MAF-funded researchers present at ISPNO 2024

The 21st International Symposium on Pediatric Neuro-Oncology was held June 28-July 2, 2024 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. ISPNO is the major global meeting for the international community of professionals involved in the scientific research, diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of kids and teens with brain and central nervous system cancers. Doctors, researchers, and nurses you support from…


Two decades of advancements for kids with brain tumors

Over the past 20+ years, work done by clinicians and scientists in the Morgan Adams Foundation Pediatric Brain Tumor Research Program has driven important discoveries and revolutionary new approaches to treating kids with cancer. Here are some of the ways donor support has helped kids, teens, and young adults with brain tumors: Low-grade glioma Pediatric…


New treatment options for kids with treatment-resistant medulloblastoma

Medulloblastoma is a type of malignant brain tumor that is typically diagnosed in children and adolescents. It is one of the most common brain tumors seen in kids and accounts for 15-20% of all pediatric brain tumors. Medulloblastoma tumors usually form in the cerebellum. The cerebellum is the part of the brain that controls balance,…


Efforts to better classify and treat childhood cancers

As technology continues to advance and researchers learn more about how specific types of cancer form, grow, and respond to treatment, an increasing number of specific subtypes of cancer are being identified. The primary advancement in classifying all types of cancer currently comes from molecular profiling. Pediatric cancer is no exception and many new brain…


Improving Quality of Life for Kids and Teens with Cancer

A child who is diagnosed with cancer has their life turned upside down by appointments, treatments, pain, side effects, hospital stays, and innumerable missed milestones, school days, events, and activities. For kids with cancer, it is especially important to prioritize general well-being and their ability to enjoy daily life. Donor support of The Morgan Adams…


Finding effective treatment for teens and young adults with a deadly peripheral nervous system cancer

Neurofibromatosis Type 1 (NF1) is an inherited genetic disorder that leads to the formation of tumors on the peripheral nervous system, called plexiform neurofibromas. Plexiform neurofibromas are often benign, but they can transform into fatal malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors (MPNST). Plexiform neurofibromas typically develop during childhood and early adulthood. They occur in various parts…


The search for effective treatment for kids with atypical teratoid rhabdoid tumor (ATRT)

Atypical teratoid/rhabdoid tumor (ATRT) is a rare and highly aggressive pediatric brain tumor. It typically affects kids 3 years and younger. The 5-year overall survival rate for kids with ATRT is about 30%. The standard treatment for ATRT is chemotherapy and radiation, which can improve outcomes, but leaves kids with significant long-term side effects. The…


Developing and improving models for testing new treatments for kids with cancer

Brain and spine tumors are one of the most common forms of cancer found in kids, second only to leukemia. Despite significant advances in treatment, brain tumors remain the leading cause of cancer-related death in children. The kids who do survive often suffer from long-term side effects from treatment, and face the risk of recurrence…


Colorado researchers receive international recognition for groundbreaking kids’ cancer research at ISPNO 2022

More than a dozen doctors and researchers from the Morgan Adams Foundation Pediatric Brain Tumor Research Program were invited to present their work at the largest global conference in pediatric neuro-oncology. The 20th International Symposium on Pediatric Neuro-Oncology was held June 13-15 in Hamburg, Germany. ISPNO is the major global meeting for the international community…


MAF-funded researchers present at ISPNO 2022

The 20th International Symposium on Pediatric Neuro-Oncology was held June 13-15, 2022 in Hamburg, Germany. ISPNO is the major global meeting for the international community of professionals involved in the scientific research, diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of kids and teens with brain and central nervous system cancers. Doctors and researchers from the Morgan Adams Foundation…