Pedal the Cause has announced funding for seven new pediatric cancer research initiatives at Siteman Kids at St. Louis Children’s Hospital, investing more than $1.5 million in innovative projects designed to accelerate discoveries and improve outcomes for children facing cancer.

The newly funded projects span a wide range of pediatric research priorities, including new treatment approaches for acute myeloid leukemia (AML), immunotherapy clinical trials for pediatric brain tumors, communication tools for families navigating childhood cancer, inflammatory drivers of blood cancers, prevention strategies for pediatric brain tumors, novel transplant therapies, genetic causes of inherited cancer predisposition, and mechanisms that contribute to cancer development.

“Pedal the Cause has been a vital partner in advancing cancer research at Siteman Kids at St. Louis Children’s Hospital,” said Jorge Di Paola, MD, division chief of pediatric hematology oncology at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis. “Pediatric cancer research simply doesn’t receive the level of funding it needs, which makes their support critical. Over the past 16 years, Pedal the Cause has invested more than $16.5 million into 64 pediatric research projects and essential equipment, helping accelerate discoveries and bring real hope to children and families facing cancer.”

Among the newly funded initiatives is Pedal the Cause’s continued partnership with the McDonnell Pediatric Cancer Research Center (MPCRC) through the Amplification Awards program. This collaboration helps sustain highly meritorious pediatric cancer research projects that already have National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding but remain underfunded due to rising research costs and federal budget constraints.

Projects supported through this year’s funding include:

• Developing targeted therapies for pediatric acute myeloid leukemia by identifying vulnerabilities unique to leukemia cells.
• Launching a multi-institutional immunotherapy clinical trial for children and young adults with aggressive brain tumors.
• Advancing innovative communication tools and AI-powered resources to better support families navigating pediatric cancer care.
• Investigating inflammatory signals that drive pediatric blood cancers and identifying new therapeutic targets.
• Exploring how early-life dietary factors may influence the development of optic pathway gliomas in children with Neurofibromatosis Type 1.
• Translating novel immune-cell therapies into clinical trials aimed at preventing graft-versus-host disease following stem cell transplantation.
• Studying inherited genetic mutations and cellular mechanisms that contribute to cancer development and progression.

In 2025, Pedal the Cause donated more than $5 million to accelerate breakthrough cancer research at Siteman Cancer Center and Siteman Kids at St. Louis Children’s Hospital. Since its founding in 2010, Pedal the Cause has donated more than $56 million, funding 274 innovative cancer research projects and leveraging more than $750 million in additional external research funding.

Today, Pedal the Cause is one of the top ten cause-related cycling events in North America and the St. Louis region’s largest peer-to-peer fundraising event. One hundred percent of participant-raised funds directly support cancer research, while sponsors cover all administrative and event expenses.

This year, Pedal the Cause, co-presented by Edward Jones, the St. Louis Area Hyundai Dealers, and Hyundai Hope On Wheels, will return September 19–20, 2026, at the Family Arena in St. Charles. Thousands of riders, spinners, volunteers, fundraisers, and supporters will come together for a weekend of inspiration, celebration, and impact, united by a shared vision of a world without cancer.

Registration is now open for riders, spinners, virtual participants, kids, and volunteers. Learn more at pedalthecause.org.