2013 Summit Recap:
Celebrating Hope and Progress

This year's National Brain Tumor Society 2013 Summit was an incredible opportunity to bring the brain tumor community together to celebrate a new era of research, collaboration, and recent progress that is changing the landscape of this disease. Over the course of the two day Summit, world reknowned researchers, industry leaders, and organizational leadership highlighted new and exciting projects, we honored dedicated and passionate members of our community, and convened key volunteers, advisors, and committee members to build on programs to meet the needs of our community. View photos, videos, and learn more about this year's exciting Summit.

Cancer Genome Atlas Reports New Progress for Glioblastoma Multiforme

The launch of the The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) in 2006 was a seminal moment in cancer research. The joint effort of the National Cancer Institute (NCI) and the National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI), sought to deliver researchers a better understanding of the molecular basis of cancer through the application of genome analysis and sequencing technologies. And fortunately, brain cancer (specifically glioblastoma multiforme, or GBM for short) was chosen as the first cancer type to be sequenced and analyzed by this massive effort.

The findings from this extensive study were first published in 2008, and provided the brain cancer research community with a vast amount of new information and data to draw on. Now, five years later, the TCGA GBM Analysis Working Group (comprised of 58 researchers from 39 prestigious institutions including, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, and the Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT) has more important progress to report. The updated findings, published in the October issue of Cell, are described as “a broader, deeper picture of the drivers and potential therapeutic targets of the disease” to "completely characterize the landscape of genomic alterations" in GBM.

Congratulations to Michael Kwinn of the Friends4Michael Foundation

Michael Kwinn was recently appointed as a review panel member for the Peer Review Cancer Research Program - part of the Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs of the Department of Defense. In this role, he will continue his amazing advocacy work and help ensure pediatric brain tumor research continues to receive desperately needed attention as part of this important national funding vehicle.

Community Events Update

Tie One On For Brain Cancer
Omaha, NE - 11/8
Stay warm this winter and help fund a cure for brain tumors. Buy fabulous handmade scarves, hats, blankets, and more! Learn more.

8th Annual Kickoff for Cancer
Garnet Valley, PA - 11/23
Join in a fun day of food and friends featuring a field goal kicking competition. There will also be a variety of children's games and entertainment too! Join us.

Bloomingdale's Shop-to-Support Day
Chestnut Hill, MA - 11/17
Shop to your heart's content and Bloomingdale's will donate 10% of your total purchases to fighting brain tumors.

Find an upcoming event or email communityevents@braintumor.org to start your own community event. Get involved today!