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We are incredibly proud to share that the Emily Whitehead Foundation will be funding a brand new research study at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP)!

The study, Neuropsychological Outcomes of Pediatric Chimeric Antigen Receptor-Engineered (CAR) T-Cell Therapy, is designed to track cognitive and psychological functioning of pediatric oncology patients undergoing CAR T-cell therapy at CHOP. This program, led by Hannah-Lise T. Schofield, PhD, ABPP-CN in conjunction with CHOP’s Cellular Therapy and Transplant Section (CTTS), will be gathering neuropsychological data from patients and their families prior to their first CAR T-cell infusion and again at future time points, following patients from the acute recovery period into survivorship. This is one of the first studies to specifically track neuropsychological functioning after pediatric CAR T-cell therapy and has the potential to inform future clinical care and research questions.

On February 16, during a visit to CHOP's campus in Philadelphia, we presented Dr. Schofield and Lamia P. Barakat, PhD, Director of Psychosocial Services and Behavioral Oncology Research at CHOP, with a check for $41,508. This is the Emily Whitehead Foundation's third grant supporting research at CHOP.

"We are honored to fund this research project which will help the doctors understand the long term effects of CAR-T cell therapy on cognitive and quality of life outcomes," says Tom Whitehead. "It is our goal as a foundation to continue to identify and support innovative research programs that will help children not just survive cancer, but also thrive in their lives post cancer. Emily is healthy and happy today from the amazing work at CHOP, and we do everything in our power to help other families have the same outcome."

For inquiries about this research study, please contact NeuroPsych.CART@chop.edu.