FUTURE Brain Cancer Institute
Partnership with UCSF Medical Center
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FBCI is proud to announce that we have created a partnership with the University of California San Francisco (UCSF) Medical Center. We are in the process of expanding a center of brain tumor research excellence in collaboration with the UCSF Department of Neuro-oncology and Brain Tumor Research Center (BTRC), under the guidance of Dr. Mitchell Berger and the UCSF team.
Chairman of Neurological Surgery and Director of the UCSF Brain Tumor Research Center:
“UCSF and its Brain Tumor Research Center (BTRC) are extremely excited about the partnership that has taken place between our BTRC and FUTURE Brain Cancer Institute, headed by Dr. Meredith Warshaw. In particular, our Research Center is working on a number of new areas of investigation as a mechanism to find cures for brain tumors. These include stem cells to either carry new therapeutic small molecules to the brain tumor target for therapy or as a means of identifying the cell of origin of brain tumors, which can lead to new therapies. In addition, we have been working on new forms of drug delivery using direct interstitial microinfusion into the brain. This process is known as convection-enhanced delivery. We also have groups working on the development of a new delivery strategy with small molecule inhibitors to brain tumors using the nanoparticle liposome. Many other basic scientific investigations are underway at UCSF, including tumor blood vessel formation (angiogenesis), DNA microarrays (genomics), and mouse models of brain tumors. We hope to use this partnership to raise funds so that we can hire new investigators to join these areas of research and help push forward the timetable on brain tumor cures.”
FBCI is presently focusing on four important areas of research:
- Stem Cell Research
- Targeted therapies that will identify which patients are best suited for a given chemotherapy treatment
- Angiogenesis inhibitors (drugs that are designed to prevent the growth of the blood vessels that nourish brain tumors)
- Epidemiology and causes of brain tumor diagnoses, including pediatric brain tumors, in the hope that we can identify why brain tumors occur and better understand how to cure them.
At FBCI, we realize the importance of continuing to expand basic brain tumor research as well as providing information and support for patients. If we infuse chemotherapy drugs into patients with brain tumors without understanding the mechanism of action of these drugs, we will only be employing a "shot-in-the-dark" approach with little chance of positive results. We hope to do research that will make it easier to understand the causes and anatomy of brain tumors so that doctors will be able to target treatments more effectively. That's why we need your help. If you are interested in helping to fund our research programs and saving the lives of brain cancer patients, please visit our Donations page today.
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FBCI is represented by Wilson, Sonsini, Goodrich & Rosati.