Cal’s Angels Donates $4 Million to Establish Advanced Leukemia Clinical and Research Program at Lurie Children’s

Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago is honored to announce a transformational $4 million gift from Cal’s Angels to establish the Cal’s Angels Advanced Leukemia Clinical and Research Program — a first-of-its-kind initiative in Chicago and one of only a few programs in the nation aimed at improving outcomes for children, adolescents, and young adults battling high-risk, relapsed, or refractory leukemia.

This generous commitment by Cal’s Angels, a pediatric cancer foundation dedicated to granting wishes, raising awareness, and funding research, will support a comprehensive, multidisciplinary program that delivers innovative therapies, expands clinical trial access, and accelerates groundbreaking leukemia research.

“This extraordinary gift from Cal’s Angels allows us to bring new hope to families facing the most challenging leukemia diagnoses,” said Jenna Rossoff, MD, Program Director of the new Cal’s Angels Advanced Leukemia Clinical and Research Program. “By integrating cutting-edge science with compassionate care, we are creating a model for how to treat high-risk leukemia.”

Cal’s Angels Advanced Leukemia Clinical and Research Program brings together experts in oncology, molecular diagnostics, stem cell transplant, and cellular therapy to offer:

• Access to novel therapies and early-phase clinical trials, including options unavailable elsewhere in the region.
• Multidisciplinary tumor boards, where each case is reviewed by hematopathologists, oncologists, researchers, and trial coordinators to ensure individualized treatment plans.
• Translational research in collaboration with researchers at Stanley Manne Children’s Research Institute and Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, focused on identifying new drug targets and overcoming resistance mechanisms in aggressive leukemias.
• Second-opinion and telehealth services, supporting families across Illinois and beyond with complex care coordination.

“This program reflects our deepest commitment to pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in pediatric leukemia at Lurie Children’s so children and families can stay close to home when faced with these difficult diagnoses,” said Sara Zarnegar-Lumley, MD, Operational Lead of the Program. “It’s about bringing new options to the table for families who have run out of standard treatments.”

Housed within Lurie Children’s nationally ranked Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders, the new initiative will also collaborate with national clinical trial consortia, including the Children’s Oncology Group (COG) and the Pediatric Early Phase Clinical Trials Network (PEP-CTN), with the goal to make advanced treatments accessible earlier and more equitably. The Advanced Leukemia Program collaborates with Loretta Li, MD, and her laboratory which is a translational research lab focused on identifying new therapeutic targets, developing preclinical models of disease, and validating the preclinical efficacy of novel targeted therapeutics in acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL).  In addition, Cal's Angels funding is also supporting the research of Xiaopei “Lily” Zeng, MD. Her work aims to understand how B-ALL evades targeted immunotherapy including CD19 CAR-T cell therapy.

The $4 million gift will help fund:

• Program leadership and clinical infrastructure
• Expansion of early-phase trial offerings
• Personnel and psychosocial support services for families
• Research projects to identify and validate new therapies

Cal’s Angels was founded in memory of Cal Sutter, a 12-year-old who inspired others with his courage during his leukemia battle. The foundation has grown into a powerful force in pediatric cancer care, granting wishes to children, supporting families, and driving research that offers real hope.

“Our mission has always been to make a difference in the lives of kids fighting cancer,” said Stacey Wahlberg, Cal’s Angels President and Co-Founder. “This partnership with Lurie Children’s is the culmination of that mission — giving patients access to therapies that didn’t exist when Cal was diagnosed. We’re proud to honor his legacy through this program.” 

About Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago

Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago is a nonprofit organization committed to providing access to exceptional care for every child. It is the only independent, research-driven children’s hospital in Illinois and one of less than 35 nationally. This is where the top doctors go to train, practice pediatric medicine, teach, advocate, research and stay up to date on the latest treatments. Exclusively focused on children, all Lurie Children’s resources are devoted to serving their needs. Research at Lurie Children’s is conducted through Stanley Manne Children’s Research Institute, which is focused on improving child health, transforming pediatric medicine and ensuring healthier futures through the relentless pursuit of knowledge. Lurie Children’s is the pediatric training ground for Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. It is ranked as one of the nation’s top children’s hospitals by U.S. News & World Report.

For more information about the Cal’s Angels Advanced Leukemia Program, visit:
luriechildrens.org/advanced-leukemia-program