K. Scott Baker, M.D.
Current focus
“My main research activities are in the area of short- and long- term effects of blood and marrow transplantation. Investigations are underway related to the incidence, risk factors, and characteristics of cardiopulmonary, renal, endocrine, reproductive late effects and quality-of-life outcomes in long-term childhood cancer survivors.”
Committed to finding a cure
“I have always had an interest in cancer, but it was not until my third year of medical school that I even really knew that kids got cancer, too. I did an elective rotation in pediatric oncology and was fascinated with the diseases, the kids, their families and how amazingly well they did with their diagnosis and treatment. I was also drawn to pediatrics, and subsequently pediatric oncology, as none of the diseases that we treat in kids are ‘self-induced’ as is so often the case with many diseases in adults, including some cancers.”
Children’s Cancer Research Fund: Making a difference
“I have received several Children’s Cancer Research Fund grants that have jump started my research career in cancer survivorship. For me, these grants have provided seed money that has allowed me to do smaller preliminary studies and this data could then be included in larger grants submitted to the National Institutes of Health. For example, a $40,000 grant from Children’s Cancer Research Fund generated data that was used to secure an NIH grant valued at $2.5 million. In the past, I directed the Hematology/Oncology Blood and Marrow Transplant Fellowship Training program and funds from this organization are utilized to help support this fellowship training program. Today, there are very few funding sources for these training programs and this support has allowed us to offer one of the top training programs in the country drawing applicants from around the world. Past University of Minnesota Fellows are leaders in the field of pediatric oncology across the United States and also in several countries outside the U.S. Through support of this program, Children’s Cancer Research Fund is active globally in the fight against childhood cancer.”