The Forward Strides 4NF committee visited the Washington University NF Center to present a $19,000. It was the largest yearly fundraising total since their inception. Forward Strides 4NF is a charity that was started in 2016 by Gina Wilburn to honor her daughter and husband, who both have Neurofibromatosis (NF). Each year the event has […]
Author: annawilson
Siteman Cancer Center Honors 2018 Rock Docs
Each year Siteman Cancer Center sponsors CUREiosity, an event to celebrate the “Rock Docs” making a difference at the Alvin J Siteman Cancer Center as well as the cutting edge “Rock Star Research” being conducted at the institution. This year more than 300 guests were in attendance, and one of our very own NF Center […]
Patient Spotlight: Phillip
I’m often asked what brought us to St. Louis, since neither my husband nor I have family in the area. A promising job offer in 2000 prompted us to move from North Dakota, but it wasn’t until years later that I would come to realize our move was “meant to be” for an entirely different […]
Olivia Cobb joins the Gutmann Laboratory
Olivia Cobb recently joined the research laboratory of NF Center Director, David H. Gutmann, MD, PhD, as a graduate student research assistant. Olivia received her Bachelors in Liberal Arts from Thomas Aquinas College in California in Philosophy and Theology prior to pursuing a Master’s Degree in Biostatistics at Washington University in St. Louis. Matching her […]
Missouri Legislators Visit the Washington University NF Center
A delegation of Missouri legislators toured St. Louis Children’s Hospital to learn more about the integral relationship between Washington University and the Barnes-Jewish-Christian (BJC) Health Care System. These state representatives heard presentations about innovative research being conducted at the Washington University School of Medicine, and how this benefits children and families in Missouri. The Washington […]
Message from the Director
In 2018, as we celebrate 25 years of Neurofibromatosis research and clinical care at Washington University, Neurofibromatosis (NF) Center research and clinical members have continued to expand investigative initiatives aimed at developing personalized medical approaches for people affected with NF. We are grateful for the continued partnership with our families that make these high-risk, high-payoff […]
New Biomarker for Cancer Development Discovered
In a recent study, Dr. Angela Hirbe and her team analyzed βIII-spectrin expression in a series samples from patients cared for in the Washington University NF Center and the Siteman Cancer Center Sarcoma Program. While strong βIII-spectrin expression was detected in all high-grade MPNSTs, it was found in only half of the low-grade MPNSTs and […]
The Walk Family Hosts FuNFest to Raise Money for NF Research
On November 21, 2018, Brian and Amanda Walk and their daughters, Jordan and Bella, visited the Washington University NF Center to celebrate another successful fuNFest event. FuNFest is a family-friendly festival designed to promote awareness about NF and to raise funds for NF research. The event includes games, bounce houses, music, a live auction, silent […]
Corina Anastasaki Awarded National Cancer Institute Grant
Corina Anastasaki, PhD, a senior Staff Scientist in the laboratory of David H. Gutmann, MD, PhD, was recently awarded one of the first Research Specialist (R50) grants from the National Cancer Institute (NCI). The Research Specialist Award was specifically designed to encourage the development of stable research career opportunities for exceptional scientists who want to […]
NF Center Researchers Investigate Decreased Height in Children with NF1
Children with Neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) are commonly shorter than typically developing children in the general population. While this short stature results from a change (mutation) in the NF1 gene, the reasons for this reduced height have not been identified. In a new study, St. Louis Children’s Hospital resident, Nick Zessis, MD, under the direction […]
Nicole’s Nook: SuperKeys App
Keyboarding is meant to be a quicker, more functional option for students, especially those who struggle with handwriting. Utilizing features such as word prediction and shortcuts can significantly reduce keystrokes, thus increasing productivity as well as overall functional academic independence. However for some, the online keyboard or even a Bluetooth wireless keyboard, may be too […]
Washington University Experts to Present at the 2018 NF Center Research Symposium
Register for the 2018 Symposium The Washington University NF Center will be hosting its fourth biennial NF Center Symposium on September 5, 2018 in the Eric P. Newman Education Center on the Medical School Campus. In addition to our two keynote speakers, Drs. Frank McCormick and Eric Legius, we are delighted to showcase research and […]
Brain Tumors Occur Often in Kids with Common Genetic Syndrome
This article, written by Tamara Bhandari, originally appeared in the Washington University School of Medicine News Hub on August 8, 2018. The frequency of brain tumors has been underestimated in children with the common genetic syndrome neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1), according to a new study. This disorder is characterized by birthmarks on the skin and […]
NF Center Investigators Awarded Center for Regenerative Medicine Grant
The Center for Regenerative Medicine, together with the Intellectual and Developmental Disability Research Center (IDDRC) at Washington University, awarded a pilot award to Kristin Kroll, PhD to study the impact of NF1 gene mutations on brain nerve cells (neurons). The focus of this study is to understand how NF1 mutations affect brain development relevant to […]
NF Center Researcher Receives Children’s Tumor Foundation Young Investigator Award
Michelle Wegscheid, an MD/PhD trainee in the laboratory of Dr. David H. Gutmann, was recently awarded a Children’s Tumor Foundation Young Investigator Award to continue her exciting work on how mutations in the NF1 gene affect human brain development. Ms. Wegscheid graduated from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 2013 prior to spending a […]
NF Center Welcomes New Faculty Member
We are delighted to announce that Dr. Stephanie M. Morris has joined the faculty as an Assistant Professor in the Division of Pediatric Neurology at the Washington University School of Medicine. Dr. Morris has been caring for children and young adults with NF for the past several years, and has recently been appointed to the […]
NF Center Researchers Identify Key Role for Immune Cells in Brain Tumors
Children with NF1 are prone to develop brain tumors, specifically gliomas affecting the optic nerve and brainstem. These tumors are typically slow growing, and usually cannot be surgically removed. For this reason, most treatments involve the use of agents (chemotherapy) that slow the growth of the tumor cells. While these therapies have been effective in […]
Nicole’s Nook: Summer Break!
As the school year is winding down, many students will soon find themselves with down time and unstructured days. While this may be a welcome change of pace, it is important to keep their bodies active and their minds stimulated. With summer approaching, take the opportunity for gross motor fun, sensory rich experiences and other […]
Genomic Roadmap for Sarcoma Established
Soft tissue cancers, including malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors arising in people with Neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1), have recently undergone comprehensive genetic and genomic analyses. This landmark study, involving Drs. Brian Van Tine (Medical Oncology) David H. Gutmann (Neurology) and Li Ding (Genetics) from Washington University, characterized over 200 adult sarcomas representing six different types […]
Patient Spotlight: Lexi’s Journey with NF1
Forward Strides 4NF: Walking for awareness, Racing towards a cure! Forward Strides 4NF is a charity that I started in 2016 in honor of two very special people who both deal with Neurofibromatosis (NF) on a daily basis – my husband, Alex, and my daughter, Lexi. Alex was diagnosed with Neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) when […]