ISF Rare & Solid Tumor Program
“This program is giving families answers. Something we lost for my daughter Isabella. Real research and real treatments happening right here in Charlotte.”
-Erin Santos, ISF Executive Director
“This program is giving families answers. Something we lost for my daughter Isabella. Real research and real treatments happening right here in Charlotte.”
-Erin Santos, ISF Executive Director
Since the inception of ISF, we have partnered with Atrium Health and Levine Children’s Hospital in Charlotte, N.C. This city is Isabella’s birthplace, it’s where ISF was founded. It’s important to us to make monumental changes to pediatric cancer care in our backyard, and we are proud to stand next to Levine Children’s to help make that possible. It’s incredible to look back on all that we have accomplished with Levine Children’s in Isabella’s name. That partnership has included helping fund several clinical trials and developmental therapeutics, as well as funding the MIBG therapy suite, one of 21 in the country. As well as providing support to families fighting for their kids’ lives. So when Dr. Oesterheld of Levine Children’s approached us about building a program for children with solid tumors, brain cancers, and rare cancers at the hospital, we were all in. And the ISF Rare & Solid Tumor Program was born.
The ISF Rare & Solid Tumor Program at Levine Children’s provides the most comprehensive care and treatments for pediatric cancer in our community and across the globe. This clinic offers the most advanced clinical treatments, including precision medicine and novel clinical trials, to bring forward the newest therapies and improve outcomes in childhood cancer. The program opened in July 2020 with the arrival of world-renowned research oncologist, Dr. Giselle Sholler.
The ISF Rare & Solid Tumor Program is exceeding expectations as kids fighting rare cancers flood to Charlotte for treatment. Families looking for options have traveled from dozens of countries. Along with Dr. Sholler’s arrival came a pediatric cancer research lab where dozens of clinical trials have opened and more are on the horizon. This program is reaching new heights and is becoming exactly what we set out to do… provide HOPE for kids fighting cancer around the region, country, and the world.
The ISF Rare & Solid Tumors Team will focus on:
Neuroblastoma | Osteosarcoma | Ewing Sarcoma | Rhabdomyosarcoma | Wilm’s Tumor | Hepatoblastoma | Soft Tissue Sarcoma | Desmond Tumor | Desmoplastic Small Round Blue Cell
“The growth that has occurred in Charlotte for Pediatric Oncology has largely been due to the partnership and generosity of the Isabella Santos Foundation. The clinic will grow to become an international and national destination healthcare for children with solid tumors, brain cancers, and rare cancers. In collaboration with the Levine Cancer Institute, we envision that every child diagnosed with a solid tumor here at Levine Children’s will have their tumor collected, banked, sequenced, and created into cell lines for research. This is so important for us to learn all that we can about each child to help them as well as to perform research in our laboratory to help us create better treatments and new clinical trials.” -Dr. Giselle Sholler, Director ISF Rare & Solid Tumor Program, Levine Children’s
“We wanted to thank your foundation for everything you guys are doing for childhood cancer and Levine Children’s! My son was diagnosed with stage IV Wilm’s in February 2021, and is being treated through the solid tumor program. He is doing amazing with his treatment… He beat cancer, is growing hair, and we will work every day so he can live his dreams!
I never knew Isabella personally, and I only know of her family through the organization, but I (along with so many others) will be eternally grateful for everything accomplished in her honor. Thank you to everyone at ISF!”