Penn State Hershey receives $3M for pediatric cancer research

The funding will support the Beat Childhood Cancer Research Consortium's clinical trials and collaborations.

Apr. 1, 2026 at 2:40pm

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Penn State College of Medicine in Hershey announced a $3 million philanthropic commitment from the Beat Childhood Cancer Foundation to support the Beat Childhood Cancer Research Consortium at the College and its partner hospitals around the world. The funding will help advance new and ongoing clinical trials and enhance critical collaborations, advancing safer, more effective, and more personalized treatments for children diagnosed with cancer.

Why it matters

Pediatric cancer research often faces challenges due to small patient populations and complex regulatory pathways. This significant donation will help the Beat Childhood Cancer Research Consortium, a leading international clinical trials network, to accelerate the development of innovative therapies that can improve outcomes and quality of life for children with cancer.

The details

The Beat Childhood Cancer Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded by parents seeking better options for children facing cancer, is providing the $3 million donation. The funding will support the infrastructure of the Beat Childhood Cancer Research Consortium, which is headquartered at Penn State College of Medicine in Hershey and manages multi-site pediatric cancer clinical trials from concept through completion. This model allows children to access promising therapies closer to home.

  • The Beat Childhood Cancer Foundation announced the $3 million philanthropic commitment on April 1, 2026.

The players

Beat Childhood Cancer Research Consortium

An international clinical trials network of more than 55 children's hospitals and research institutions around the world, headquartered at Penn State College of Medicine in Hershey. The consortium manages multi-site pediatric cancer clinical trials to provide children with access to therapies not otherwise available.

Beat Childhood Cancer Foundation

A 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded by parents seeking better options for children facing cancer. The foundation works with the Beat Childhood Cancer Research Consortium and partnering foundations to guide investments in medicine and research.

Penn State College of Medicine

The medical school located in Hershey, Pennsylvania, which hosts the Beat Childhood Cancer Research Consortium and is committed to translating scientific discovery into clinical impact.

Sarah Bartosz

The executive director of the Beat Childhood Cancer Foundation.

Giselle Saulnier Sholler

The chair and founder of the Beat Childhood Cancer Research Consortium at Penn State College of Medicine.

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What they’re saying

“This commitment reflects the voices of parents and advocates who know firsthand how urgently children need better options. By supporting the Beat Childhood Cancer Research Consortium, we are helping ensure innovative clinical trials reach every child, everywhere. For us, hope is not just a word, it is an action.”

— Sarah Bartosz, Executive Director, Beat Childhood Cancer Foundation

“Investing in pediatric oncology requires real courage. Pediatric populations are small and regulatory pathways are complex. We are deeply grateful for partners like the Beat Childhood Cancer Foundation who choose to stand with children and families and champion the therapies these patients urgently need.”

— Giselle Saulnier Sholler, Chair and Founder, Beat Childhood Cancer Research Consortium at Penn State College of Medicine

“This commitment underscores the power of strategic partnership in advancing pediatric cancer research. At the College of Medicine, we are committed to translating scientific discovery into clinical impact; by aligning philanthropic leadership with a proven clinical trials infrastructure, we are accelerating discoveries that can change the standard of care for children worldwide.”

— Karen Kim, Dean, Penn State College of Medicine

What’s next

The Beat Childhood Cancer Research Consortium plans to use the $3 million donation to open new clinical trials and enhance existing collaborations, with the goal of accelerating the development of innovative therapies for children with cancer.

The takeaway

This significant philanthropic investment in the Beat Childhood Cancer Research Consortium demonstrates the power of strategic partnerships to drive progress in pediatric cancer research, which often faces unique challenges. By aligning funding with a proven clinical trials infrastructure, the donation will help bring new, more effective treatments to children with cancer around the world.