For families facing high-grade glioma (HGG), the deadliest childhood brain cancer, the diagnosis often feels like a storm: dark, fast, and overwhelming. Treatments are limited, harmful, and too often ineffective. For more than 40 years, progress has been slow, treatments have remained painfully toxic, and children have borne the weight of a system that simply did not have the tools, data, or alignment it needed to change the forecast.

But this moment is different. And for the first time ever, thanks to the influence, funding, and relentless advocacy of Bridge To A Cure Foundation, the entire pediatric brain tumor community is coming together behind a series of unified goals:

• Drive shared data collection, access, and harmonization
• Cure high-grade glioma
• Pursue non-toxic treatments
• Leverage the full power of data and AI to get there faster

This is the culmination of the Bridge To A Cure mission from day one: to unite and transform the childhood cancer community’s approach to research with the goal of cutting the childhood cancer death rate by 50% by 2030.

Why HGG Has Been So Hard to Cure — and Why That’s Changing

High-grade glioma moves quickly. It infiltrates healthy brain tissue, resists nearly all available therapies, and evolves fast enough to outrun scientific understanding. For years, researchers lacked the visibility needed to track the disease’s behavior, not because they lacked dedication, but because they lacked something fundamental: shared, high-quality data.

Each hospital held only a few cases. Each research center saw only fragments. As a result, discovery moved slowly, and families waited under a sky that didn’t seem to clear.

Thanks to the combined momentum of our foundation’s advocacy and the Children’s Brain Tumor Network (CBTN), that reality has shifted. And by bringing dozens of childhood cancer foundations and more than 35 pediatric institutions together and uniting their data, imaging, biospecimens, and expertise, CBTN has created the largest collaborative pediatric brain cancer community in the world, and with it, new clarity, new insights, and new momentum.

This shared ecosystem has set the stage for something once unimaginable: real insight, real collaboration, and real possibility.

The BTAC–CBTN Partnership: Preparing 900 Datasets for a Brighter Future

Among the most extraordinary achievements of our network is the contribution made by 900 children with HGG, whose families shared clinical records, imaging, and tumor data in the hope that no other family would weather the storm alone.

To honor their courage, Bridge To A Cure Foundation is funding the work needed to prepare these 900 datasets to FDA gold-standard quality, the essential step for:

• powering new AI-driven research,
• supporting regulatory submissions,
• designing smarter, safer clinical trials, and
• moving toward less-toxic treatments that protect childhood.

This work turns raw information into a stable foundation where new discoveries can finally take root.

Bridge To A Cure is committed to completing the HGG dataset validation within a single year—an ambitious yet essential goal. By the end of 2026, this data will fully power the RADIANT AI pediatric research platform, enabling scientists to detect patterns no human eye could see and accelerating the development of safer, more effective therapies children urgently need.

A Gathering of Leaders: The SU2C High-Grade Glioma Summit

This January marks a pivotal shift. Stand Up To Cancer (SU2C) will host the first-ever national pediatric High-Grade Glioma Summit, bringing together leaders in oncology, genomics, AI, and clinical innovation.

This transformative Summit reflects the growing momentum across the entire field, shaped in part by years of Bridge To A Cure’s advocacy, coalition-building, and insistence that the community align around curing pediatric glioblastoma. The call for unity, shared data, and non-toxic treatments, championed consistently by Bridge To A Cure, helped create the conditions for a gathering of this scale to become a national priority. Summit attendees will come together, in person, to meet around these shared goals and collaborate on ways to achieve them.

Bridge To A Cure President Robert (Bob) Martin has been invited to join as a panelist, representing:

• the voice of families,
• the need for scientific collaboration,
• the promise of data-driven research, and
• the urgency of developing non-toxic treatments.

Bob’s leadership ensures the movement to cure HGG remains centered on the children who need it most and the families who have already endured far too many storms.

2026: A Break in the Clouds

Across childhood brain cancer research, the weather pattern is changing:

• Data is no longer siloed.
• Scientists are no longer working alone.
• AI is no longer a distant promise — it’s becoming a real tool.
• Families’ contributions are finally being honored through action.
• Institutions are aligning under shared momentum.

These are rays of light that are bursting through years of cloudy progress. And as the validated HGG dataset comes online in 2026, paired with Radiant AI insights and guided by collaborations strengthened through the SU2C summit, we approach a horizon that has remained out of reach for far too long: the possibility of safer, smarter, more effective treatments for children with high-grade glioma.

How You Can Help

Preparing the HGG dataset is not optional. It’s the foundational step that makes every discovery possible. And now, thanks to a $50,000 matching gift from a generous anonymous donor, every gift through December 31 is doubled.

This funding drives a new dawn for kids with cancer through:

• FDA-grade data validation
• AI-enabled research through RADIANT
• Collaborative scientific alignment heading into 2026
• BTAC’s advocacy at the SU2C summit
• And progress toward the non-toxic treatments children urgently need

Your support doesn’t just fund a project. It brings light into a space that has lived under clouds for far too long.

A Brighter Horizon for Children

We cannot change the past, but together we are reshaping the future, one dataset, one discovery, one act of generosity at a time. And families who have endured the darkest days are beginning to see the possibility of a brighter tomorrow.

As we enter 2026, hope is no longer just an idea — it’s our direction.

Double your impact. Fulfill the promise.
Donate through December 31: bit.ly/BTAC-double-impact

Even among other pediatric brain tumors, high-grade glioma (HGG) is a disturbing diagnosis. It is the deadliest form of pediatric brain cancer and among the hardest to treat. These tumors grow deep within the brain, infiltrating healthy tissue so quickly and diffusely that even the best neurosurgeons cannot remove them completely.

For children and families, the statistics are staggering:

• HGG accounts for roughly 20 percent of all pediatric brain tumor deaths.
• Average survival is often less than two years from diagnosis.
• Existing treatments—surgery, chemotherapy, radiation—are toxic and largely ineffective, leaving those who survive with lasting physical and cognitive harm.

Despite decades of effort, survival rates for HGG have barely improved. Each year, more families hear the same heartbreaking words: “There are no good options left.”

Why Progress Has Been Sluggish

The traditional model of cancer research has unintentionally slowed discovery. For decades, hospitals and labs have stored patient samples and data within their own walls, developing therapies in isolation. This siloed approach meant that no single institution had enough cases—or enough diverse data—to reveal the full picture of how HGG grows, mutates, and resists treatment.

Without large, harmonized datasets, scientists could not:

• Identify the subtle biological patterns that differentiate tumor subtypes.
• Use artificial intelligence (AI) to predict treatment response.
• Design clinical trials fast enough to keep pace with the disease.

In short, every child’s story remained trapped inside a separate data silo.

Breaking Down Barriers Through Collaboration

The Children’s Brain Tumor Network (CBTN) has changed that story. CBTN unites more than 35 leading hospitals and research centers around the world, sharing biospecimens, imaging, and clinical data openly through the Pediatric Brain Tumor Atlas—one of the largest, most comprehensive datasets in existence. Bridge To A Cure is an Executive Council member of CBTN, helping to fuel this barrier-breaking momentum.

For the first time ever, researchers can see across institutions, compare results, and build on each other’s work with relative ease. This collaborative, open-science model has already begun to accelerate discoveries across multiple tumor types.

But for HGG—the most aggressive of them all—the work must go even further.

The Next Leap: Making Data FDA-Ready

CBTN now holds the largest open-access collection of HGG data in the world, contributed by 900 brave children and their families. To unleash its full power, this data must be verified, standardized, and connected at a level that meets FDA gold-standard quality—the rigorous benchmark required to design clinical trials, support regulatory submissions, and serve as the foundation for AI-driven discovery.

That is the focus of the Bridge To A Cure Foundation’s flagship initiative: The Clinical Validation of the High-Grade Glioma Cohort.

Through this project, specialists will:

• Clean and lock 900 patient records to regulatory-grade quality.
• Harmonize imaging, molecular, and clinical data across all sites.
• Validate these datasets in real time to inform AI-powered analyses and discoveries.

When complete, this will be the first FDA-ready pediatric brain-cancer dataset—a resource that researchers, clinicians, and regulators worldwide can trust to accelerate safer, more effective therapies.

How This Work Changes Everything

Validated, interoperable data is more than a technical milestone—it is the foundation for cures. With it, scientists can:

• Develop AI models that uncover molecular targets invisible to the human eye.
• Identify drugs that attack tumors while sparing healthy tissue.
• Launch clinical trials faster, guided by real-world evidence.
• Replace the old trial-and-error approach with precision, data-driven care.

For families, this means shorter paths to new therapies and treatments that heal without harm. For researchers, it means an end to guesswork and duplication. For donors, it means every dollar drives measurable, lasting change.

How Donors Fulfill the Promise

Bridge To A Cure Foundation is raising $150,000 to complete CBTN’s transformational work. Every contribution is urgently needed and helps prepare this data for global use, accelerates discovery, innovates through AI, and develops non-toxic therapies.

And now, thanks to a $50,000 matching gift from a generous anonymous donor, every donation made through the end of the year will be doubled.

The 900 children who contributed their data have given all they can. Now it’s our turn to honor that courage by turning data into discovery and discovery into cures.

Double your impact. Fulfill the promise.

Donate at bit.ly/BTAC-double-impact.

IT’S CHILDHOOD CANCER AWARENESS MONTH

HERE’S WHAT MATTERS MOST!

Pediatric glioblastoma is among the most lethal and devastating childhood cancers. My family has lived this journey Documentary Film.mov – Google Drive

The truth is stark: progress has been painfully slow—not for lack of brilliant scientists or promising technologies, but because too many institutions choose competition over collaboration.

Prestigious centers are hoarding patient data, research findings, and funding. Some are even diverting scarce dollars away from hospitals that urgently need support, while building financial reserves far beyond what is required.

The result? Duplication of effort. Fragmented silos. Wasted time. Vast regions of the country without adequate resources. And while institutions protect their turf, children continue to die from a disease that has seen little meaningful progress in decades.

Over the past 50 years, billions of dollars and countless hours have been invested. Yet the return on that investment has been negligible. The culprit is clear: a siloed culture that donors have—often unknowingly—funded. We all know what must change.

If a cure is to be found, collaboration and transparency must replace competition and concealment. Institutions must explicitly commit to collaboration in their mission statements. This demands a culture shift—and donors have the leverage to make it happen.

What You Can Demand as a Donor:

• Open Data Sharing – Require institutions to share patient and research data without delay or restriction.
• Collaborative Trials – Expand access for families by insisting on multi-institutional clinical trials.
• Collective Investment – Direct funding toward shared infrastructure—biobanks, genomic commons, AI platforms—where every dollar multiplies impact.
• Accountability – Ensure donor intent is honored; funds must advance cures, not inflate reserves.

Every child lost is a reminder that fractured efforts cost lives. A cure will not emerge from one laboratory or one hospital; it will come only from a unified front.

Your investment is precious. Make it count—insist that it fuels collaboration, transparency, and urgency. Together, we can demand results. Make your pledge below.

Click to sign the Donor Pledge for Collaboration in Pediatric Brain Cancer Research

CHILDHOOD CANCER AWARENESS MONTH DONORS

IT’S CHILDHOOD CANCER AWARENESS MONTH

RESEARCH INSTITUTIONS ARE THE BARRIER!

NOT THE RESEARCHERS

Pediatric glioblastoma remains one of the most devastating childhood cancers. My family has lived this journey Documentary Film.mov – Google Drive

The greatest obstacle to progress is not science or technology—it is culture. Too many prestigious institutions hoard data, guard funding, and even divert resources from hospitals that struggle to meet the needs of their patients. The result: duplication, silos, wasted resources, and entire regions left without adequate care. While institutions protect their turf, children are dying from a disease that has seen little meaningful progress in decades.

Why Change Is Non-Negotiable

• Rarity demands scale. No single center sees enough cases or holds enough data to solve this disease. Only pooled knowledge and shared resources can yield statistically valid insights.
• Collaboration accelerates progress. Unified trials and infrastructure reduce duplication, broaden patient access, and generate results in years—not decades.
• Resources are scarce. Every dollar consumed by competition or redundant effort is a dollar not spent advancing cures. Shared platforms ensure maximum impact.
• Mission must outweigh prestige. Institutional rivalries cannot be allowed to determine life-or-death outcomes for children.

For fifty years, billions of dollars and countless hours have been invested with negligible return. Progress has been stalled not by lack of ability, but by a siloed, protective culture. We know what must be done:

• Open, unrestricted data sharing across all centers.
• Shared infrastructure for biobanks, genomic data, and AI platforms.
• Joint clinical trials that expand access and accelerate results.
• Transparent research sharing to prevent duplication and expand the data pool.
• Equitable funding distribution that strengthens resource-limited hospitals.

If a cure is to be found, collaboration and transparency must replace competition and concealment. Every institution should embed transparency and collaboration in its mission.

The Path Forward

Change will not occur by good intentions alone. Institutions are unlikely to move independently. What is required is a pediatric glioblastoma summit—a forum where leaders agree on principles, establish timetables, and commit to implementation.

Childhood Cancer Awareness month is the time for each institution to pledge their support for such a summit; a summit that will knock down barriers, one that will advance collaboration, transparency, and urgency. Make your pledge below.

Click to sign the Institution Pledge to Drive Collaboration and Transparency

CHILDHOOD CANCER AWARENESS MONTH RESEARCHERS

Bridge To A Cure’s reimagined approach to childhood brain tumor cancer was presented to the National Cancer Institute on October 5, 2017. The core imperatives driving the approach are:

• Data: Fuel a robust, multiomic brain tumor data ecosystem shared freely among all researchers globally.
• AI: Employ generative AI (artificial intelligence) throughout the research process.
• Nontoxic Treatments: Develop nontoxic treatments that target pediatric brain tumor cancer cells via the immune system, angiogenesis or apoptosis.

Thanks to NCI’S support and advocacy, this approach has been enthusiastically embraced by the broader pediatric cancer community, with our partners at the Children’s Brain Tumor Network (CBTN) leading the pack.

The team at CBTN, led by Dr. Naqvi, leveraging data and AI has successfully found a solution to targeting tumor cells without harming normal brain cells. This was just published by the Cell Report, a prestigious research journal that publishes meaningful breakthroughs that the entire research community has open access to.

Scientists studying aggressive childhood brain tumors (pediatric high-grade gliomas, or pHGGs) face a problem: there aren’t many unique “flags” on the tumor cell surface that can be targeted by treatments without harming normal brain cells.

To find new treatment targets, researchers looked at the differences in how cancer cells and healthy brain cells read and edit genetic instructions. They noticed that in tumor cells, some tiny bits of genetic code—called microexons—were missing from certain outer-layer proteins. Many of these proteins help nerve cells connect and talk to each other, including one called NRCAM.

NRCAM is a protein that sits on the surface of nerve cells and acts like Velcro, helping them stick to and communicate with each other so the brain’s wiring works properly.

In nearly every tumor sample tested, two specific microexons (numbers 5 and 19) were missing from NRCAM. This altered version of NRCAM wasn’t just different—it was critical for the tumor’s ability to spread and grow. When researchers made an antibody that specifically recognized this altered NRCAM, they could “mark” the tumor cells. Then, specially engineered immune cells were able to find and destroy them.

This discovery suggests that the altered form of NRCAM—and possibly other similar proteins—could be highly precise targets for new cancer treatments that train the immune system to attack only the tumor cells.

The childhood cancer landscape is changing and changing fast. The National Institute of Health (NIH), a lifeline for the childhood cancer community has depended upon since 1930, is facing serious cutbacks.

The NIH 2025 budget is $54 billion and employs over 50,000. There are 21 health related institutions within the NIH of which the National Cancer Institute (NCI) is one. The NCI 2025 budget is $7.2 billion and employs 3,500. At risk are the following:

· Research Grants………..$3.2 billion

· Other Grants…………….. . 6 billion

· Research Centers………. . 6 billion

· R&D Contracts………….. . 9 billion

· Intramural Research….. 1.3 billion

· Management/Other….. .6 billion

Total………………..$7.2 billion

Where and to what extents there will be cuts is uncertain.

Understandably the community is upset, confused, disappointed and angered. While efforts to save NIH are underway, they are unlikely to be successful.

The potential magnitude of this loss is enormous, all the more reason that the community must plan now for the worst-case scenario. It needs to do what best-in-class industries and organizations do when their business is at risk – reengineer. The good news is that the pediatric brain tumor cancer research community has already started.

Research Approach Reengineered

What was accomplished in a short period of time was encouraging; the optimism for saving lives elevated to the highest level ever.

· They began by identifying the issues that were barriers to discovery.

· Next, they pinpointed the root causes of these barriers.

· From these learnings a plan was developed and implemented that transformed the pediatric brain tumor research community’s approach to research from siloed to collaborative, from data starved to data driven, from limited analytics to powerful algorithms, from a reliance on highly toxic treatments to an accelerating flow of innovative nontoxic treatments.

We now need a community-wide effort.

Pediatric Cancer Brain tumor Community Reengineered

The truth is that the pediatric brain tumor community has needed reengineering for decades. While resistant to change for years, it can no longer afford to be. We must remember that it is the lives of children we are fighting to save, not our own.

The community must now embrace change and engage in a community-wide reengineering initiative. One that will leverage the community’s collective resources and eliminate inefficient and ineffective practices; one centered around a culture of collaboration and focus.

Below is a process to do just that; one that will require representation from each sector of the pediatric brain tumor community.

Step 1: Issues identified 4/1/25

• Current:
  • Within each sector
  • Across sectors
• Resources eliminated from NIH/NCI

Step 2: Reengineering principles agreed

• Establish a community-wide mission; one that is audacious and measurable: To cut the childhood brain cancer death rate 50% by 2030.
• Embrace a set of research imperatives
  • Invest/contribute to a Comprehensive Brain Tumor Database: Expand and leverage an open-access database for global researchers to accelerate discovery.
  • Leverage Generative AI: Integrate artificial intelligence across the research process to enhance speed, accuracy, and innovation.
  • Develop Nontoxic Treatments: Focus on therapies that utilize the body’s immune system, angiogenesis, and/or apoptosis to target cancer cells.
• Commit to a set of unification imperatives:
  • Collaboration: Pooling resources, research, data, and funding to maximize impact.
  • Focus: Concentrating resources on fewer, high-impact initiatives to ensure greater progress.

Step 3: Plan Developed

• Multi sector leadership team formed.
  • Children’s Oncology Group
  • Research Institutions
  • Each of the three Pediatric Brain Tumor Networks/Consortiums
  • Large Nonprofits
  • Smaller Nonprofits
  • Pharmaceutical Companies
  • AI companies
  •  NCI/NIH
• Planning session
  • Leader from above group recruited
  • Consulting firm with extensive experience engaged
  • Executive planning team enlisted
  • Plans for multi sector leadership team completed.
  • Logistics finalized

A more detailed version of the above proposal has been submitted to a few select organizations that are well positioned to take a leadership role. I will report progress as it materializes.

Our January blog announced that the time had come for the pediatric childhood community to rally behind a common goal: to reduce childhood brain cancer deaths 50% by 2030. This requires the full engagement of the entire pediatric cancer community, with a collective commitment to three strategic imperatives:

· Create a Comprehensive Brain Tumor Database

· Leverage Generative AI

· Develop Nontoxic Treatments

Realizing these strategic imperatives will require a fundamental shift in the culture of the pediatric cancer community, centered around:

· Collaboration: pool /share research initiatives, resources, data and funding.

· Focus: harness more resources behind fewer initiatives.

An overview of the pediatric cancer brain tumor community follows:

· Research Sector: This includes all pediatric cancer research institutions that are not part of the private sector. From a planning perspective, it is important to note that five of the organizations account for most of the research while two hundred institutions belong to the Children’s Oncology Group.

· Nonprofits: It is estimated that 50% of pediatric cancer research funding comes from nonprofits. This sector can be divided into two categories:

•  The ten largest nonprofits that account for 80% of pediatric cancer research funding.
• Smaller nonprofits that are members of a pediatric brain tumor coalition or network.

· Public Sector: Principal participants are federal government entities, the National Cancer Instititute (NCI Funding/Policy and Cancer Research Centers), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Food & Drug Administration (FDA), and Legislators. While NCI manages the bulk of the load, each department is important.

· Private Sector: there are two primary segments, pharmaceuticals and technology (tech) companies.

• Pharmaceutical Companies: historically, this industry’s participation has been limited in the pediatric space. Recent legislation now requires a greater contribution and involvement by applying learnings from adult brain tumor research.
• Tech Companies: Companies involved with artificial intelligence (AI) can play a transformative role in accelerating the pace of pediatric brain tumor cancer discovery through data analysis, precision medicine, and more.

In the following blogs of this series, we will outline the expectations from each sector within the pediatric cancer brain tumor community.

Despite over 40 years of research and billions of dollars in investment, progress in pediatric cancer research has not met expectations. Continuing with past strategies will likely result in further disappointment.

A new, bold approach is required—one that unites the research, nonprofit, public, and private sectors around a shared mission: to reduce the childhood cancer death rate 50% by 2030 through a collaborative approach to cure pediatric brain tumor cancer.

We propose focusing on pediatric brain tumors as the initial target to pilot this new approach. This will serve as a model for tackling other pediatric cancers in the future. Achieving success will require full engagement from the entire pediatric cancer community, with a collective commitment to three strategic imperatives and a cultural shift in how we approach research.

Imperatives:

· Create a Comprehensive Brain Tumor Database: Develop an open-access database for global researchers to accelerate discovery.

· Leverage Generative AI: Integrate artificial intelligence across the research process to enhance speed, accuracy, and innovation.

· Develop Nontoxic Treatments: Focus on therapies that utilize the body’s immune system, angiogenesis, and/or apoptosis to target cancer cells.

Cultural Change:

Realizing these strategic imperatives will require a fundamental shift in the culture of the pediatric cancer community, centered around:

· Collaboration: Pooling resources, research, data, and funding to maximize impact.

· Focus: Concentrating resources on fewer, high-impact initiatives to ensure greater progress.

The pediatric cancer community has faced decades of stagnation—marked by disappointments and a lack of visionary leadership. But with this new approach, we have an opportunity to change the course of the future. This is the approach to Fulfilling the Promise made over 40 years ago.

Over this past year, Bridge To A Cure has played a key role in accelerating life-saving discoveries for childhood brain tumors through our partnership with the Children’s Brain Tumor Network (CBTN), a worldwide leader in pediatric data collection, sharing, and collaboration.

In fact, every dollar donated through Bridge To A Cure in 2024 strengthened the vital work conducted by our coalition, empowering hundreds of researchers with the tools and infrastructure they need to unlock cures. It further enforces the collaborative spirit that will result in better treatments and, ultimately, a cure for these deadly diseases.

Together, we’re changing how research is conducted and the speed at which discoveries are made.

We’re thrilled to share some of the biggest highlights of 2024:

Expanding Critical Data: With funding from several sources, including Bridge To A Cure, CBTN processed hundreds of new patient samples in 2024, significantly enriching the Pediatric Brain Tumor Atlas. This invaluable resource allows researchers to delve deeper into the unique biology of these tumors, paving the way for targeted and more effective treatments.

Enhancing Global Collaboration: The CAVATICA software platform, a cornerstone of this partnership’s research efforts, supported over 1,500 global research projects in 2024. Upgrades to this essential tool have improved usability and real-time data access, fostering seamless collaboration among researchers worldwide and accelerating the pace of discovery.

Advancing AI-Driven Solutions: With the resources of CBTN and supported by our coalition, we’ve made significant strides in developing AI-ready datasets and predictive models for some of the most challenging types of pediatric brain tumors, including diffuse midline gliomas (DMG) and medulloblastomas. These innovative approaches hold immense promise for deeper insights and the development of new treatment strategies.

Strengthening Pediatric Proteomic Data: CBTN maintains the largest cohort of pediatric proteomic (proteins) data for brain tumors, expanding it by 30% in 2024. This enriched dataset is crucial for advancing personalized medicine and developing treatments tailored to each child’s unique tumor characteristics.

Building A Data-Driven Research Community

In October 2017, Bridge To A Cure Founder Bob Martin met with National Cancer Institute NCI) Director Dr. Ned Sharpless to share his recommendation to build a national childhood cancer database that was easily accessible by researchers. This idea is realized in the Childhood Cancer Data Initiative (CCDI), authorized by Congress just two years later and funded at $50 million annually for 10 years.

This crucial resource was made possible through harmonizing data using a unified lexicon, an endeavor funded by the Bridge To A Cure Foundation through the Pediatric Cancer Data Commons (PCDC). By uniting data from various sources, including the Kids First Data Resource Center, St. Jude Cloud, and the Treehouse Childhood Cancer Data Initiative, CCDI aims to foster a collaborative research environment where scientists can access more data, tools, and resources than ever before.

A RADIANT Approach to Cures

For years, Bridge To A Cure has called to expedite a united approach to scientific discovery through technological advancement. Now, CBTN stands at the forefront of pediatric cancer research, spearheading initiatives like the government-funded RADIANT project. In collaboration with leading technology companies, including Amazon Web Services (AWS), Valsera, and Mulesoft (a SalesForce company), this ambitious initiative aims to integrate AI seamlessly into all aspects of pediatric cancer research. AI and leading-edge technologies are significant aspects of how Bridge To A Cure will achieve our mission of reducing the childhood cancer death rate by 50% by 2030. That’s why we invested $200,000 to seed this vital program. Through this investment, CBTN created patient data pipelines that seamlessly integrate from local hospital record platforms to the PBTA.

Through RADIANT, CBTN transforms how we approach diagnosis and treatment planning, providing researchers with unprecedented access to AI-ready datasets, advanced tools, and leading-edge resources. With continued support from Bridge To A Cure and others, RADIANT will set a new standard for personalized care, bringing us closer to a future where every child diagnosed with a brain tumor doesn’t just survive but thrives.

What Lies Ahead

Over the past seven years, Bridge To A Cure Foundation has transformed and united the childhood cancer community. We’ve built a powerful network of researchers, doctors, families, and advocates, all working to end childhood brain cancer.

During this time, we’ve seen significant strides in advancing scientific research and fostering an environment where innovation and hope flourish. The accomplishments of 2024 are the culmination of many years of hard work, determination, and a shared belief that we can overcome the challenges that have long hindered the progress that keeps us from ending this brutal disease. Bridge To A Cure has created real, lasting change, from breakthroughs in data-driven research and patient care to new partnerships with leading research institutions, tech companies, and the federal government. We are poised to make even more incredible strides with these achievements as the framework for new advancement.

For 2025 and beyond, Bridge To A Cure is urging foundations and philanthropists that share our vision to invest $100 million in dedicated brain tumor research funds. By mirroring the collaborative success of our research institution partners, these funds will empower scientists to bypass traditional barriers and accelerate groundbreaking therapies and prevention strategies. And, by supporting this groundbreaking research, we’re investing in a brighter future for families. Every contribution, no matter the size, translates into tangible progress. Your generosity fuels real hope that we will conquer childhood brain tumors and protect the health and happiness of our children.

The landscape of pediatric cancer research is undergoing a dramatic transformation, driven by a determined spirit of collaboration, data sharing, and technological innovation. This shift is fueled by a growing understanding of the unique challenges faced by young patients and a collective determination to find cures. Bridge To A Cure Foundation played a leading role defining and transforming the approach to pediatric brain cancer.

A Shared Vision

In recent years, researchers, clinicians, and patient advocates have formed powerful alliances to accelerate the speed at which information is gathered, organized, and shared. Organizations like Bridge To A Cure partner, The Children’s Brain Tumor Network (CBTN), have fostered cooperation and accelerated research so that scientists can identify promising findings, uncover new insights, and develop more effective treatments by sharing data, expertise, and resources.

The Power of Data

Data is the lifeblood of modern research, and the pediatric cancer community has recognized its immense potential.

Initiatives like the Pediatric Brain Tumor Atlas (PBTA) are where support from Bridge To A Cure ,and other nonprofits, can have a greater impact. The PBTA is a groundbreaking initiative that leverages the power of multi-modal data from over 8,000 enrollees. This rich dataset, encompassing genomic information, clinical records, digital imaging, and more, provides a comprehensive view of each patient’s journey. By unlocking the insights hidden within this data, researchers can develop more targeted and less toxic therapies, ultimately improving patient outcomes.

Government Support and Innovation

Governments worldwide have also recognized the importance of supporting pediatric cancer research. Increased funding for research initiatives has allowed scientists to explore new avenues, such as immunotherapy and gene therapy. Additionally, advancements in artificial intelligence and machine learning have opened new possibilities for drug discovery, clinical trial design, and personalized medicine.

Bridge to a Cure is proud to support collaborative efforts that are transforming the landscape of pediatric cancer research.

The Gabriella Miller Kids First Act has created a powerful platform for researchers to share data, insights, and expertise. By making the CBTN PBTA dataset accessible to the global research community, we are fostering innovation and accelerating the pace of discovery. Together, we can build a future where every child has the chance to thrive.

A Culture of Collaboration

The culture of pediatric cancer research has evolved significantly, with a greater emphasis on collaboration and open science. This movement away from competitive research models in pediatric research has paved the way to real progress in pediatric cancer research and understanding congenital disorders. Researchers are increasingly sharing their findings and working together to address complex challenges. Forums like the Bridge To A Cure-sponsored Children’s Brain Tumor Network Summit, attended by hundreds of scientists and technologists in Virginia this past October offer opportunities for the pediatric brain tumor research community to explore ideas together. This collaborative approach removes traditional research barriers and accelerates the pace of discovery.

The advancements in pediatric brain tumor research in recent years is directly attributed to a collaborative approach within and across institutions. Childhood cancer nonprofits should do the same.  Next month’s blog will begin to explore this opportunity.