On June 3rd, the Missouri Botanical Garden opened its doors for the Washington University NF Center Family Day. This was our first ever event, and it was an overwhelming success! From a scavenger hunt and splash pad to potting a plant and painting, the NF Center Family Day included therapy experiences for all ages. In […]
The laboratory of Dr. Angela Hirbe, along with collaborators in the Largaespada and Wood labs at the University of Minnesota, the Pratilas lab at Johns Hopkins University, and the Gosline lab have just published a novel three-dimensional MPNST culture system to test novel therapeutic combinations. They hope this system will allow for high throughput testing of […]
Drs. Yuan Pan (Assistant Professor, UT MD Anderson Cancer Center) and Nicole Brossier (Assistant Professor, Washington University) were recently awarded a three-year grant from the Department of Defense NF Research Program to study the interaction between Nf1 mutation and maternal diet. Together, Drs. Pan and Brossier will study how genetic and environmental factors both individually […]
Tantrums and sensory meltdowns may sound similar, but they are vastly different. Knowing the difference between the two can help you decide how to intervene when your child is having an emotional behavior/outburst.
Anna Wilson has finished her two-year tenure as a postbaccalaureate researcher in the Gutmann laboratory and will move to Boston to start medical school at Harvard this fall. Anna joined the lab as an undergraduate research trainee in the fall of 2019, eventually completing her senior honors thesis before graduating Summa Cum Laude from Washington […]
We are so excited to welcome Michelle to the Gutmann Laboratory. In her role, she will serve as one of the Gutmann Lab managers. Her previous research experience at the University of Missouri – Columbia was in cardiovascular physiology focused on calcium homeostasis in the heart. Her favorite part of working in the lab was […]
By St. Louis Children’s Hospital Logan is a 7-year-old who not only loves to be around others but is also just one belt away from a black belt in Taekwondo and enjoys playing Minecraft and Roblox. Three years ago, Logan was diagnosed with NF1. For Logan, his NF included the thickening of the optic nerves […]
Motor coordination is the ability of a person to move multiple parts of their body or their entire body together through their environment.
One of the most common tactile challenges for children with neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1), is known as tactile defensiveness.
10 fun activities to do with your children while at home over winter break.
For many people, Thanksgiving is a time for families to come together, focus on what they are thankful for, and eat some amazing food. However, for children with food aversions, Thanksgiving dinner can be challenging.
The vestibular system has an important role in the development of postural control, muscle tone, bilateral coordination, and stabilizing an object in your visual field while you are moving. Additionally, when this sense is not regulated, difficulties with attention, behavior, and communication can occur.
Sensory processing is our ability to organize and interpret sensory information we receive from the environment. Most people are aware of the five sensory systems – gustatory (taste), auditory (hearing), visual (sight), tactile (touch), and olfactory (smell). However, there are three additional systems that are equally important. These three include proprioception (body position in space), vestibular (balance), and interoception (perception of sensations from within the body).
What if there was a way to help your children overcome those academic difficulties? Actually, THERE IS! The Federal government has mandated public school systems have a program in place to assist children with academic challenges. This program, known as the Individualized Education Program (IEP), stems from the Individuals with Disabilities Act (IDEA).