Letter Summary from Children’s Tumor Foundation Driven by the NF patient community, Children’s Tumor Foundation (CTF), with guidance from its Clinical Care Advisory Board (CCAB), developed a Designation System to assist families in identifying potential clinics that might meet specific patient needs. Based on other rare disease clinic designation models, CTF and the CCAB established […]
Lori Forster graduated from Georgia State University in 2022 with a PhD in Neuroscience. Her PhD thesis was on regulation of the hyperpolarization activated cyclic nucleotide gated ion channel 2 (HCN2) by post-translational modification, SUMO, in inflammatory pain. She recently joined the Gutmann laboratory as a Post-Doctoral Research Associate, where she will focus on defining […]
On Saturday July 20th, the Washington University NF Center hosted its 2nd Annual NF Family Day for our patients and their families. Held at Grants Farm in St. Louis, MO, participants had the opportunity to learn about IEPs, transition to adulthood, and educational apps from a licensed Occupational Therapist. As an added bonus, they also […]
Dr. Yunshuo “Caroline” Tang, MD, PhD, was recently promoted to the rank of Assistant Professor in the Departments of Neurology and Ophthalmology. This is a major milestone in the career of a faculty member at Washington University, signifying excellence in research and outstanding clinical contributions. Dr. Tang is an emerging leader in the investigation of […]
Susan E. Maloney, Director of the IDDRC Animal Behavior Subunit, was recently promoted to the rank of Associate Professor in the Department of Psychiatry. This is a major milestone in the career of a faculty member at Washington University, signifying excellence in research, recognition at a national level, and outstanding administrative and educational contributions to […]
David H. Gutmann, MD, PhD, Director of the Washington University NF Center, was bestowed with the 2024 Mentor of the Year Award from the Institute for Informatics, Data Science and Bioinformatics (I2DB). Dr. Gutmann has been faculty of the Master’s Program in Bioinformatics and Informatic Sciences since its inception, and has mentored over ten graduate […]
Vaishali Mulchandani graduated from the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, Kolkata (IISER-Kolkata) in 2023 with a PhD in Biological Sciences. Her PhD thesis was focused on understanding the importance of Connexin 43 (Cx43) trafficking and enhanced gap junctional intercellular communication formation in ovarian cancer development and metastasis. She has recently joined the Gutmann […]
Angela C. Hirbe, the Director of the Adult NF Clinical Program, was recently promoted to the rank of Associate Professor with tenure in the Division of Medical Oncology. This is a major milestone in the career of a faculty member at Washington University, signifying excellence in research, recognition at a national level, and outstanding clinical […]
In this American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Daily News article, Dr. Angela Hirbe and her colleagues discuss the current data for using liquid biopsies (blood test) to attempt to diagnose cancer early. Their team is working hard to make this a reality for NF1 patients! You can read the full article here.
Study lays groundwork for clinical trial aimed at preventing brain tumors in children with NF1. A drug used to treat children with epilepsy prevents brain tumor formation and growth in two mouse models of neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1), according to a study by researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis. NF1 is […]
Hannah Wang, an undergraduate student in Dr. David Gutmann’s laboratory, was recently awarded an Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation (ALSF) Pediatric Oncology Student Training (POST) summer research internship. The program was founded with the mission to change the lives of children with cancer through funding impactful research, raising awareness, supporting families, and empowering everyone to help […]
Low-grade gliomas (LGGs) are common brain tumors arising in children with the Neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) cancer predisposition syndrome. Unfortunately, the tumor cells from these brain cancers often die when grown in the laboratory under standard conditions. To more accurately model human LGGs from children with NF1, Washington University Assistant Professor, Dr. Corina Anastasaki, developed […]
Children with NF1 are prone to the development of autism and brain tumors, which could reflect the effect of NF1 mutation on microglia function. Microglia are specialized macrophages that constantly survey the brain in health and in the setting of nervous system disease. As such, microglia have been implicated in the development of autism and […]
The most common brain tumor in children with NF1 is a low-grade glioma affecting the optic pathway, a bundle of nerves that carry vision from the eye to the brain. While many of these tumors do not cause any medical problems, at least one third of children with NF1-optic pathway gliomas (NF1-OPG) will experience some […]
One of the most aggressive tumors in people with NF1 is the malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor (MPNST). A recent team science study led by Christine Pratilas MD at Johns Hopkins University, David Largaespada PhD and David Wood PhD at University of Minnesota, Sara Gosline PhD at Pacific Northwest National Laboratories, Angela Hirbe, MD, PhD […]
We want to welcome Dr. Enquan Xu to the Gutmann Laboratory. Dr. Xu graduated from University of Nebraska Medical Center in 2017 with a PhD in Neuropharmacology and Immunology. He previously studied the role of immune cells in methamphetamine-induced Parkinson’s disease. Currently, he serves as a staff scientist in the Gutmann Laboratory. Enquan is focused […]
Rui recently graduated from the Master of Science in Biostatistics (MSIBS) program at Washington University School of Medicine. Following graduation, she joined the Gutmann laboratory as a full-time Bioinformatics Research Analyst. In this position, she analyzes single-cell RNA sequencing and bulk RNA sequencing data for numerous scientific research projects, applies and develops new methods for […]
This year marks a milestone as we celebrate 30 years of Neurofibromatosis (NF) research and medical care at Washington University. Over this period, we have witnessed the dramatic expansion of both our clinical and research programs, with the addition of new initiatives, laboratories, and patient care providers. The dedication of our team members has culminated […]
On behalf of the Society of Neuro-Oncology and the SNO Women and Diversity Committee, it is my pleasure to inform you that your abstract, CNSC-43 “Targeting neuronal excitability for Nf1low-grade glioma therapy,” has been selected for the 2023 Women in Neuro-Oncology (WiN) Abstract Award in Basic/Translational Science Research at the upcoming 28th Annual Meeting of […]
Children with Neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) are prone to intellectual and developmental disabilities, including learning and memory problems, attention deficit, autism, and developmental delays. Prior work from the laboratory of Dr. David Gutmann, Washington University NF Center Director, showed that mini-brains from children with NF1 total gene deletions have impaired nerve cell (neuron) development, particularly […]