David Loeb, MD, Receives Hyundai Impact Grant and a ‘Hand’ from Young Cancer Patients at Hyundai Hope On Wheels Ceremony

Hyundai Hope On Wheels recognized David M. Loeb, MD, PhD, Chief, Division of Pediatric Hematology, Oncology and Cellular Therapy, Director, Sarcoma Program, Children’s Hospital at Montefiore (CHAM), and Professor, Pediatrics, Developmental and Molecular Biology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, for his lab’s crucial research dedicated to improving treatment and outcomes for children with sarcoma, a type of cancer that begins in the bones or the soft tissues. He received the Hyundai Impact Grant, a one-year, $100,000 grant to help support his work to uncover novel ways to treat metastatic Ewing sarcoma. Dr. Loeb said this is one of the most common bone tumors in children and one that has not seen any significant therapeutic advances for many years.

Alissa C. Baker, MD, FAAP, Attending Physician, Pediatric Hematology-Oncology, Children’s Hospital at Montefiore, and Assistant Professor, Pediatrics, Developmental and Molecular Biology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine is a past recipient of two Hyundai Hope On Wheels grants for her research in Ewing sarcoma. She was present in support and celebration of the continued collaboration between Hyundai Hope On Wheels and Children’s Hospital at Montefiore.

To mark the recent award, pediatric cancer patients who had received treatment at CHAM gathered at the hospital to help decorate the lab coats of Dr. Loeb and Dr. Baker by dipping their hands in paint and stamping their handprints on their new coats.

“I love the concept of handprints to represent pediatric cancer patients,” Dr. Loeb said. “Each and every child we treat is a unique and special person, just as every handprint is unique; the handprint symbolism is a perfect way to represent our patients.”

“I am here now, a survivor, who will be able to make many more memories thanks to the amazing staff at CHAM, as well as Hyundai Hope On Wheels, which is a wonderful program that helps fund research to help individuals like me and many others get better,” said Cathair Cashin, who was treated by Dr. Loeb and colleagues after being diagnosed with a rare form of leukemia last year.

An additional grant received from Hyundai Hope On Wheels will be used to hire a clinic coordinator at CHAM’s Reassessment and Evaluation After Cancer Treatment (REACT) Clinic, since as many as half of all survivors of childhood cancer deal with ongoing health problems.

Since 1998, Hyundai Hope On Wheels has donated $225 million toward pediatric cancer research. The funds come from more than 830 Hyundai dealerships nationwide, which donate a portion of each vehicle purchase, as well as from Hyundai Motor America.

Learn more about CHAM’s Hematology, Oncology and Cellular Therapy team, or call 718-741-2342 to schedule an appointment.