Washington University NF Center Fall 2014 Newsletter

Hot off the press – check out our fall 2014 newsletter! Inside this issue: Washington University NF Center Family Celebrates Final Day of Chemotherapy Researchers Publish Findings on New Plexiform Neurofibroma Treatment Beat NF: Understanding how Music Therapy Helps Children with NF1 Join us at 2014 fuNFest! And More! Be sure to take a look at our previous newsletters as […]

UPDATE: NF Clinical Trials for the Summer 2014 Quarter

We’ve updated the NF Clinical Trials section of our website via clinicaltrials.gov. Studies that have recently been added include: Internet Support Group for Parents of a Child With Neurofibromatosis Type 1Cabozantinib for Plexiform Neurofibromas (PN) in Subjects With NF1 (16 Years+)MEK Inhibitor PD-0325901 Trial in Adolescents and Adults With NF1 Study of Imatinib Mesylate in […]

Post-Doc Profile: Joe Toonen – Understanding NF1-Associated Vision Loss

Joe Toonen, PhD, is interested in understanding how optic gliomas cause nerve cells in the eye to malfunction and lead to vision loss. Using novel Nf1 mouse strains, Dr. Toonen’s research is focused on defining the mechanisms that control nerve cell function in the eye (retina) relevant to the development of better treatments for the […]

Washington University NF Center Summer 2014 Newsletter

Check out our Summer 2014 newsletter! Inside this issue: Governor Nixon and Mayor Slay Proclaim May 2014 NF Awareness Month New Study Uses the Fruit Fly to Understand NF2 Gene Function Courtney’s Corner And More! Check out our previous newsletters as well!

UPDATE: NF Clinical Trials for the Spring 2014 Quarter

We’ve updated the NF Clinical Trials section of our website via clinicaltrials.gov. Studies that have recently been added include: Endostatin Study for Patients With NF2 and NF2-Related Tumors Study of Axitinib in Patients With Neurofibromatosis Type 2 and Progressive Vestibular Schwannomas Clinical trials are an exciting and important opportunity for people with NF1 and NF2 […]

Grad Student Profile: Cynthia Garcia – Studying Spinal Tumor Formation in NF2

Cynthia Garcia is focused on understanding why spinal tumors form in people with NF2. Using a combination of methods, she has identified a promising drug target for potential treatment of NF2-associated ependymoma. Cynthia is a PhD candidate in Neuroscience at Washington University. She will present her dissertation in June 2014.

UPDATE: Clinical Research Studies at the Washington University NF Center – Spring 2014

Curious how our current clinical studies are going? Find out below! NF1 Genome Project (NF1GP) We have obtained 373 blood samples from individuals with NF1 and have begun using some of the samples in new studies. These include a study looking at the differences in DNA between people with NF1 who develop brain tumors and people with […]

Symposium Sneak Peek: Dr. Kent A. Robertson Discusses NF Clinical Trials

Kent A. Robertson, MD PhD, is the Associate Director of the Stem Cell Transplantation Program at Indiana University and an outstanding translational scientist. He has worked closely with colleague Dr. Wade Clapp, of Indiana University, to direct several clinical trials for people affected with NF1-associated plexiform neurofibromas. His groundbreaking studies have helped to usher in […]

Symposium Sneak Peek: Dr. Joshua Rubin Discusses Malignant Brain Tumors in NF1

Joshua Rubin, MD PhD, is Associate Professor of Pediatrics in the Division of Hematology/Oncology at the Washington University School of Medicine. In addition, Dr. Rubin serves as Co-Director of the Pediatric Neuro-Oncology Center at St. Louis Children’s Hospital. For the past eight years, Dr. Rubin has been studying the role of chemokines in brain tumor […]

Washington University NF Center Featured in Innovate

The Washington University NF Center was recently featured as the cover story in the Washington University publication Innovate. The article introduces readers to Neurofibromatosis as a disorder and describes how clinicians and researchers in the Washington University NF Center work together to provide NF research, multidisciplinary clinical care and educational and community resources for families […]

Symposium Sneak Peek: Dr. Jonathan Epstein Discusses New Models of NF1-associated heart defects

Dr. Epstein is currently the William Wikoff Smith Chair in Cardiovascular Research, Chairman of the Department of Cell and Developmental Biology and the Scientific Director of the Pennsylvania University Cardiovascular Institute. Dr. Epstein’s research focuses on the molecular mechanisms of cardiovascular development. His group has been at the forefront of determining genetic and molecular pathways […]

Washington University NF Center Spring 2014 Newsletter

Check out our Spring 2014 newsletter! Inside this issue: Gender Influences Symptoms of NF1 Toddlers Show Progress After Beat NF Get Involved in Research And More! Check out our previous newsletters as well!

Symposium Sneak Peek: Dr. Elaine Mardis Discusses Advanced Sequencing Methods to Better Understand NF1

Elaine Mardis, PhD, is Professor in the Department of Genetics at Washington University as well as Co-Director of The Genome Institute at Washington University. For the past four years, Dr. Mardis and her team have spearheaded several large-scale genomics projects aimed at fully characterizing human and genetically-engineered mouse NF1-associated brain tumors At the Washington University […]

UPDATE: NF Clinical Trials for the Winter 2014 Quarter

We’ve updated the NF Clinical Trials section of our website via clinicaltrials.gov. Studies that have recently been added include: A Trial of Ganetesib Plus Sirolimus: Phase 1 Includes Multiple Sarcoma Subtypes and Phase 2 MPNST Selumentinib in Treating Young Patients with Recurrent or Refractory Low Grade Glioma Diagnosis of Pheochromocytoma Auditory Brainstem Implantation in Young […]

Grad Student Profile: Anne Solga – Studying Non-Cancerous Cells in Optic Pathway Gliomas

Anne Solga is studying the role of non-cancerous cells in NF1-associated optic glioma as an initial step towards identifying new treatments for these common childhood brain tumors. Using advanced sequencing and mouse modeling strategies, she has found a number of promising candidates for future drug design. Anne Solga has her MS in Biotechnology and is […]

Symposium Sneak Peek: Dr. Sean Morrison Discusses Stem Cells and NF1

The Washington University NF Center is pleased to welcome Dr. Sean Morrison as one of the 2014 Washington University NF Center Research Symposium keynote speakers. Sean J. Morrison, PhD, is the founding Director of the Children’s Research Institute and the Mary McDermott Cook Chair in Pediatric Genetics at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center […]