Yuan Pan, PhD, a postdoctoral fellow in the laboratory of David H. Gutmann, MD, PhD, has been awarded a grant from the McDonnell Center for Cellular and Molecular Neurobiology to continue her research on NF1-associated high-grade gliomas.
Author: annawilson
Music-Motor Therapy Program Improving the Lives of Toddlers with NF1
The Washington University NF Center and Jazz St. Louis recently wrapped up another successful Beat NF session. This unique music-motor therapy program geared toward toddlers with NF1 utilizes jazz music and motor therapy to help them overcome developmental delays commonly encountered by children with NF1
YOU’RE INVITED: Club NF Yoga & Swimming
Join us for a morning of yoga and swimming at the next Club NF event, on Saturday, August 6, from 9:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. at The Lodge in Des Peres, MO. St. Louis Children’s Hospital occupational and physical therapists will work with children to promote fine and gross motor skill development.
Nicole’s Nook: Journaling with myMemoir
In this month’s blog, Nicole Weckherlin, OTR/L reviews another one of her favorite apps, myMemoir. Many children start or end their school day with journaling, and this very simple app enables them to complete that task on the iPad, thus eliminating some of the fine motor demands which children with NF1 often struggle with.
NF Center Hosts Missouri House Delegation
Members from the State of Missouri House of Representatives came to visit the Washington University NF Center this week to learn more about Neurofibromatosis. Joined by several of our patient families, the delegates heard personal stories about the impact that NF1 has had on their lives.
New Mechanism for NF1 Brain Cell Growth Control Identified
Exciting new studies spearheaded by Dr. Laura Smithson, a senior postdoctoral fellow in Dr. Gutmann’s laboratory, have revealed unique mTOR complex composition in brain cells. Her findings represent a potential new therapeutic target for brain tumor treatment.
The 2016 Children’s Tumor Foundation International NF Conference
The Children’s Tumor Foundation, the leading not-for-profit organization dedicated to neurofibromatosis research and clinical care, recently hosted its premier annual NF Conference. NF experts and families convened in Austin, TX for a weekend of education and collaboration.
NF Center Volume 2, 2016 Newsletter
Check out the NF Center Volume 2, 2016 newsletter (pdf) to read about the NF Center’s 3rd biennial Research Symposium, recent research driving us toward personalized treatment for people with NF1, and the JazzTimes article highlighting Beat NF, our music-motor therapy program for toddlers with NF1.
UPDATE: Clinical Trials Recruiting Participants
Interested in participating in an NF-related clinical trial? Check out the recently updated NF Clinical Trials section of our website to view ongoing and new trials that just recently started recruiting participants.
Nicole’s Nook: App Spotlight
In this month’s Nicole’s Nook blog, Nicole Weckherlin, OTR/L, showcases another one of her favorite apps, Co:Writer, a great app for word processing and document creation. With features like text-to-speech, word prediction and topic dictionaries, it is an extremely useful app for children with NF1.
YOU’RE INVITED: Club NF Paints Pottery
Join us for a morning of pottery design and painting at the next Club NF event, Club NF Paints Pottery, on Saturday, June 11, from 9:30 a.m. – noon at Pottery Hollow in Kirkwood, MO. St. Louis Children’s Hospital occupational and physical therapists will work with children to promote fine motor skill development.
NF Center Receives Grant from St. Louis Men’s Group Against Cancer
The Washington University Neurofibromatosis Center was the recipient of a grant from the St. Louis Men’s Group Against Cancer to further research on malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors (MPNSTs).
NF Center Forms New Collaboration with Stanford Neuro Oncologist
Cynthia J. Campen, MD, Pediatric Neuro Oncologist and Clinical Assistant Professor of Neurology and Neurological Sciences at Stanford University, traveled to St. Louis in April to learn more about the NF Center’s approach to providing exceptional care through groundbreaking research.
Exciting New Mouse Model of NF1-MPNST Established
Dr. Angela Hirbe and her colleagues at the Washington University NF Center have created a new mouse model for malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors (MPNSTs). Dr. Hirbe plans to use this new model to discover and evaluate new drugs to treat these deadly cancers.
Nicole’s Nook: Doing Math on the iPad
In this month’s Nicole’s Nook blog, Nicole Weckherlin, OTR/L recommends an app that makes completing math worksheets on the iPad easier. Doing math on the iPad is a common challenge for children, and this app allows children to plot out their work in a much more legible and visual platform.
NF1 Reveals New Methods for Malignant Brain Tumor Treatment Resistance
A recent study conducted by Dr. Yi-Hsien Chen revealed exciting results establishing a protein called ABCG1 as an essential component for malignant glioma survival. This protein could serve as a potential future therapeutic target for these deadly brain cancers.
YOU’RE INVITED: Spring 2016 Beat NF
Join us for a one-of-a-kind jazz music experience, seamlessly integrated with gross motor and social skill activities. Beat NF, a jazz music-motor therapy program for toddlers and young children (ages 2 – 5 years) with NF1, was developed by a team of St. Louis Children’s Hospital therapists and Jazz St. Louis musicians.
New Clues Identified in Childhood Cancer Syndrome
New research may help doctors determine which issues are likely to manifest in patients with NF1. The findings, which indicate that varying mutations in the NF1 gene may lead to different clinical outcomes, brings doctors one step closer to being able to individually tailor treatment for people with NF1.
Beat NF Program Highlighted in JazzTimes
Beat NF, our jazz music-motor therapy program designed specifically for toddlers with NF1, was recently highlighted in JazzTimes. Read the article to learn more about this unique program, stemming from a close collaboration between the Washington University NF Center, St. Louis Children’s Hospital and Jazz St. Louis.
Team NF Member Earns St. Louis Children’s Hospital President’s Award
The Washington University NF Center congratulates our fellow team member, Nicole Weckherlin, OTR/L, St. Louis Children’s Hospital Occupational Therapist, on her recent accomplishment of earning the St. Louis Children’s Hospital President’s Award!