Tyler Trent’s parents presented a check for $25,000 to Riley Children’s Foundation Tyler Trent Cancer Research Endowment on June 27 in front of the Herman B Wells Center on the IU School of Medicine campus. This money was donated on behalf of the Tyler Trent Foundation, which is dedicated to continuing Tyler’s mission to support pediatric cancer research and honor his memory. The money donated was raised at the inaugural Tee off for Tyler charity golf outing in 2021.
“Tyler Trent inspired thousands with his attitude and smile while undergoing his battle with osteocarcoma. Today, he continues to change lives and drive cancer research forward through the Tyler Trent Pediatric Research Endowment at Riley Children's Health,” says Cara Lathrop, vice president of community giving at Riley Children's Foundation. “We are grateful to the Trent family for their commitment in establishing this endowment to find cures and therapies through pediatric cancer research. Riley families, like the Trents, fuel world-class research and clinical work for future families. To support the Tyler Trent Cancer Research Endowment at Riley, visit www.rileykids.org/tyler.”
View more images from the check presentation here.
The Tyler Trent Research Endowment Fund supports genetic testing for families and additional needs for the Precision Genetics program, led by Karen Pollok, PhD, associate professor of pediatrics at the Herman B Wells Center for Pediatric Research. Pollok directs the preclinical research component of the Pediatric Precision Genomics Program. She and her team are exploring novel combination therapies that are safe and effective for treating pediatric sarcomas.
Pollok works closely with Jamie Renbarger, MD, on research studies. Renbarger was also one of Tyler’s doctors. Pollok, Renbarger and their colleagues published the first scientific article based on Tyler’s tumors in 2020. They also shared research updates at the inaugural golf outing in 2021.
The Tyler Trent Foundation hosted its second annual Tee off for Tyler charity golf outing in June 2022. The foundation’s goal was to raise more than $100,000 this year to advance cancer research.