Jeff Gordon, a four-time NASCAR Cup Series champion and five-time Brickyard 400 winner, announced his 24th gift towards pediatric cancer research at Riley Hospital for Children at Indiana University Health Thursday, July 23, 2015.

The founder of the Jeff Gordon Children’s Foundation and long-time supporter of Riley has contributed a total of $3.8 million to the children’s research hospital. Thursday’s $300,000 gift will establish the Jeff Gordon Children’s Foundation Pediatric Oncology Physician Scientist Training Program to support training the next generation of oncology-focused pediatric physician scientists.

According to a report from the National Institutes of Health, the number of physician scientists in the United States under the age of 50 decreased by 50 percent between 2006 and 2012. All current available evidence indicates this declining trend in critical workforce is continuing.

The new program will allow the Indiana University Department of Pediatrics and Riley to construct a multifaceted program aimed at encouraging and incentivizing fellows to become involved in research, bringing it to the forefront of pediatric oncology and helping ensure children with cancer continue to receive the latest medical treatments.

Previous donations from the Jeff Gordon’s foundation have gone to establish The Jeff Gordon Children’s Foundation Pediatric Cancer Research Fund at Riley and the Wells Center for Pediatric Cancer Research at Indiana School of Medicine. The funding provides vital resources for researchers seeking to improve treatments and discover cures.

“I am very proud of our long-standing partnership with Riley Hospital for Children,” said Jeff Gordon. “Expanding our support in the field of pediatric cancer research at Riley to encompass training the next generation of pediatric oncology physician scientists is really exciting. We know that in order to cure all pediatric cancers more research is needed, and the support of talented researchers to carry out that research.”

Anyone who would like to contribute toward The Jeff Gordon Children’s Foundation Pediatric Cancer Research Fund at Riley Hospital for Children can do so at RileyKids.org/24.

Source: Riley Children’s Foundation