VABC has raised $1.3 million for brain cancer research, support programs and educational initiatives over the last two years. With this funding, VABC was able to fund the following programs:

• A two year grant to Columbia University’s New York Presbyterian Hospital Brain Tumor Center in New York City
• The creation of the Raise Your Voice Program to support people and their families and friends who are dealing with brain cancer
• The creation of a Support Group for Caregivers and Family Members of brain tumor patients
• The creation of the Young Investigators Program for student researchers at Northwestern University
• The production of a film detailing personal experiences with brain cancer.

The grant to Columbia University’s New York-Presbyterian Hospital Brain Tumor Center enabled the Center to expand the clinic population by nearly 75%; start a Center support group; introduce five new phase I, II and III brain tumor therapeutic clinical trials to the Columbia Human Investigations Review Board (IRB) for patient entry at Columbia; develop a high profile within the local and national referral community; routinely receive referrals from Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, the Massachusetts General Hospital, the University of Pennsylvania and the Cornell campus of New York-Presbyterian Hospital; and move research forward in the areas of mechanical constraints governing glioma invasion and inhibitors of mitotic kinesins.

The Raise Your Voice Program (RYVP) supports patients and families who are touched by brain cancer. This program consists of a manual filled with helpful information on brain cancer covering vast areas from diagnosis to treatment to support. VABC introduced this program to Columbia University’s New York – Presbyterian Hospital Brain Tumor Center in 2006/2007 and will begin distributing manuals in January of 2008 to 500 patients and their families throughout the year. It is VABC’s ultimate goal to partner with hospitals nationally to distribute the RYVP manual. This program has the potential to reach thousands of patients and their families and friends, nationally. The expansion goal for 2008 is to extend the program to three more hospitals in the New York City area.

The Support Group for Caregivers and Family Members of brain tumor patients was created in partnership with the American Cancer Society. It provides the caregivers with the safe and comforting environment to relive some of their emotional tension by sharing their experiences, fears, and anxieties with others. In addition, caregivers also have the opportunity to learn both practical and medical information, which would help to reduce the anxiety associated with an uncertain future.  The group is facilitated by David Pulli, a Licensed Medical Social Worker with experience in oncology and facilitating support groups.

The Young Investigators Program sponsors Northwestern University medical students who conduct brain tumor research. Students will be under the guidance of Dr. Jeff Raizer, head of Neuro-Oncology at Northwestern Medical Center. As this program develops, VABC will update its supporters on all of the programs being funded and the results of their research. Stay tuned!

VABC has also newly begun production on a film that details the experiences of people coping with brain cancer. This film will reach people on all ends of the brain cancer spectrum, from patients to physicians to researchers, and create increased dialogue in the community that will lead to improved funding for brain cancer.

We look forward to continuing to fund innovative programs in brain cancer research and support. If you are interested in applying for a grant from VABC or would like to sponsor one of our programs, please contact Darren Port at 646.278.6735.

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