American Brain Tumor Association awards $100,000 clinical research grant

The Section on Tumors of the American Association of Neurological Surgeons and Congress of Neurological Surgeons has announced a $100,000 two-year ($50,000/year) clinical research grant funded by the American Brain Tumor Association (ABTA). The application is open exclusively to neurosurgeons who are members of the AANS/CNS Section on Tumors (http://www.tumorsection.org/).

"On the practice management front, these are the dedicated medical experts helping to save or prolong the lives of thousands of brain tumor patients, while on the research front, they are investigating groundbreaking brain tumor therapies. As such, we are pleased to support this grant and anticipate many promising applications," said ABTA Research Director Deneen Hesser.

Every year, an estimated 60,000 Americans are diagnosed with a primary brain tumor and more than 150,000 have cancer that spreads to, or "metastasizes," to the brain. "As neurosurgeons, my colleagues and I know firsthand the profound and often tragic impact brain tumors have on patients and their families. In general, current treatments have not yielded significant increases in survival rates for the most aggressive types of brain tumors, which is why research into novel therapies is so crucial. The AANS/CNS Section on Tumors is grateful to the ABTA for its generous funding of this important research grant," said ABTA Clinical Research Grant Director Christopher M. McPherson, MD.

Applications must demonstrate evidence of clinical trial expertise; a well designed hypothesis and clinical research plan along with any relevant supporting preliminary data; Institutional Review Board (IRB) approval for the proposed study; eligibility criteria and a plan for subject accrual; and a timetable for completion of the clinical trial.

Multicenter collaborations are permitted. The successful grant applicant will be chosen after a peer-review process conducted by members of the Executive Committee of the AANS/CNS Section on Tumors. The scientific merit of the proposed study, as well as the credentials of the applicant and the support of the institution will also be important factors. Proposals are due by January 15 and the grant will be awarded on March 1. The AANS will announce the recipient of this award at its annual meeting.