Research

The Washington University Neurofibromatosis (NF) Center is a collective of clinicians and laboratory scientists focused on accelerating the pace of scientific discovery and its application to the care of individuals with NF.

A cross-disciplinary endeavor, the NF Center continually strives to eliminate obstacles to research and establish a framework for innovative scientific collaboration among investigators using groundbreaking research and medical technologies.

We are committed to:

• Promoting groundbreaking laboratory research aimed at understanding the roles of the NF genes in health and disease
• Facilitating collaborative interdisciplinary basic science and clinical research in NF
• Translating innovative discoveries to improve care for individuals with NF

While we always provide the best possible care for individuals with NF1 and NF2, it is important to understand that just because the treatment offered is currently the best one available, it does not mean that it is the best possible therapy. Unlike most common medical conditions that have a standard plan of care—or a known most effective therapy—there is no standard plan of care for the treatment of NF1 and NF2.

Because NF is a complex set of genetic conditions that affect no two individuals exactly the same way, physicians and researchers must work together to find the most effective way to treat each individual living with NF. The promise of personalized medicine – or treatments designed specifically for certain people and certain features seen in NF1 or NF2 – may emerge from the pioneering studies underway at the Washington University NF Center.