AmericAn BrAin Tumor AssociATion www.abta.org 1
ormanyofus,dogsareadependablesourceofcomfortandcompanionship.Morerecently,
theyalsohavebecomeacriticalpartnerinthebattleagainstbraintumors. Dogsandhumanshavesimilar,naturallyoccurringbraintumorsthatmayrespondcomparablytostandardandexperimentaltreatments.Tworesearchprojects,supportedbytheAmericanBrainTumorAssociation,areprovidingno-costsurgeryandtreatmenttocompaniondogsdiagnosedwithabraintumor.Theseprojectsholdthepotentialtocontributesignificantdatawhileansweringcrucialquestionsonthesafetyandeffectivenessofpromisingtherapiesthatwillultimatelyhelpadvancehumancare. In2010,theABTAawardeda$50,000DiscoveryGranttoMatthewA.Hunt,MD,assistantprofessorintheDepartmentofNeurosurgeryattheUniversityofMinnesota.Dr.Hunt,alongwithaUniversityofMinnesotaveterinarianandimmunologist,treatedcaninesdiagnosedwithmeningiomabraintumors–themostcommonbraintumorindogsandhumans–withapersonalizedvaccine.Inaddition,ABTAapproveda$200,000researchgranttoTocagen,Inc.inMayfortheevaluationofitsToca511therapyindogsdiagnosedwithgliomabraintumors. Canineresearch“isawholenewwaytodotranslationalresearch,”saidJohnOhlfest,PhD,a
tumorimmunologistinthedepartmentsofPediatricsandNeurosurgeryattheUniversityofMinnesotaMasonicCancerCenter.Dr.Ohlfestdesignedthecaninemeningiomavaccineandstudy,whichutilizedadog’sowntumorcellstotriggeritsimmunesystem. “Weknowthatmousemodelshavetaughtusalot,butthey’renotalwayspredictiveofwhathappenstopeople,”saidDr.Ohlfest.Whilemanytreatmentshaveworkedinmiceatleasttosomeextent(typicallywithartificiallycreatedbraintumors),onlysomehaveactuallytranslatedintoasuccessfulhumantherapy.” AccordingtotheNationalCancerInstitute,caninecancerssharemanyfeatureswithhumancancersincludingtumorgenetics,moleculartargets,biologicalbehaviorandtreatmentresponse.Asaresult,treatmentsthatworkwellindogswithnaturallyoccurringbraintumorsshouldhaveaneffectonhumans.
American Brain Tumor Association
HeadlinesF A L L ~ W i n T e r 2 0 1 1voLume 38, numBer 2
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Companion Canines Advance Brain Tumor Research
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in This issue
Companion Canines Advance Brain Tumor Research...................1
From the President and CEO .........................................................2
Collaboration with Mayo Clinic Emphasizes Patient-Centered Focus .................................................................3
ABTA Honored with 2011 Ellyn Bushkin Friend of the Foundation Award ...................................................5
Victoria Reggie Kennedy Highlights Two Days of Learning, Sharing and Understanding for Brain Tumor Patients and Families .........6
Patient-Family Meeting Provides Opportunity for Learning and Growth .........................................6
American Brain Tumor Association Announces 2012 Fellowship & Grant Opportunities .......................................7
Annual 5K Event and Running Team Recaps ................................8
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ABTA Welcomes Three New Board MembersThe American Brain Tumor Association elected three new board members at the
July 29, 2011 Board of Directors meeting:
Michael CatheyMichaelCatheyistheexecutivedirectoroftheAmericanVeterinaryMedicalFoundation,a$5millionphilanthropic/charitablearmoftheAmericanVeterinaryMedicalAssociation.PriortojoiningtheAVMF,CatheyservedasthedirectorofdevelopmentfortheFoundationoftheAmericanMedicalAssociation,andprovidedmorethan17yearsofprofessionalserviceforBoyScoutsofAmerica.
Brian J. OlsonBrianOlsonisafinancialadvisorwithEdwardJonesInvestments.OlsonbeganhiscareerattheChicagoBoardofTrade,andin1999,progressedintoapositionatHewittAssociateswhereheanalyzedalternatecorporatepensionand401(k)plans.In2004,BrianacceptedapositionasanaccountexecutivewithTransUnionthatultimatelyledhimtohiscareerat
EdwardJones.
Ronald Petrocelli, M.D.RonaldPetrocelli,M.D.,isaretiredradiologistwithextensiveclinicalexperience.Mostrecently,heservedaschiefmedicalofficerofSiemensMolecularImagingBusinessUnitwhereheoversawglobalstrategicresearchandclinicalcollaborations.Previously,Dr.PetrocelliwassectionheadofNuclearMedicineatGeisingerMedicalCenterandHealthSystem,andMedicalDirectorforStorCOMM,Inc.HewasamedicalconsultantandchairmanofradiologyandnuclearmedicineforSt.JosephMercyHospitalinAnnArbor,Michigan;St.FrancisHospitalinWilmington,Delaware;andBurnsClinicMedicalCenterandNorthernMichiganHospitalinPetoskey,Michigan,wherehealsoservedaschiefofstaff.
Current members of the ABTA Board of Directors:
ClaudetteYasell,ChairRonPetrocelli,M.D.,ViceChairRobertSchumacher,TreasurerBarbaraDunn,SecretaryWilliamBasdenMichaelCatheyJeffFougerousseJayKramesEricMyersBrainOlsonJeanneSavel
heAmericanBrainTumorAssociation’sAnnualMeeting
DinnerinJulywasanextraordinaryeveningoftestimoniesfromremarkableindividualswhoindependentlyandcollectivelypersonifytheevening’stheme,StrengththroughChangeandChallenge. ABTAco-founderSusanKramer,andsupportersJohnathanGingrasandthePorterfamily,showedallofushowoutoffear,painandsorrow--cancomeincrediblestrength,courageand,yes,sometimesevenjoy. Ourfeaturedspeaker,VictoriaReggieKennedy,movinglysharedherverypersonalexperiencesandperspectivesonherhusband’sbraintumordiagnosisandtheirsharedjourney. TheindividualsandfamilieswhosestorieswerefeaturedthatnightreflectthestrongtiestheABTAhasdevelopedovertheyearswithcountlessfamilieswhoseliveshavebeenforeveralteredbyabraintumordiagnosis. Andithasbeenwiththeirsupport,thattheABTAhasbuiltalegacygroundedinanenduringcommitmenttobraintumorresearchfundingandcompassionfortheneedsofbraintumorpatientsandtheirfamilies. Yet,asMrs.Kramersaidinherclosingcomments,ifherdaughterStephaniewerediagnosedtoday,theoutcomewouldnothavebeendifferent.Andthatisbecausewestilldon’tknowwho,wedon’tknowwhen,andperhapsmostfrustratingofall,wedon’tknowwhybraintumorsoccur. Braintumorsareindiscriminate.Theyappearintheveryyoung,the
aging,bothgenders,allracesandineveryregionoftheworld. Everyday,morethan500peoplearediagnosedwithabraintumor.Theyjoin600,000otherslivingwiththefearanduncertaintythatabraintumorbrings.Thisyear,13,000braintumorpatientswilllosetheirbattle. Wehaveanenormouschallengeaheadofus. But,asthelateSenatorwroteinhismemoir,True Compass,“Eventhisdiseasehasproveditselfanimpetusforhope.InmylifetimeIhavewitnessedadvancesinthemedicalunderstandingofmalignancyandthetreatmentforitthatwouldhavebeenunthinkableinmyearlyyears.” Hewritesthatheandhistwochildren,whoalsohadhadcancer,“areamongthemillionswho’veenjoyedextendedlifethankstotheseongoingbreakthroughs.Andyet,somuchmoreispossible.” Lastspring,anABTAbenefactorawardeduswithachallengegrant.Thecharge:matchupto$500,000withnewdonationstoadvancetheAmericanBrainTumorAssociation’spursuitofbreakthroughsinbraintumordiagnosis,treatmentandpatientcare. Itisourhopethatyouwilljoinusinthisefforttomeetthechallenge.Withyoursupport,wewillimprove,lengthenand,ultimately,savethelivesofbraintumorpatients.
From the President and Ceo
ElizabethM.Wilson
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AmericAn BrAin Tumor AssociATion www.abta.org 3
Collaboration with Mayo Clinic Emphasizes Patient-Centered FocusInnovative Program Funded by Annual “Humor to Fight the Tumor” event
HeadlinesVOLUME 38, NUMBER 2
Our mission:The American Brain Tumor Association exists to eliminate brain tumors through research and to meet the needs of brain tumor patients and their families.
Garett Auriemma: Director, Marketing & CommunicationsKate Butler: Marketing & Communications Manager
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Please feel free to share Headlines with others. However, the contents are the property of the American Brain Tumor Association. Written consent must be obtained from ABTA before reproducing any part of this newsletter.
Copyright 2011 ABTA, ISSN 1949-0593
American Brain Tumor Association8550 W. Bryn Mawr, Suite 550, Chicago, Ill. 60631 US
Toll Free Care Line: 800.886.ABTA (2282)Toll Free Events: 800.886.1281
www.abta.org • [email protected]
Headlines, the American Brain Tumor Association’s newsletter, is not intended as a substitute for professional medical advice and does not provide advice on treatments or conditions for individual patients. All health and treatment decisions must be made in consultation with your physician(s), utilizing your specific medical information. Inclusion in an ABTA newsletter is not a recommendation of any website, product, treatment, physician or hospital.
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Four Minneapolis-St. Paul Organizations Presented with Local Grants
TheAmericanBrainTumorAssociationhasannouncedtherecipientsofgrantstotaling$25,000tofourMinneaoplis-St.Paul-areaorganizationswhoselocalworkisconsistentwiththemissionoftheABTA.Thegrantswerefundedthroughproceedsgeneratedatlastyear’s“HumortoFighttheTumor”eventinMinneapolis,MN.Thefourrecipientorganizationsare:
• TheAngelFoundation
($7,500award)
• TheMiraclesofMitch
Foundation($7,000award)
• TheSisterKenny
Foundation($9,000award)
• TheUnitedHospital
Foundation($1,500award)
heAmericanBrainTumorAssociationandMayoClinic
recentlyestablishedaprogramtoprovideeducationalsupportforpatientscopingwiththediagnosisandtreatmentofbraintumors.TheinnovativeprogramwasfundedwithgenerouscontributionsfromtheannualHumortoFighttheTumoreventinMinneapolis. JanBuckner,MD,professorofoncologyatMayoClinic,announcedtheprogramattheAmericanBrainTumorAssociationAnnualMeetingDinnerinJuly.Theprogramincludestheappointmentofanurseeducatortoprovideindividualcoachingandeducationtopatientsandtheirfamilies.Inaddition,patienteducationmaterials,theABTAwebsiteandelectronicresources,andtheABTApatientsupportCareLinewillbereadilyavailabletopatientsandfamiliesattheStephenandBarbaraSlaggieFamilyEducationCenter,onthemainflooroftheGondaBuildingatMayoClinic. “IamthrilledtoannouncethiseffortwhichhasresultedinanewdedicatednurseeducatorandenhancedpatienteducationmaterialsexclusivelyforbraintumorpatientsandtheirfamiliesatMayoClinic,”
saidDr.Buckner.“Thismilestonereflectstheunwaveringcommitmentofbothorganizationstoimproveoutcomesforpatientswithbraintumors.” “TheAmericanBrainTumorAssociationhasalwaysadmiredMayoClinic’sphilosophythatputstheneedsofthepatientfirst,”saidABTAPresidentandCEOElizabethM.Wilson.“Thegifttosupporttheseenhancedservicesreflectsasharedcommitmenttoprovidingoptimaleducationandsupporttobraintumorpatientsandtheirfamiliesfacingthisdiagnosis.” SupportforthejointeffortisprovidedtotheABTAbyproceedsfromtheannual“HumortoFighttheTumor”galainMinneapolis.TheeventisorganizedbybraintumorsurvivorJoelleSyversonandacommittedgroupofindividualsandfamiliesaffectedbyabraintumordiagnosis.Sinceitsinceptionin2003,theeventhasraisedmorethan$1millionforbraintumorresearchandpatient-familysupport.Morethan700individualsattendedthe8thannual“HumortoFighttheTumor”eventatTheDepotinMinneapolisthispastSeptember.
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IntheUniversityofMinnesotastudy,ownersagreedtohavetheirdogs’tumors(allmeningiomas)surgicallyremoved.Ineachcase,aportionofthedog’stumorcellswerekept,grown,mixedwithanFDA-approvedimmuneactivator,andre-injectedintotheanimaltotriggertheirimmunesystemtoultimatelydestroythebraintumor. “Weneededtoknowthatwhenweremovedthetumor,thatwewouldbeabletogrowenoughmeningiomacellstomakethevaccine,whichisnotthesameasagliomacellthattypicallygrowsfaster,”saidDr.Ohlfest.“Andthen,weneededtodetermineanappropriateandeffectivedosage.”
Today,thedogsthatparticipatedinthestudy,includingonethatunderwentsurgerynearlytwoyearsago,arealltumorfree.Additionally,allthedogsmadeantibodiesthatrecognizetheirowntumorcells,showingthatthevaccineisfunctional. “Thedatawehavesuggeststhatthevaccineisbetterthaneithersurgery,orsurgeryandradiation,”saidDr.Hunt.Andtheresults“providemoreevidencetosupportwhatwedoinpeople.” Dr.Huntandhisteamareutilizingthedatathey’veobtainedtosecureadditionalfundingtocontinuetheirresearch,whichtheyhopewillultimatelyleadtohumanclinicaltrials. “We’vehadwonderfulresults,”saidG.ElizabethPluhar,DVM,PhD,associateprofessorintheDepartmentofVeterinaryClinicalServicesattheUniversityofMinnesota.“Ifwedosurgeryalone–atleasthistorically,regardlessofthetumorgrade–thedogslivebetween4.5and7.5months.” Inaddition,thedogshadvirtuallynosideeffectsfromthevaccines,whichwereadministeredeverytwoweeks–beginningtwoweeksaftersurgery–foratotalofsixvaccines.EachdoghadanMRIimmediatelyaftersurgery,atsixmonthsandatoneyear. AttheUniversityofCalifornia,DavisSchoolofVeterinaryMedicine,PeterJ.Dickinson,DVM,PhD,DACVIM,aveterinaryneurologist,istesting
Tocagen’sToca511&TocaFCviralvectortodeliveraprodrugactivatorgeneselectivelytocancercellsandspecifically,whetheritcansuccessfullyspreadthroughalargegliomatumor,andatwhatdosage,toultimatelyalterthetumor’sgeneticmake-upandallowselectivetumordestructionusingsubsequentprodrugtherapy. Inthisongoingstudy,thetreatmentisadministeredtodogsdiagnosedwitheitheragliomaormeningiomabraintumor,followingastereotacticbiopsy.Twotothreeweekslater,thetumorisremovedandevaluatedforviralspreadthroughoutthetumor.Followingsurgery,thedogsmayalsoreceiveradiationtreatmentand/ortheprodrugtherapy. “Rightnowwe’reasking:‘Howwellisthevirusspreadingthroughoutthetumor?HowmuchToca511doweneed?Whatisthebestwaytoadministerthetreatment?’” TheanswerswillhelpdetermineoptimaltreatmentparametersthatmayultimatelyaidTocagen’shumanclinicaltrialsthatareongoingatleadingbraincancercentersintheUS(seewww.clinicaltrials.gov;trialID#NCT01156584). “Thedogcanworkmuchbetter(thanamouse)asatranslationalstep,”saidDr.Dickinson.“Wearetreatingthedogswiththebestcarewecanprovideatthemoment.Inaway,weareborrowingtheirtumor,sowecangetanswerstothesequestions. “Itiswonderfultohelpthedogsandtheirowners,”saidDr.Pluharofthecanineresearch.“Oftenthedogsaremoreliketheirowners’children;partofthefamily.Butthefactthatwealsomaybeabletohelppeople–toactuallyhavehumanpatientswhobenefitfromthetreatment,withoutthesideeffectsofchemoandradiation–bringstearstomyeyes.”
“…the fact that we also may be able to help people – to actually have human patients who benefit from the treatment, without the side effects of
chemo and radiation – brings tears to my eyes.”
Dr.ElizabethPluhar
AmericAn BrAin Tumor AssociATion www.abta.org 5
nOctober24,theOncologyNursingSocietyFoundationhonoredtheAmericanBrainTumor
Associationwiththe2011EllynBushkinFriendoftheFoundationAward.CraigJ.Byrum,ONSFdirectorofdevelopmentandMargaretHansenFrogge,RN,MS,amemberoftheONSFboardoftrusteesandimmediatepastpresident,presentedtheawardtoABTAPresidentandCEOElizabethWilson.TwomembersoftheABTABoardofDirectors—ChairClaudetteYasellandVice-ChairRonaldPetrocelli,MD—werealsoonhandforthepresentation. “TheEllynBushkinFriendoftheFoundationAwardisgiventoanindividualorgroupwhoclearlyexemplifiescharity,leadershipandservice,”notedFrogge,“andtheAmericanBrainTumorAssociation,
insupportofsmallresearchgrantsovertheyears,certainlyexemplifiedtheseattributes.” Since1995,theAmericanBrainTumorAssociationhasprovidedtheOncologyNursingSocietyover$80,000tofundtenneuro-oncologysmallresearchgrants.Duringthepresentationoftheaward,ByrumspokeaboutresearcherswhowereabletogrowandreceivelargerfundingbecauseoftheirinitialgrantsfromtheAmericanBrainTumorAssociation. “TwooftheresearchersthatwerefundedbyAmericanBrainTumorAssociationgrantswentontoreceiveexternalgrantstotalingover$3milliondollars,”addedWilson.“Wearethrilledthatourfundingisleadingtomilliondollargrantsfortheseresearcherstocontinuetheirveryimportantwork.”
ABTA Honored with 2011 Ellyn Bushkin Friend of the Foundation Award
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romthedaymyhusbandwasdiagnosedwithabraintumor,itwasn’tjusthisdisease,itwas
ourdisease.Ithoughtofitandreferredtoitasourtumor.”
Withthosewords,VictoriaReggieKennedygaveanemotionalandinspiringrecapofthenearlyyear-and-a-halfjourneysheandherhusband,U.S.SenatorEdward
M.Kennedy,sharedastheybattledandbravedhisbraintumordiagnosistogether.Kennedyspokeatthe2011AmericanBrainTumorAssociationAnnualMeetingDinner,partoftheABTA’sPatient-FamilyConnectionsMeeting&Retreat,whichtookplaceonJuly29-30inLincolnshire,IL. Kennedydescribedthe15monthsfollowingherhusband’sdiagnosisas“astoryofhopeandhappiness—ofloveandlaughter—andofoutstandingmedicineandoptimism.” Thedinnerwasheldonthefirstnightofthetwo-daymeeting,whichbroughttogetherbraintumorexpertsandindividualslivingwithabraintumordiagnosisandtheirfamilies,fromthroughouttheUnitedStates.Nearly300participantsheardthelatestonbraintumorqualityoflifestrategies,researchfindingsandtreatmenttrends. “TheAmericanBrainTumorAssociationmissioniscompellingallofustomoveforward,”said
Kennedy.“Iamsoproudtobeheretoday—soproudtobeapartofyourextendedfamily.”Kennedy’swordsresonatedstronglywiththepatientsandfamiliesinattendance.“Allofusheretodayinthisroomarepartofaveryspecialclub,”shetoldthem.“It’snotaclubthatwewouldhavechosen,butbraintumorshaveimpactedourlivesinpowerfulways.” Kennedy’sremarksfollowedJonathanGingras’presentationoftheJoelA.Gingras,Jr.AwardtoRyanandGinaPorter.ThePortershavehostedtheir“TrainfortheBrain”eventforthelast14yearsinmemoryoftheirson,Justin,whodiedatage6fromabraintumor.TheJoelA.Gingras,Jr.Awardisnamedinhonorandmemoryofabelovedbrotherandson.Joel’sfamilyandfriendshavehostedeventsformorethan20years,raisingmorethan$1millionforbraintumorresearchandpatient-familyeducationandsupport “WeareextremelygratefultoMrs.Kennedy,theGingrasandPorterfamilies,andthebraintumorexpertswhosharedtheirknowledge,commitmentandpassion,”saidABTAPresidentandCEOElizabethWilson.“TheymadethePatient-FamilyConnectionsMeetingamemorableandvaluableexperience.” TheAmericanBrainTumorAssociationannualmeetingwassponsoredbyClevelandClinic,Genentech,theMDAndersonProtonTherapyCenter,theMayoClinic,NorthShoreUniversityHealthSystem,Novocure,TheNorthwesternBrainTumorInstitute,CyberknifeCenterofChicago,TheUniversityofChicagoMedicalCenter,AdeptBioandDiplomatSpecialtyPharmacy.
hisyear’sPatient-FamilyConnectionsMeeting&Retreatprovidedattendeeswithavarietyof
opportunitiesforlearningmoreaboutbothscientificresearchandpersonalsupportandcarethroughmeetingswithABTAresearchersandSupportGroupLeaderTraining.
Meetingparticipantswereabletovisitwith23ABTAgrantrecipientsduringascientificpostersession,wheretheresearcherspresentedtheirresults.Talkingwithpatientswasa“first”formanyoftheresearchers.Thepatientssharedstoriesofthechallengespresentedbybraintumorsandasked
Victoria Reggie Kennedy Highlights Two Days of Learning, Sharing and Understanding for Brain Tumor Patients and Families
Patient-Family Meeting Provides Opportunity for Learning and Growth
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Ryan Porter, Gina Porter and Jonathan Gingras
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Victoria Reggie Kennedy
Webinarscoveringawiderangeoftopics—includingmanyofthepresentationsfromthisyear’sConnectionsMeeting&Retreat—willbemadeavailableonlinethroughout2012atwww.abta.org.
“
thoughtfulquestions,providingtheresearcherswithbothinspirationandrealism. “Definitelykeepintegratingthesciencewiththepatientmeeting,”sharedoneresearcher.“InteractingwiththepatientsandhearingtheirstoriesreallyputvaluebehindtheworkthatI’mdoing.” Forpatientsandtheirfamilies,theresearchsessionwasaglimpseintothefuture.Participantsenjoyedlearningaboutnewdrugs,newtreatmentapproaches,andthediversefieldsofstudybeingpursuedbythisnextgenerationofbraintumorresearchleaders.“Thenewtrendswereveryexciting,”notedonefamilymember.“Ireallyappreciatedthechancetovisitwiththeresearchers.”
Facilitator Training Guides Support Group Leaders
Themeetingwasalsohosttoahalf-daySupportGroupFacilitatorTraining.Thissessionofferedinformation,toolsandtechniquesforbraintumorsupportgroupleaders,aswellasforhealthcareprofessionalsandvolunteersinterestedinstartingorleadingasupportgroupforpatientsandtheirfamiliesnavigatingabraintumordiagnosis.
Eighteenparticipants–ninesocialworkers,sixnursesandthreevolunteers–tookpartinthetraining.ThesocialworkersreceivedthreeNationalAssociationofSocialWorkers(NASW)continuingeducationcredits,whilenursesreceivedthreeAmericanAssociationofNeuroscienceNurses(AANN)credits. “Supportgroupscanprovidea‘safehaven’ofcomfortandunderstandingforpatientsandfamiliescopingwithabraintumordiagnosis,”notedJenniferWestlund,theABTA’sdirectorofnationalprogramsandservices.“Andtrainingssuchasthesemeanthatanever-increasingnumberofpeopleacrossthecountrywillhaveaccesstoskilledfacilitatorswhoaretrainedtomeetthechallengesinherentinleadingsuchagroup,andwhoareabletosuccessfullyguideandsupportparticipantsnomatterwheretheyareintheirpersonalbraintumorjourney.”
Tolearnmore,ortofindabraintumorsupportgroupinyourarea,callourCareLineat1-800-886-ABTA(2282)[email protected].
AmericAn BrAin Tumor AssociATion www.abta.org 7
American Brain Tumor Association Announces 2012 Fellowship & Grant Opportunities
pplicationsarenowbeingacceptedforthe2012BasicResearchFellowship,TranslationGrant
andMedicalStudentSummerFellowship(MSSF)programs. TheABTAResearchFundingProgramencouragescareerdevelopmentinthefieldofbraintumorresearch,exploresopportunitiesforinnovativeresearch,andseekscollaborativefundingopportunities.Advancedimagingtechniquestomakediagnosisandsurgerymorepreciseandeffective,andinnovativeapproachestohaltingtumorcellgrowtharejusttwoexamplesofABTA-fundedresearchthatisresultinginnewdiscoveriesandlayingthegroundworkforfuturebreakthroughsinmanyareas. • Basic Research Fellowship:Thesetwo-year
trainingawardssupportnewandearlycareerscientistsenteringthefieldofbraintumorresearch.Theexperienceprovidesanopportunityinwhichbrightandmotivatedinvestigatorslearnfromexperiencedmentors.
• Translational Grant:Theseawardshelpscientistsfurtherdevelopstudiesonthecuspofmovingfromthelaboratoryintopatienttesting.Theseoneyeargrantssupportthecollectionofthepreclinicaldataresearchersneedtoapplyformajorfundingfromothersources.
• Medical Student Summer Fellowships:Theintentofthisprogramistomotivatetalentedmedicalstudentstopursueacareerinneuro-oncology.MedicalStudentSummerFellowshipsaregrantedtocurrentmedicalstudentswishingtospendasummerconductingbraintumorresearch.
ApplicationsfortheseprogramsaredueintheABTAofficenolaterthan5pm(CST)January10,2012.Formoreinformation,instructionsanddownloadableapplicationspleasecontactgrants@abta.orgorvisittheFundingOpportunitiespageathttp://www.abta.org/Research_Progress/ABTA_Funding_Opportunities_/304.
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8550 W. Bryn Mawr Ave., Suite 550Chicago, Illinois 60631
Over 4,000 runners and walkers attended the American BrainTumorAssociation’s6thAnnual5KeventatSoldierFieldonMay14andhelpedtoraisemore than$1million forresearchandpatient-familyprograms. The lead fundraising team was the 160-member Team WILLPOWER from Glenview, IL. The team consisted of the friends andfamily of William“Will” Hicks.Hicks was diagnosed witha malignant brain tumor inJanuary 2010, and passed away10 months later at the age of26. Team WILL POWER raisednearly $45,000 for brain tumorresearch, and patient-familyeducationandsupport. In 2012, the ABTA 5K,BreakthroughforBrainTumors,inadditionto itsChicagoeventwillexpandtoNewYorkCity. “The expansion of thissignature event will allow usto continue and increase ourcritical funding of brain tumorresearch, as well as the deliveryof desperately needed resourcesand support to patients andfamilieslivingwiththisdisease,”said ABTA President and CEOElizabethWilson.
Sixty-onemembersoftheABTARunningTeamtookpartintheBankofAmericanChicagoMarathononOctober9,raisingmorethan$120,000.Aftermonthsoffundraisingandtraining,theteamcametogetherfromalloverthecountrytoshowtheirdedicationtoindividualsandtheirfamiliescopingwithabraintumordiagnosis.Specialrecognitiongoestoourtopfundraiser,NimishMohile,for
raisingnearly$8,000.Startingin2012,theABTARunningTeamwillbere-christenedTeamBreakthroughandwillbeparticipatingintheChicagoHalfMarathon,theBankofAmericaChicagoMarathonandracesaroundthecountry.ParticipantswhojoinTeamBreakthrough’senduranceprogramwillbefullysupportedastheyraisefundsandtrainforahalforfullmarathon,allwhilehelpingthe600,000peopleintheUnitedStateswhoarelivingwithbraintumors.TolearnmoreaboutbeingpartofTeamBreakthrough,pleasevisitwww.abtarunners.orgorcontactAlishaKassamat773-577-8763orakassam@abta.org.
Annual 5K Event Breaks Attendance and Revenue Records Running Team Reaches New Heights, Looks to Grow in 2012
The American Brain Tumor Association’s 5K Event is “Breaking Through” in 2012
Visit www.breakthroughforbraintumors.org for more details
NONPROFIT ORGU.S. POSTAGE
PAIDCAROL STREAM, ILPERMIT NO. 1369
Have you purchased your American Brain Tumor Association Holiday Cards yet? Send a special greeting while helping to support ABTA programs. The last day to order personalized cards is December 9, 2011
(December 12 for non-personalized cards). Order online at www.easyholidaycards.org/ABTA. Questions? Call Erica at 773-577-8750.
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