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N. Paul TonThat, Executive Director
Dear Community,
The warm days of summer provide an opportunity for us (all) to take a breath and
reflect on our collective work and achievements. This short pause also allows me
the privilege of sharing our vision and plans for the coming months.
With over 688,000 people in the U.S. living with a primary brain tumor and only four (4) FDA-approved treatments in the past 20 years, our commitment
to this community is unchanged, and we share in your passion to find a cure. We remain
focused on supporting and funding the most promising areas of research and those
poised to offer the most compelling results. In addition, we continue to advocate for
the public policies and essential health care services, which will offer an enhanced
quality of life for those living with a brain tumor today, and anyone who will be
diagnosed tomorrow. We believe these are the areas where we can deliver the
greatest impact to brain tumor patients, survivors, and their families.
Brock Greene and Pam Baskin are
helping
fund transformational research for
Oligodendrogliomas; both of
their sons,
Zach, 22 and Spencer, 19 were
diagnosed with this rare brain
tumor.
Participants in our Head to the Hill 2012 advocacy
day told their stories and put real faces to the issues
- To fuel a better understanding of the complexities of brain tumors, we are
in the midst of our 2nd year with the Mary Catherine Calisto Systems Biology
Initiative, a $5 million, multiyear research program.
- To better address the deadliest of brain cancers, we see great promise
in creating a team science framework, which aims to promote research
collaboration among organizations for a single (and focused) research goal.
- Through our Innovation Research Initiative, these grants focus on predicting
genomic and genetic aspects of brain tumor development, as well as the
impact and efficacy of new combination therapy approaches.
- With over 9,000 advocates across the U.S., our annual advocacy days are
an integral piece of our community mobilizing efforts. This past May, Head
to the Hill provided a forum for the brain tumor community to share their
stories with 95 congressional offices - proving that we are united and
fighting for the needs of this community.
As we continue to focus on driving vital research forward and advocating for the
public policy issues that matter most, we will begin to engage with all of you in new
and exciting ways, and continue to share all of the opportunities for us to work
together. We are honored to be part of this community, and we thank you for your
never-ending support and dedication. Together, we can inspire hope and take action
to create a world in which a cure for brain tumors exists.
Sincere regards,
N. Paul TonThat
Executive Director,
National Brain Tumor Society
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