donation links.

Fred Hutch Cancer Center is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.  Donations are assigned to Project Stella.

Check out this link to see if your workplace has a matching gift program.

Shook Summit for Project Stella

The Summit was an emotional day of hope and promise; memorializing Stella and her legacy and looking to a brighter future for kids battling AML. Suitably, the event itself happened to fall on what would have been Stella's 9th birthday. Some would say the timing was a random coincidence. We believe otherwise. Thank you, Stella, and happy birthday.

*Pictured: Novotny family, Siders family, Stella's aunt, Carryn, & Dr. Soheil Meshinchi meet for the first time in person at the Summit.

From Children’s Cancer Research Fund (Images top/right):   Kenna, VP of Development & Donor Relations, Janice, Development Coordinator, Sarah, Events & Engagement Manager, and Lauren, Development Officer.

HOW TO HELP US RAISE FUNDS FOR PROJECT STELLA

If you would like to set up a personal fundraising page to raise funds for Project Stella, please visit http://fredhutch.org/fundraise and select the type of fundraiser you would like to do. Fundraising pages are a great way to tell a story and engage your network and community to get involved with Project Stella and Fred Hutch.  After your customized page is setup, you merely forward the link. If you have any questions or would like more support, please contact Jackie Montstream at jmontstr@fredhutch.org

Project Stella Research Floor

Fred Hutch Cancer Center recently recognized all of the families and donors who are either impacted by and/or are supporters of Project Stella by dedicating a floor of their research center. The Project Stella Research Floor will be a constant reminder to all of the researchers who pass by it that their tireless efforts have a major impact on the patients and families fighting pediatric AML.  It also creates a wonderful opportunity for the Philanthropy Team to share the incredible story of Project Stella with other potential Hutch donors who are touring the building.  We are humbled and honored that Fred Hutch Cancer Center wanted to bring special attention to this unique alliance between donors and researchers.