American Brain Tumor Association Headlines...AmericAn BrAin Tumor AssociATion 1or many of us, dogs are a dependable source of comfort and companionship. More recently, they also have

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

F

Companion Canines Advance Brain Tumor Research

u Continued on page 4

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

heAdlines FALL~ WinTer 2011 2

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

T


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

facebook.com/theABTA

twitter.com/theABTA

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.

T

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


• TheUnitedHospital


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.


u Mans’ best Friend advances brain tumor research: continued from page 1

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


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

O

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


F

u Continued on page 7

Ryan Porter, Gina Porter and Jonathan Gingras

T

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 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.

A

u Patient-Family Meeting Provides opportunity for learning and growth: continued from page 6

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.

Documents

American Brain Tumor Association Headlines...AmericAn BrAin Tumor AssociATion 1or many of us, dogs are a dependable source of comfort and companionship. More recently, they also have