Hyundai Hope On Wheels Presents Mayo Clinic With $1 Million Hyundai Quantum Grant Award To Support Pediatric Cancer Research

ROCHESTER, Minn., Sept. 25, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Hyundai Hope On Wheels® 501c3 nonprofit organization, in its 20-year funding pediatric cancer research, will present Dr. Richard Vile of the Mayo Clinic with a $1 million Hyundai Quantum Grant. Mayo Clinic is one of four recipients of this year's award, which is the largest grant category given to support research on pediatric cancers with low survival rates. The Hyundai Quantum Grant will be officially presented to Dr. Vile at the Mayo Clinic on Wednesday, September 26 at 10 a.m.

September is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. Hyundai Hope On Wheels (HHOW) will award 38 physician scientists a combined $14.1 million for innovation research and novel therapies for pediatric cancer. This brings the organization's donation total to $145 million since its inception. With this latest award, the Mayo Clinic has received more than $1.8 million in grants from HHOW.

"Throughout the country, talented doctors are working tirelessly to help kids fight cancer by conducting research or providing bedside care," said Scott Fink, chairman, Hyundai Hope On Wheels Board of Directors. "Our goal at Hope On Wheels is to provide these doctors with the grant funds they need to perform their lifesaving work."

Dr. Vile and his research team are focused on developing new treatments for aggressive pediatric brain tumors.  The goal is to activate the immune system of the patient to recognize the cancer so that treatments can be more targeted than is currently possible.  Dr. Vile is particularly interested in treating tumors of the brainstem which have a dismal prognosis at the moment. These tumors are located in an anatomical location which makes therapy extremely difficult because of possible toxicities associated with reactions of the tumor to the treatment. 

"We are tremendously grateful for the Hyundai Hope On Wheels Quantum Award," said Dr. Vile. "This award will allow us to move our research into patient trials much more quickly than would otherwise be possible. In addition to benefiting our patients of today with these new therapies, it will also help us to optimize the immunotherapy approaches of tomorrow that we are developing in the laboratory."

During the HHOW grant presentation, patients at the Mayo Clinic will participate in the program's signature Handprint Ceremony. They will dip their hands in paint and place their handprints on the Hope Vehicle, a white 2018 Hyundai Santa Fe. Their colorful handprints on the official Hope Vehicle represent their individual and collective journeys, hopes and dreams.

Learn more about Dr. Vile's story at www.HyundaiHopeOnWheels.org. For more information about Hyundai Hope On Wheels and to view a complete list of this year's grant winners, please visit HyundaiHopeOnWheels.org/research. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram at facebook.com/HyundaiHopeOnWheels, twitter.com/HopeOnWheels or instagram.com/HyundaiHopeOnWheels. 

HYUNDAI HOPE ON WHEELS
Hyundai Hope On Wheels® is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that is committed to finding a cure for childhood cancer. Launched in 1998, Hyundai Hope On Wheels provides grants to eligible institutions nationwide that are pursuing life-saving research and innovative treatments for the disease. HHOW is one of the largest non-profit funders of pediatric cancer research in the country, and primary funding for Hyundai Hope On Wheels comes from Hyundai Motor America and its more than 835 U.S. dealers. Since its inception, Hyundai Hope On Wheels has awarded more than $145 million towards childhood cancer research in pursuit of a cure.

HYUNDAI MOTOR AMERICA
Hyundai Motor America, headquartered in Fountain Valley, Calif., is a subsidiary of Hyundai Motor Company of Korea. Hyundai vehicles are distributed throughout the United States by Hyundai Motor America and are sold and serviced through 835 dealerships nationwide. All new Hyundai vehicles sold in the U.S. are covered by the Hyundai Assurance program, which includes a 5-year/60,000-mile fully-transferable new vehicle limited warranty, Hyundai's 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain limited warranty and five years of complimentary Roadside Assistance.

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SOURCE Hyundai Hope On Wheels