For Kelly Bailey, MD, PhD (pictured above second from left), Ewing sarcoma is more than a rare and difficult-to-treat bone tumor that predominantly affects teenagers. It’s the focal point of her research and the primary reason she practices medicine.
It is often one special patient that inspires a researcher’s steadfast commitment to their work. For Dr. Bailey, that source of inspiration was a 15-year-old patient battling Ewing sarcoma. The young man’s organs were riddled with lesions, and his prognosis was poor. So, when his condition improved dramatically after only three months of chemotherapy, Dr. Bailey was stunned.
Inspiration for Change
Although the young man who inspired her years ago ultimately succumbed to the disease, he continues to inspire Dr. Bailey in her tireless search for a novel treatment. Along with support from our charitable partners, individual donors help Dr. Bailey and her team improve outcomes for kids diagnosed with Ewing sarcoma every day.
Pioneering Research Through Collaboration
Supported by organizations like Hyundai Hope on Wheels, the late John G. Rangos, Sr., the Children’s Trust, CureRock, the Brian Morden Foundation, 1 Million 4 Anna, CHEMOWARRIOR: the eli sidler foundation, and The Kaelyn Rose Fund, Dr. Bailey’s innovative research is gaining momentum. These charitable partners, along with individual donors, propel her work forward.
Through their generosity, Dr. Bailey studies how immunotherapy could be used in combination with traditional chemotherapy and radiation to better treat the disease. In fact, her team has achieved promising findings about new ways to block the spread of certain pediatric bone tumors using this method.
The Promise of Immunotherapy
Dr. Bailey’s work has shown potential inhibitors that could block the progression of cancer cells, offering hope for patients and their families. Dr. Bailey continues to explore the combined approach of immunotherapy and traditional chemotherapy to treat Ewing sarcoma.
Your Role in the Fight Against Pediatric Cancer
The progress made in pediatric cancer research is not possible without the support of compassionate donors. Philanthropy powers the work of Dr. Bailey and her team, providing the resources necessary to innovate care and treatment for children diagnosed with Ewing sarcoma.
When you give to UPMC Children’s, you support the work of scientists like Dr. Bailey, who are at the forefront of pediatric cancer research.