National Brain Tumor Foundation Funds Research in Fight Against Cancer

In a continuing effort to combat one of the deadliest forms of brain cancer, the National Brain Tumor Foundation announced that it is funding seven new research grants specifically aimed at glioblastoma multiforme (GBM).

"We established a special research fund three years ago at the request of a family who had lost their father to this type of brain cancer," says Rob Tufel, MSW, MPH, Executive Director of NBTF.

"They felt strongly that more GBM research needed to be funded, as a way of preventing other families from going through what they had to endure."

The types of grants that NBTF is funding are investigating issues such as:

- the relationship between inflammation, changes in DNA, and brain cancer
- the development of an effective vaccine against brain cancer
- analysis of  the DNA in tumor cells to understand why some patients are resistant to chemotherapy
- developing ways of identifying brain cancer stem cells and their role in tumor growth
- understanding why cancer cells spread from the original site, which can lead to better knowledge of why tumors recur

"The impact of genetic information and molecular processes is reflected in our current round of grant applications," explains Charles B. Wilson, MD, MSHA, ScD, NBTF Board of Directors.

"No longer is it enough to know that trial and error 'discovered' a new treatment that works."

"By determining the genetic/molecular characteristics of a tumor type, drugs can be designed that exploit the tumor's vulnerability by disabling one or more critical functions."

"We have entered the age of molecular medicine, also known as personalized medicine, a transition that promises enormous benefit for patients with brain tumors."

"We are at an exciting time in research but, unfortunately, government funding is decreasing and does not support all the research that needs to be done," adds Tufel.

"Patients and family members don't have time to wait. They support NBTF because they know that we are committed to funding the best research as well as giving help and hope to those people diagnosed with a brain tumor."