Project Sentinel – Mapping the Future of Pediatric Oncology

 

The Research: Targeting the "Invisible" Cells

 

Dr. Elena Vance and her team at the Vance Institute for Cellular Dynamics are pioneering a breakthrough technique in epigenetic reprogramming. Current treatments often fail because "dormant" cancer cells hide from the immune system, only to resurface years later. Dr. Vance’s research focuses on a specific protein marker, SV-42, which acts as a cloaking device for pediatric leukemia cells. By neutralizing this protein, we can effectively "unmask" these cells, allowing the body’s own immune system to eliminate them before they can trigger a relapse.

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Why We Need $625,000

 

To move from successful laboratory modeling to a pre-clinical phase, we require a critical injection of capital. This funding will be allocated as follows:

• $350,000 – High-Resolution Spatial Transcriptomics Suite: This advanced imaging hardware allows the team to map cell interactions in 3D at a sub-cellular level.

• $180,000 – Specialized Research Personnel: Funding for two post-doctoral fellows for 18 months to accelerate data processing and trial design.

• $95,000 – Laboratory Consumables & Bio-Reagents: Essential high-grade synthetic proteins and CRISPR-Cas9 gene-editing kits required for the SV-42 neutralization studies.

 

The Campaign Appeal

 

Dear Friends, Colleagues, and Supporters,

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Science is often a game of hide-and-seek. For decades, cancer has been winning because it is a master of disguise. But what if we could turn the lights on?

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I’m Dr. Elena Vance. For the last fifteen years, I have watched incredibly brave children fight battles they should never have to face. While we have made strides in remission rates, the "shadow" of relapse remains the greatest fear for every family we treat.

 

Project Sentinel is our answer to that fear. Our discovery of the SV-42 protein marker has given us a roadmap to the hiding places of leukemia. We have the theory, we have the initial proof of concept, and we have the passion. Now, we need the tools.

 

How You Can Help

 

We are seeking to raise $625,000 to bridge the gap between a laboratory discovery and a life-saving treatment. Your contribution isn't just buying equipment; it is buying time—time for researchers to work faster and time for patients to live longer, healthier lives.

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• The Visionary Circle ($50,000+): Directly sponsors the acquisition of our Spatial Transcriptomics Suite.

• The Innovation Fund ($10,000 - $49,999): Provides the reagents and bio-materials for a full year of testing.

• The Research Partners ($1,000 - $9,999): Supports the talented scientists working around the clock in our lab.

 

Every dollar brings us one step closer to a world where "remission" means "cured" for good.

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"We aren't just looking for a way to treat cancer; we are looking for a way to make sure it never comes back." — Dr. Elena Vance