Valley Children’s Hospital pediatric hematologist/oncologist Dr. Ruetima Titapiwatanakun has been awarded a $25,000 infrastructure grant by the St. Baldrick’s Foundation. Valley Children's photo

Valley Children’s Hospital’s pediatric hematologist/oncologist Dr. Ruetima Titapiwatanakun has been awarded a $25,000 infrastructure grant by the St. Baldrick’s Foundation, aiming to expand access to pediatric cancer clinical trials and providing resources for local research opportunities in the Central Valley.

Valley Children’s Cancer and Blood Disorders Center serves as the only provider of pediatric oncology services between Los Angeles and the Bay Area, and is one of the leading pediatric cancer facilities on the West Coast.

“I am grateful for this grant, which expands Valley Children’s clinical research assistant infrastructure, supports equitable access to pediatric clinical research and advances evidence-based care,” says Dr. Titapiwatanakun. “With this support, we can offer more children therapeutic and non-therapeutic trials while sustaining enrollment levels that place us in the 80-90+ percentiles among Children’s Oncology Group (COG) institutions nationwide.”

The center consistently ranks in the top 5 – 8 percent internationally for patients enrolled in Children’s Oncology Group (COG), the world’s largest organization dedicated exclusively to childhood cancer research.

St. Baldrick’s Foundation was founded in 1999 and is the top charitable funder of childhood cancer research grants in the country, backed by thousands of volunteers and donors.

“We are incredibly grateful to all of our supporters whose generosity and support makes these grants possible,” says Kathleen Ruddy, CEO of St. Baldrick’s Foundation. “Each of these infrastructure grants fund promising clinical trials that turn discoveries into real treatments, giving children safer, more effective options and hope for the future.”