New York City-based Memorial Sloan Kettering's pediatrics department received $1.2 million in funding after the Humans of New York social media site featured neurosurgeon Mark Souweidane, MD.
Here are five highlights:
1. Humans of New York mastermind, Brandon Stanton, interviewed Dr. Souweidane about his research involving a rare and fatal childhood cancer, called Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Giloma.
2. The cancer is extremely hard to treat, as it rests in an inoperable section of the brain. Once diagnosed with DIPG, children often don't live longer than a year.
3. Those who read Dr. Souweidane's story were clearly inspired, donating a total of $1.2 million to the pediatric department.
4. This funding boost will help Dr. Souweidane's efforts immensely, as he is currently heading a clinical trial of an experimental treatment. The treatment injects chemotherapy directly into the brain tumor.
5. Dr. Souweidane said receiving that amount of surprise funding for such a rare disease will "change the course of treatment, undoubtedly."