Clinical research and sickle cell disease
clinic to share in funding
COLUMBUS, Ga., Feb. 14,
2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Crucial for the development of
new treatments and promising therapies for children with cancer and
blood disorders such as sickle cell, pediatric oncology and
hematology research has been a focus of support for Aflac for
nearly 30 years.
In keeping with that commitment, The Aflac Foundation Inc. recently made a $1.5 million
donation to The Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center of
Children's Healthcare of Atlanta,
$1 million of which is earmarked for
the hospital's clinical research office. The remaining $500,000 will help fill critical needs at
Children's Hughes Spalding Sickle Cell Clinic, where more than 85%
of patients rely on Medicaid or are uninsured.
"Discovery leading
to innovation, hope and better
outcomes for patients takes place every
day at the Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center," said
Kathelen Amos, president of The
Aflac
Foundation. "Our support of the clinical
research enterprise is for the ultimate
benefit of patients everywhere, starting with patients
right here at the Cancer Center.
"Providing care to more than 2,600 children and young adults
with sickle cell each year, the Aflac Cancer
and Blood Disorders Center is home to the
largest pediatric sickle cell disease
program in the country," Amos added. "This funding will help
them continue to treat the 'whole child' at the Hughes Spalding
clinic through its support of psychologists, social workers and
teachers — crucial positions that are not fully reimbursed by
insurance and rely on philanthropy to continue."
One of the most active research institutions in the country
for pediatric clinical trial enrollment, the Aflac Cancer
and Blood Disorders Center offers patients access to more than 380
clinical studies. Over the past nine years, the program has grown
from 44 to 71 full-time research
employees and from seven to 28 investigator-initiated clinical
trials. Current research surrounding sickle cell disease
includes chronic pain management, blood-banking anemia testing,
opioid treatment, and stroke biomarkers and prevention.
"The support we receive from the Aflac
Foundation is not just a donation; it's a lifeline
to many, a beacon of hope, and a catalyst for a healthier
future" said Beatrice E. Gee, MD,
director of the Aflac Sickle Cell Disease Program and Sickle Cell
Disease Comprehensive Pain program at the Aflac Cancer
and Blood Disorders
Center, Children's Healthcare of Atlanta. Dr. Jason Payne, MD, Hughes
Spalding campus director, echoed Dr. Gee's gratitude. "We are
grateful for
this unwavering commitment to our cause
and the countless lives that together, we touch each and
every day," he said.
The latest donation
by the foundation brings Aflac's
support of pediatric cancer and blood disorders
to over $173 million since 1995.
Additionally, the Aflac Childhood Cancer Foundation Inc. has
provided, free of charge, more than 28,000 My Special Aflac Ducks®
to children across the United
States, Japan and
Northern Ireland ages 3 and up
diagnosed with cancer or a blood disorder such as sickle cell since
2018. The award-winning robotic, comforting companion that helps
patients through medical play, communication, distraction and more
was provided to 6,702 patients in 2023 through hospitals, support
organizations and a direct-to-family program.
For more information about Aflac's commitment to childhood cancer
and blood disorders and the My Special Aflac
Duck program, visit www.aflacchildhoodcancer.org.
ABOUT AFLAC INCORPORATED
Aflac Incorporated (NYSE:
AFL), a Fortune 500 company, has helped provide financial
protection and peace of mind for more than 68 years to millions of
policyholders and customers through its subsidiaries in the U.S.
and Japan. In the U.S., Aflac is
the No. 1 provider of supplemental health insurance
products.1 In Japan, Aflac Life Insurance Japan is the leading
provider of cancer and medical insurance in terms of policies in
force. The company takes pride in being there for its policyholders
when they need us most, as well as
being included in 2023 in the World's
Most Ethical Companies
by Ethisphere for 17 consecutive years,
Fortune's World's Most Admired Companies for 22 years and
Bloomberg's Gender- Equality Index for the fourth
consecutive year. In addition, the company became a signatory
of the Principles for Responsible Investment
(PRI) in 2021 and has
been included in the Dow Jones Sustainability
North America Index (2023) for 10 years. To find out how to get
help with expenses health insurance doesn't cover, get to know us
at aflac.com or aflac.com/espanol. Investors may learn more
about Aflac Incorporated and its commitment to corporate social
responsibility and sustainability at investors.aflac.com under
"Sustainability."
Media contact: Jon Sullivan,
706-763-4813 or jsullivan@aflac.com
Analyst and investor contact: David A. Young, 706-596-3264, 800-235-2667 or
dyoung@aflac.com
1 LIMRA
2022 U.S. Supplemental Health Insurance Total Market Report
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SOURCE Aflac