Curing pediatric brain cancer is a global challenge no individual or organization can tackle alone. Scientists, clinicians, and members of the healthcare and patient advocacy communities must work together to share new discoveries, discuss challenges and roadblocks, and identify ways to tackle them.

Conferences like the International Symposium on Pediatric Neuro-Oncology (ISPNO) provide an important opportunity for our community to gather and collaborate. 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 Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation is supporting the 20th ISPNO taking place June 12-15 as Platinum Sponsor.

“We’re proud to have a long history of investing in ISPNO, the conference’s PLGG session, and gatherings like it to contribute to a culture of collaboration within the scientific community – a community where diverse voices, across institutions and disciplines, regularly convene to think creatively and with urgency about lessening the burden of diagnosis and improving patient family outcomes,” says Courtney Davies, PBTF President and CEO.

If you’re attending ISPNO, stop by our exhibitor table to learn about our programs, pick up a copy of the latest CBTRUS Pediatric Brain Tumor Fact Sheet funded by PBTF, and join us at the following sessions and poster presentations:

• Low Grade Glioma (LGG) Session (Monday, June 13, 8:30-10am): Supported by the PLGA Fund at the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation, this session will start with a welcome address by Courtney Davies and feature presentations on recent advancements in treating the most common form of pediatric brain tumors.
• Exploring delays in diagnosis for children with brain and spinal cord tumors (Poster Walk): This poster presentation by a new consortium led by PBTF’s Vice President of Family Support Kathy Riley, Riley Children’s Health’s Dr. Scott Coven, and Case Western Reserve University’s Dr. Jennifer Cullen explores key factors contributing to delays in pediatric brain and spinal cord tumor diagnoses. The goal of the consortium is to develop metrics and survey items that can be used to quantify the sources of delays to improve how quickly children are diagnosed after the onset of symptoms.
• Building narrative competence on the neuro-oncology team (Poster Walk): Drawing on the practice of the close reading of literature and reflection through writing, narrative medicine helps healthcare professionals gain fresh insights into their own stories and in turn connect in meaningful ways to stories of illness in their patients. This poster presentation by Kathy Riley explores the principles of narrative medicine and applies them to the particular experience of neuro-oncology teams to foster unity and resilience for working with pediatric brain tumor families.

PBTF supports every member of patient families along their entire pediatric brain tumor journey – from when symptoms start, through diagnosis, treatment and beyond. We advocate and invest in novel research for all tumor types across basic and translational science, clinical trials, core resources, survivorship and public health research. And we provide education, emotional support and financial relief to help families face the overwhelming adversities of the journey, reduce racial and socio-economic disparities, and access more effective care during and after treatment. Connect with PBTF today to learn more about our programs and opportunities to partner with us: www.curethekids.org/stay-connected.