New Grant Fuels Innovative Research for Childhood Brain Tumors

The Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation is proud to announce that Dr. Joelle Straehla has been awarded an Early Career Development grant to advance her transformative work in treating childhood brain tumors. This significant award, generously supported by the Hearst Foundation, will provide $100,000 per year for three years, fueling research that offers new hope to children and families facing this devastating disease.

Dr. Joelle Straehla, a pediatric oncologist at Seattle Children’s Hospital who is transforming how we treat childhood brain tumors. Balancing time in the clinic and the lab, she serves as an Assistant Professor of Pediatrics and an Adjunct Assistant Professor of Bioengineering at the University of Washington, with a mission to deliver better treatment options and real hope to families.

Dr. Straehla’s team is crafting microscopic delivery systems known as nanocarriers to overcome one of the greatest challenges in treating brain tumors, the blood brain barrier, a tightly regulated shield that prevents most drugs from reaching the brain. Her nanoparticles are designed to safely cross this barrier and deliver medicine directly into the fluid surrounding the brain and spine, where it can be released gradually. This targeted approach allows therapies to remain effective for a longer duration, reach tumor cells more precisely, and potentially reduce harmful side effects compared to traditional treatments. By testing these new methods against existing therapies, the goal is to create smarter, more efficient, and less toxic treatments for children.

Dr. Straehla and her team are working to transform these breakthroughs into tangible treatments for clinical trials, offering families facing tough diagnoses new possibilities.

“I am incredibly grateful for the support of the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation! As both a clinician and researcher, I trust PBTF as a resource for families navigating a brain tumor diagnosis.  For PBTF to invest in our lab’s work is a powerful reminder of why we do what we do — to bring better treatments and more hope to children facing these devastating diseases. “

By supporting visionary research like Dr. Straehla’s, we are fueling breakthroughs that bring real hope to families and pave the way for cures. Together, we can turn possibilities into lifesaving realities—so that every child diagnosed with a brain tumor has the chance to grow, dream, and thrive.