MINNEAPOLIS / ST. PAUL ( Nov. 8, 2005)—Julie Ross, Ph.D., professor of pediatrics at the University of Minnesota Medical School and associate director for population sciences at the Masonic Cancer Center, has been selected by the CureSearch National Childhood Cancer Foundation to lead the Childhood Cancer Research Network (CCRN), a new North American childhood cancer research registry.

The CCRN, to be launched nationally in early 2006, will collect and maintain information on all children and young adults diagnosed with cancer at medical centers affiliated with CureSearch Children's Oncology

Group (COG). The information will be used by COG researchers to study the causes of childhood cancers and the effectiveness of treatment. The researchers' goal is to find strategies that will reduce the overall occurrence of cancer in children, the often long-term negative effects of cancer treatments, and improve the quality of life for childhood cancer survivors. Ross and her team will coordinate the CCRN center.

The COG consists of more than 200 hospitals, including the University of Minnesota Amplatz Children's Hospital, that together treat more than 90 percent of children diagnosed with cancer in the United States and  Canada. All COG sites will be required to register pediatric cancer patients in the CCRN at the time of diagnosis.

Parents and legal guardians will be asked their permission for detailed information about their child to be included in the CCRN. Parents also will be asked if they agree to being contacted by COG researchers about  pediatric cancer research projects. When children reach age 18, they will be contacted about maintaining their information in the CCRN. In a pilot  study of 23 COG institutions, more than 96 percent of parents agreed to provide information to CCRN and gave permission to be contacted about research projects.

About the Academic Health Center
The Academic Health Center is home to the University of Minnesota's six health professional schools and colleges as well as several health-related centers and institutes. Founded in 1851, the University is one of the oldest and largest land grant institutions in the country.  The AHC prepares the new health professionals who improve the health of communities, discover and deliver new treatments and cures, and strengthen the health economy.

About CureSearch Children's Oncology Group (COG)
CureSearch Children's Oncology Group is an international, cooperative research organization of more than 5,000 physicians, nurses, and scientists at over 200 member institutions. COG performs research and clinical trials to identify causes of childhood cancer and develop improved treatments and cures. COG's mission is to cure and prevent childhood and adolescent cancer through scientific discovery and compassionate care. For more information, visit http://www.curesearch.org.

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Media Contact: Mary Lawson, Public Relations Director, Masonic Cancer Center, 612-624-6165, 612-363-6971 (cell), mlawson@umn.edu.