Support for Scientific Conferences

The AANS/CNS Joint Section on Tumors is a forum for nervous system tumor research and education. The section represents both the American Association of Neurological Surgeons and the Congress of Neurological Surgeons and coordinates tumor-related programs for the two associations. PBTF’s support has funded the AANS/CNS Best Resident Abstract Award at the AANS/CNS Section on Tumors Biennial Symposium.

The Association of Pediatric Oncology Social Workers represents a group of professionals passionate about enhancing the lives of children suffering from cancer and blood disorders. The Association works to advance pediatric psychosocial oncology by improving clinical social work practice, research, advocacy, education, and program development. PBTF has served as a sponsor at the Association’s Annual Conference, a collaborative opportunity that aims to address the needs of childhood cancer-affected families, enhance knowledge of social work theory, and advance professional development.

The Brain Tumor Epidemiology Consortium Meeting is a group of researchers focused on brain tumors, their cause, and their consequences. The organization works to establish a deeper understanding of the causes of brain tumors to improve outcomes for diagnosed individuals and increase tumor prevention and early detection. PBTF’s sponsorship of the BTEC’s annual meeting has helped researchers studying the etiology and epidemiology of brain tumors meet to exchange ideas, discuss their recent findings, and form new collaborations.

The biennial International Conference on Brain Tumor Research and Therapy gathers brain tumor clinicians and researchers from around the world to evaluate developments in basic, translational and clinical neuro-oncology research. PBTF’s support of past ICBTRTs has helped make this preeminent gathering possible, with many of the findings presented having a direct impact on the future direction of clinical care and research.

Held every two years, the International Symposium on Pediatric Neuro-Oncology serves as an international gathering for the Pediatric Neuro-Oncology multidisciplinary community. Created in 1986, ISPNO is the largest international scientific meeting of multidisciplinary professionals focused on research, diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of children and adolescents with brain tumors. The Symposium is an opportunity for the community to share results from groundbreaking laboratory and clinical studies, with the ultimate goal of expediting the development of effective treatments for children facing brain tumors of all forms. In addition to PBTF’s active platinum-level sponsorship of this event, the PLGA Fund at PBTF has hosted multiple Low Grade Glioma workshops that serve as the largest single gathering of researchers and clinicians to meet with the objective of discussing progress in the field of pediatric low grade gliomas.

The International Society of Pediatric Oncology (SIOP) is a global multidisciplinary organization devoted to pediatric and adolescent cancer. Made up of over 1,800 members worldwide, the organization is dedicated to increasing knowledge about childhood cancer by promoting research, proving training opportunities for adolescent cancer care providers worldwide, and advocating globally for patients and their families. The PLGA Fund at PBTF was a proud sponsor of the 2010 SIOP’s Low Grade Glioma Symposium.

The Neurobiology of Disease in Children, Brain Tumor Symposium is a preeminent conference that offers child neurologists, program officers from the National Institute of Health, and members of a number of related foundations and associations an opportunity to discuss the recent developments and future directions of the pediatric brain tumor field. Furthering their commitment to fostering innovation within the pediatric brain research field, PBTF has sponsored the Young Investigators portion of the NDC Brain Tumor Symposium, highlighting promising young scientists and engaging them in discussions of field advancements and research priorities.

The Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation’s sponsorship of the Peter A. Steck memorial lecture and recognition award for young investigators led to the establishment of this annual lecture which has been delivered by world-renowned experts at Harvard Medical School, the Ludwig Institute, MD Anderson National Cancer Institute, Salk Institute, Scripps Research Institute, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, the University of California at San Francisco, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, and the University of Toronto. Recipients of a recognition award have included young investigators at Baylor College of Medicine, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratories, Duke, MD Anderson, Stanford University, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, University of Pennsylvania, and the University of Virginia.

Sponsored by the PLGA Fund at PBTF, the goal of this coalition is to accelerate the pace of PLGA research by finding common ground for evaluating and treating PLGA patients as well as identifying the scientific direction to better understand these low-grade tumors and target them for eradication. Including clinicians and researchers from seven countries and 19 research institutions such as The Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, University College of Queens (UK), Children’s National Medical Center, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital, Sick Kids (Toronto), Research Institute of McGill Medical and Washington University of Saint Louis Medical Center, participants meet to discuss the most current scientific studies and best practices in clinical trials for treating PLGA patients.

The Society of Neuro-Oncology is an organization committed to advancing neuro-oncology through developments in both research and education. The organization hosts a number of conferences with the goal of promoting new collaborations of researchers, offering an opportunity for participants to present their work and learn about their colleagues’ advancements in the field of brain tumor research. The Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation has served as the Presenting Sponsor of SNO’s Biennial Pediatric Neuro-Oncology Basic and Translational Research Conference since the conference’s inception in 2011. This conference focuses on connecting those working specifically in the field of pediatric brain tumor research. In addition to PBTF’s active sponsorship of this event, the PLGA Fund at PBTF has hosted multiple targeted Low Grade Glioma sessions to discuss progress.