The Four Diamonds Fund has been actively involved in funding research conducted at Penn State College of Medicine through start-up grants for projects relating to the causes, prevention, treatment and cure for pediatric cancer.

In 1998, in an effort to expand their research potential, an initiative was launched to establish the Four Diamonds Research Institute at Penn State College of Medicine. Thanks to the generosity of many donors, including the Penn State Dance Marathon, this Research Institute has been funded. Two endowed chair positions have been established including endowed lab funding and two endowed research scholarships. Currently a national search is in progress for scientists to lead the charge.

In addition to the basic scientific research that occurs within the labs at The Four Diamonds Research Institute at Penn State College of Medicine, the Division of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology is actively involved in the management of clinical trials to treat childhood cancer.

As members of the Children's Oncology Group, the physicians and nurses are involved in the development and management of protocols used internationally to treat children with cancer. This provides our patients with access to the most advanced clinical trials available. It is through this participation by institutions worldwide that the cure rates have improved from a universally fatal disease to one that carries an 80% long-term survival rate.