Medical Advisor to Soupy for Loopy Foundation, Inc.

Soupy for Loopy Foundation, Inc. has appointed Lisa Diller, M.D. as Medical Advisor. In this role, Dr. Diller will ensure that funds collected through this foundation will be used in accordance with its mission.

A Message from Our Medical Advisor – January, 2011

Thank you for giving me a moment to introduce myself, and to tell you how much I appreciate the work you do supporting neuroblastoma research. I am a pediatric oncologist at the Dana-Farber/Childrens Hospital Cancer Center. I have been a pediatric oncologist for about 20 years, and care for children with all types of cancer, but I have a particular interest in neuroblastoma. When I started my career, children with the most aggressive form of neuroblastoma (what we now call “high risk” neuroblastoma) almost always succumbed to their cancer, with only about 10% of them being cured. Now 20 years later, we are still not satisfied, but the chances of cure are much higher – close to 60%. This improvement is largely based upon clinical research trials conducted over the years which pointed the way to higher cure rates. A newly diagnosed child today will receive combinations of chemotherapy, aggressive surgery, peripheral blood stem cell supported transplant (“bone marrow transplant”), biologic therapy, and immunotherapy over the course of about a year. This is tough to get through, and too many kids and families suffer too much. And it doesn’t always work, so that is where you come in! Read More >>

Lisa Diller, M.D.

Lisa Diller is the Chief Medical Officer, Dana-Farber/Children’s Hospital Cancer Care. As a pediatric oncologist and the Clinical Director of Pediatric Oncology, she leads the joint clinical Pediatric Oncology Program at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Children’s Hospital Boston. She is also the Director of the Perini Family Survivors’ Center and the David B. Perini, Jr. Quality of Life Clinic for Cancer Survivors at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. She is an Associate Professor of Pediatrics at Harvard Medical School. Dr. Diller received a bachelor’s degree from Harvard University, and earned her medical degree from the University of California at San Diego. She was a resident at Children’s Hospital Boston and did her subspecialty training at Dana-Farber/Children’s Hospital Boston where she has been on the faculty for 19 years. Dr. Diller’s research focuses on the late effects of treatment for childhood cancer and genetic cancer predisposition syndromes in childhood. In addition, she investigates novel treatments for pediatric solid tumors, particularly neuroblastoma. Learn more about Dr. Diller >>