Texas Children's Cancer and Hematology Center

03/26/2026

✨It’s 𝗖𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗱 𝗟𝗶𝗳𝗲 𝗠𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗵!✨ Join us in celebrating our amazing Child Life Specialists and Activity Coordinators. Their compassion and dedication help transform the hospital experience for the patients and families we serve.

𝗖𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗱 𝗹𝗶𝗳𝗲 𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘀𝘁𝘀 support children and adolescents as they navigate medical experiences, helping them understand what to expect in developmentally appropriate ways. Through hands‑on teaching, medical play, expressive activities, and emotional support, they help patients build coping skills and confidence during treatment.

𝗔𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗰𝗼𝗼𝗿𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘀 play a vital role in normalizing the hospital environment through play and self‑expression. By facilitating activities and group programming, they create meaningful opportunities for creativity and connection. Their work helps children maintain a sense of joy and routine throughout care.

Together, this dedicated team extends their impact beyond the bedside — supporting siblings as they adjust to change and guiding parents and caregivers through challenging moments.

We’re truly grateful for all they do to support children and families — their work strengthens our Center every day. 💛

ℹ️🏥 Texas Children's Hospital and UT MD Anderson Cancer Center are joining forces to launch the Kinder Children's Cancer Center. Learn more: kinderchildrenscancercenter.org

03/25/2026

New findings published in the prestigious journal Nature reveal why a brain tumor called 𝗽𝗼𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗼𝗿 𝗳𝗼𝘀𝘀𝗮 𝘁𝘆𝗽𝗲 𝗔 (𝗣𝗙𝗔) 𝗲𝗽𝗲𝗻𝗱𝘆𝗺𝗼𝗺𝗮 affects boys more than girls—insights that could help shape more precise treatment approaches.

PFA ependymoma is a rare, aggressive brain tumor in young children and lacks targetable mutations, making treatment challenging. It affects both boys and girls, but boys are about 40% more likely to develop it—a difference that has been recognized but not well‑understood until now.

To better understand this pattern, researchers examined how sex‑specific development shapes PFA tumor behavior and identified a key biological driver. Using tumor samples and developmental models, 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝗳𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗿𝗼𝗴𝗲𝗻𝘀—𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗽𝗿𝗲𝘃𝗮𝗹𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗶𝗻 𝗺𝗮𝗹𝗲 𝗶𝗻𝗳𝗮𝗻𝘁𝘀—𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗺𝗼𝘁𝗲 𝗣𝗙𝗔 𝗴𝗿𝗼𝘄𝘁𝗵 𝗯𝘆 𝗸𝗲𝗲𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝘂𝗺𝗼𝗿 𝗰𝗲𝗹𝗹𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗮 𝗹𝗲𝘀𝘀‑𝗱𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗱, 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗮𝗴𝗴𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗲.

📖 Read the full study:
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-026-10264-6

The lead authors on this study include (pictured by institution; top to bottom, left to right) 𝗝𝗶𝗮𝗼 𝗭𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴, PhD and 𝗠𝗶𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗲𝗹 𝗗. 𝗧𝗮𝘆𝗹𝗼𝗿, MD, PhD (Texas Children’s Hospital); 𝗪𝗶𝗻𝗻𝗶𝗲 𝗢𝗻𝗴, PhD and 𝗔𝗹𝗲𝘅𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗿𝗮 𝗥𝗮𝘀𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘀𝘆𝗻, PhD (The Hospital for Sick Children); 𝗞𝘂𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗮𝗶𝗺𝗮𝗻𝘂𝘃𝗲𝗹 𝗔𝗻𝘁𝗼𝗻𝘆 𝗠𝗶𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗹𝗿𝗮𝗷, PhD (University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine); and 𝗖𝗹𝗮𝘂𝗱𝗶𝗮 𝗟. 𝗞𝗹𝗲𝗶𝗻𝗺𝗮𝗻, PhD (McGill University).

Building on these findings, the researchers also showed that blocking androgen signaling reduces tumor growth, suggesting that anti‑androgen therapy could be a promising avenue for future treatment development. And because androgens are present in both males and females, this type of therapy could benefit all children with PFA.

“Our study provides a biological explanation for why PFA ependymoma has a markedly higher incidence and worse prognosis in boys than in girls.” — 𝗗𝗿. 𝗝𝗶𝗮𝗼 𝗭𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴, co-first author

“These findings suggest that androgen‑blocking therapies may represent a rational direction for future targeted treatment strategies.” — 𝗗𝗿. 𝗠𝗶𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗲𝗹 𝗗. 𝗧𝗮𝘆𝗹𝗼𝗿, co-corresponding author

This highly collaborative work was led by Texas Children’s Cancer & Hematology Center and Baylor College of Medicine alongside researchers from The Hospital for Sick Children- SickKids, University of Toronto Pitt School of Medicine McGill University and many additional international partners (full contributor list in the article). The research was supported by 𝗧𝗵𝗲 National Institutes of Health (NIH) Stand Up To Cancer 𝗧𝗵𝗲 Canadian Institutes of Health Research 𝗧𝗵𝗲 National Cancer Institute The Terry Fox Foundation and others (full list of supporters in the article).

03/18/2026

✨The challenge of illuminating the tiny vessels of the lymphatic system makes diagnosing lymphatic diseases difficult using current scans. That’s why Dr. 𝗜𝗼𝗻𝗲𝗹𝗮 𝗜𝗮𝗰𝗼𝗯𝗮𝘀, Medical Director of the 𝗧𝗲𝘅𝗮𝘀 𝗖𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗿𝗲𝗻’𝘀 𝗩𝗮𝘀𝗰𝘂𝗹𝗮𝗿 𝗔𝗻𝗼𝗺𝗮𝗹𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗖𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿, is leading patient participation in a study to evaluate a new VISTA‑LYMPH technology with support from the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H).

The technology has the potential to improve accuracy and reduce delays in diagnosis. This could transform care for the over 10 million Americans affected by lymphatic disorders.

Collaboration is driving this project. At Rice University, Dr. Han Xiao and Dr. Lei Li are leading the development and translation of the VISTA‑LYMPH platform, engineering an imaging system capable of capturing structural and functional details that current technologies miss. Texas Children's Hospital and Baylor College of Medicine serve as the clinical trial site, where children and healthy volunteers will be imaged under Dr. Iacobas’s leadership. Dr. Robert Carson Sibley is leading the clinical arm of the study at UT Southwestern Medical Center. At The University of Texas at Dallas, Dr. Zhenpeng Qin is contributing to biomarker discovery and helping accelerate progress toward earlier diagnosis.

This work is funded through ARPA‑H’s LIGHT (Lymphatic Imaging, Genomics, and pHenotyping Technologies) program.

Read more about the technology from Rice University: https://news.rice.edu/news/2026/breaking-barriers-lymphatic-imaging-rices-synthx-center-leads-18m-effort-unprecedented

Learn more about ARPA‑H’s LIGHT program: https://arpa-h.gov/news-and-events/arpa-h-awards-1357m-illuminate-bodys-hidden-highway

𝘓𝘐𝘎𝘏𝘛 𝘪𝘤𝘰𝘯 (𝘱𝘪𝘤𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰𝘱, 𝘳𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵) 𝘪𝘴 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘵𝘦𝘴𝘺 𝘰𝘧 𝘈𝘙𝘗𝘈-𝘏 𝘓𝘐𝘎𝘏𝘛 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘨𝘳𝘢𝘮

03/18/2026

Dr. Will Parsons, of Texas Children’s, discusses evolving therapies, survivorship clinics and tools like Passport For Care for long-term cancer care.

03/17/2026

This 𝗖𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗔𝗿𝘁𝘀 𝗧𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗽𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗪𝗲𝗲𝗸, we’re celebrating the art and music therapists who help patients express themselves and heal through the power of creativity.🎨🎶

A huge shoutout to our art and music therapists (pictured L-R, back then front row): 𝗛𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝗚𝗼𝗺𝗲𝘇, 𝗝𝗲𝗻𝘀𝗼𝗻 𝗠𝗮𝘆𝗱𝗲𝘄, 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗕𝗶𝗮𝗿𝗱, Phoebe Bair, 𝗝𝗲𝗻 𝗦𝘂𝗹𝗹𝗶𝘃𝗮𝗻, 𝗛𝗮𝗻𝗻𝗮𝗵 𝗕𝗶𝗹𝘀𝗸𝗶, 𝗛𝗮𝗻𝗻𝗮𝗵 𝗟𝗶𝗻𝗱𝗹𝗲𝘆 (our intern!), and Maribeth Brinkley.

𝗔𝗿𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗽𝗶𝘀𝘁𝘀 help patients tap into the simple joy of creating. Whether decorating a gratitude jar or adding personal touches to a keepsake, they guide children toward moments where imagination takes over. In that shared creative space, patients often find connection—with themselves, with their families, and with the people caring for them.

𝗠𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗰 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗽𝗶𝘀𝘁𝘀 use live music and music-guided activities to support recovery and emotional well-being. From a child’s first piano recital to a teenager learning their favorite song on guitar, music therapists help patients set goals that nurture confidence and individuality.

Together, these therapies provide powerful creative outlets and help deepen the sense of community throughout our Center.

We are grateful to our art and music therapists for inspiring moments of creativity that brighten each day. 💜

🔗 Learn more about this and other programs that we offer in support of families and patients: https://www.texaschildrens.org/departments/cancer-and-hematology-center/family-support

ℹ️🏥 Texas Children's Hospital and University of Texas UT MD Anderson Cancer Center are joining forces to launch the Kinder Children's Cancer Center. Learn more: kinderchildrenscancercenter.org

03/16/2026

03/14/2026

03/11/2026

Behind every advancement in childhood cancer care is a team asking new questions and pushing past current limits. That spirit drives the work of 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗢𝗴𝗶𝗹𝘃𝗶𝗲 𝗟𝗮𝗯.

Led by 𝗧𝗮𝗺𝗿𝗮 𝗢𝗴𝗶𝗹𝘃𝗶𝗲, 𝗣𝗵𝗗, this team is working to understand how a brain tumor called 𝗺𝗲𝗱𝘂𝗹𝗹𝗼𝗯𝗹𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗺𝗮 develops and why it behaves so aggressively in children.

By studying tumor progression, the team is uncovering biological vulnerabilities and subgroup‑specific biomarkers. These insights could shape safer, more precise therapies for children with brain tumors.

🔗 Explore the Ogilvie Lab’s work: https://www.texaschildrens.org/ogilvie-lab

ℹ️🏥 Texas Children's Hospital and University of Texas UT MD Anderson Cancer Center are joining forces to launch the Kinder Children's Cancer Center. Learn more: kinderchildrenscancercenter.org

03/09/2026

March is 𝗦𝗼𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗸 𝗠𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗵! We’re proud to recognize the pediatric hematology-oncology social workers who stand beside families with compassion and commitment every day. 🤝

These professionals play a key role on our care team, guiding families through the challenges of a child’s hospitalization. They offer counseling, support during crises, help caregivers understand a diagnosis, and connect families with resources throughout and after their hospital stay.

We are deeply grateful for the work they do to strengthen families and uplift our Center’s community. 💙

ℹ️🏥 Texas Children's Hospital and University of Texas UT MD Anderson Cancer Center are joining forces to launch the Kinder Children's Cancer Center. Learn more: kinderchildrenscancercenter.org

03/09/2026

A new peer‑reviewed study describes our 𝗕𝗮𝗰𝗸‑𝘁𝗼‑𝗦𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗼𝗹 𝗦𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗺🍎🎒📚—how it identifies students’ school needs early, connects families to support, and improves preparedness, satisfaction, and coordination with schools.

Congrats to our 𝗣𝘀𝘆𝗰𝗵𝗼𝘀𝗼𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗧𝗲𝗮𝗺 at the Cancer & Hematology Center at Texas Children's Hospital on this important publication. Authors: Michelle Fritsch, MSW; Ashley Matthews, MEd; Mashal Kara, CCLS; Anastasia Deeter, LCSW‑S, APHSW‑C.

A new school‑year screening program is helping identify the often‑overlooked academic and social challenges faced by children with cancer and blood disorders.

03/06/2026

March 6 is 𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗹𝗱 𝗟𝘆𝗺𝗽𝗵𝗲𝗱𝗲𝗺𝗮 𝗗𝗮𝘆 🎗️💚, a call to raise awareness for lymphatic diseases. Today, we’re highlighting our 𝗩𝗮𝘀𝗰𝘂𝗹𝗮𝗿 𝗔𝗻𝗼𝗺𝗮𝗹𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗖𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿 — a team dedicated to caring for children with lymphatic disorders and a broad range of vascular conditions.

Led by 𝗜𝗼𝗻𝗲𝗹𝗮 𝗜𝗮𝗰𝗼𝗯𝗮𝘀, MD, and 𝗧𝗮𝗿𝗮 𝗥𝗼𝘀𝗲𝗻𝗯𝗲𝗿𝗴, MD, the Center delivers world-class care for conditions involving the abnormal development of blood and lymphatic vessels. With multiple Center of Excellence (COE) designations — including recognition as a Lymphatic Education & Research Network Comprehensive Pediatric COE — this team is committed to exceptional care, innovation, and long-term support for patients and their families.

Through a multidisciplinary approach, the Vascular Anomalies team provides precise diagnoses and individualized treatment plans tailored to each child’s needs. Families also benefit from on-site access to imaging, therapy, surgery, genetic counseling, and specialized clinics.

ℹ️ Lymphatic diseases occur when the body’s lymph system, which is responsible for fighting infection and clearing excess fluid, doesn’t function properly. This can cause swelling, heaviness, pain, and frequent infections. World Lymphedema Day raises global awareness of these conditions and advocates for lymphatic health to be prioritized worldwide.

✅Learn more about our Vascular Anomalies Center: https://www.texaschildrens.org/departments/vascular-anomalies-center

✅Learn more about World Lymphedema Day: https://lymphaticnetwork.org/wld/

ℹ️🏥 Texas Children's Hospital and University of Texas UT MD Anderson Cancer Center are joining forces to launch the Kinder Children's Cancer Center. Learn more: kinderchildrenscancercenter.org

03/05/2026

Today we’re celebrating 𝗡𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗛𝗼𝘀𝗽𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘀𝘁 𝗗𝗮𝘆! 🙌

Join us in recognizing our incredible hospitalist physicians — a team whose dedication and compassion make a profound difference to our patients and families.

A big thank you to our hospitalists (pictured L–R, top to bottom): 𝗠𝗮𝗰𝗸𝗲𝗻𝘇𝗶𝗲 𝗗𝗶𝗺𝗻𝗶𝗸, MD; 𝗜𝘀𝗮𝗶𝗮𝗵 𝗚𝗼𝗻𝘇𝗮𝗹𝗲𝘇, MD; 𝗖𝗵𝗿𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗮 𝗥𝘂𝗶𝘇, MD; 𝗠𝗲𝗮𝗴𝗮𝗻 𝗩𝗮𝗰𝗲𝗸, DO; and 𝗝𝘂𝗻 𝗭𝗵𝗮𝗼, DO, MBA.

These skilled clinicians provide 𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱-𝘁𝗵𝗲-𝗰𝗹𝗼𝗰𝗸, 𝗵𝗶𝗴𝗵𝗹𝘆 𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘇𝗲𝗱 𝗶𝗻𝗽𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗲 for children admitted to our hematology and oncology services. They navigate an extraordinary range of medical needs, serve as a steady and reassuring link between families and the care team, help guide and teach residents, and perform essential procedures across the hospital — often in the moments when they’re needed most.

Their commitment ensures that every child receives exceptional, seamless care 𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗻𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁.

We’re grateful for everything they bring to our team.

ℹ️ National Hospitalist Day is celebrated annually on the first Thursday in March to recognize the over 60,000 hospitalists across the country—physicians, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, and administrators—who provide specialized, compassionate care to inpatients. Launched by the Society of Hospital Medicine in 2019, it honors the fastest-growing specialty in modern medicine: https://www.hospitalmedicine.org/about-shm/national-hospitalist-day/

ℹ️🏥 Texas Children's Hospital and University of Texas UT MD Anderson Cancer Center are joining forces to launch the Kinder Children's Cancer Center. Learn more: kinderchildrenscancercenter.org