Dr. Jatinder Lamba receives a Live Like Bella grant to study pediatric cancer

The Florida Department of Health awarded Jatinder Lamba, Ph.D., M.Sc., an associate professor of pharmacotherapy and translational research, and Biljana Horn, M.D., a professor and BMT director of pediatric hematology and oncology at UF Health Shands Children’s Hospital, a Live Like Bella Pediatric Cancer Research Initiative grant.

Jatinder Lamba, Ph.D., M.Sc.
Jatinder Lamba, Ph.D., M.Sc.

The three-year, $223,750 grant pays homage to Bella Rodriguez-Torres who inspired people throughout the world during her six-year fight against cancer. The Live Like Bella Childhood Cancer Foundation provides assistance and support to children and families affected by childhood cancer. It also funds innovative research with the hope that childhood cancer will become a treatable and curable disease.

Lamba and Horn’s study titled, “Pharmacogenomics and Toxicities of Thiotepa, Busulfan and Fludarabine in Pediatric HSCT Recipients,” aims to establish clinically relevant biomarkers allowing for personalizing therapy to achieve maximum benefit and minimal side effects in future studies.