The sixth annual Gateway for Cancer Research Vino Con Stelle, co-hosted by Dr. Stacie J. Stephenson and Mr. Richard J Stephenson, is coming up Oct. 14.

The fundraiser is an evening of wine under the stars, offering guests a premier food and wine experience in support of vital cancer clinical research.

This year’s event is 6 p.m. at Arizona Biltmore Resort and Spa, Paradise Garden (outdoor setting). The three-course dinner is led by celebrity Sommelier Anthony Giglio. Emceeing is actress and comedian Caroline Rhea. Past celebrity attendees include Larry Fitzgerald, Cameron Mathison, Matt Iseman, Michael Bolton, The Tenors, Pia Toscano and Loren Allred.

The clinical trial spotlight this year is an innovative Gateway-funded trial known as the PedAL trial. In partnership with the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society and its Dare to Dream Project, Gateway has provided $1.5 million in funding for the Pediatric Acute Leukemia Project known as PedAL, a first-of-its-kind clinical trial that seeks to replace the current one-size-fits-all standard therapy for children with relapsed leukemia.

PedAL is an international, collaborative, master screening trial centered on matching children from around the world whose blood cancer has returned with clinical trials that fit their unique genetic makeup and DNA structure. It is precision medicine at its finest, putting kids in the scientific spotlight and accelerating the evaluation of novel, personalized therapy.

Historically, the bulk of blood cancer research has been centered on adults, and the findings do not translate to children. PedAL is accelerating evaluation of novel medicine therapies tailored to children. Trial researchers believe that, if successful, the model could be replicated for other cancers.