Children's Brain Tumor Project Foundation

Overview

The Children's Brain Tumor Project Foundation is a U.S. nonprofit organization dedicated to funding pediatric brain tumor research. Formerly known as Elizabeth's Hope, the organization was established by Elizabeth Minter and her family following her diagnosis with gliomatosis cerebri, a rare and challenging brain tumor. The foundation primarily supports research at the Weill Cornell Pediatric Brain and Spine Center.

History

Elizabeth Minter was diagnosed with gliomatosis cerebri at the age of 19, which led to the establishment of Elizabeth's Hope. This initiative evolved into a certified nonprofit organization and laid the groundwork for launching a laboratory at Weill Cornell Medicine dedicated to the study of rare pediatric brain tumors. The organization renamed itself the Children's Brain Tumor Project Foundation in 2022, reflecting its broadened mission and expanded leadership.

Mission

The foundation's mission is to provide funding for cutting-edge personalized medicine to children and adolescents with brain tumors. It focuses on rare tumors that are often neglected due to their low incidence, such as gliomatosis cerebri, thalamic gliomas, diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (DIPG), ATRT, ETMR, choroid plexus carcinoma, craniopharyngioma, and ependymoma. The research team at Weill Cornell Medicine, led by Drs. Mark Souweidane and Jeffrey Greenfield, seeks to understand the molecular characteristics of these tumors, enabling personalized treatment plans.

Research and Impact

As of the latest updates, the Children's Brain Tumor Project has grown from humble beginnings to a team of over 20 neuroscientists and technicians working in a dedicated laboratory space. The project has published over 100 peer-reviewed articles and initiated several clinical trials, offering new treatment options for patients. Notably, nearly 90% of the research is funded by affected families and family-founded nonprofits, underscoring the personal and urgent nature of their mission.

Leadership and Support

The organization is led by a group of families united by their experiences with pediatric brain tumors. They remain committed to funding groundbreaking research at Weill Cornell Medicine, driven by the belief that personalized medicine holds the key to treating and potentially curing these rare and often intractable conditions.