Research Funded To Date
The Ben and Catherine Ivy Foundation is dedicated to finding a cure for brain cancer. We strive in improve the quality of life and increase the life expectancy of those diagnosed with brain cancer by funding promising research that creates more diagnostics and treatments for patients.
Since 2008, we have funded 33 separate institutions with over 107 different research grants totaling over $150 million. These grants have involved research in phase 0 clinical trials, biomarkers, genomics, imaging, immunotherapy, stem cell, vaccines, and the development of possible new drugs.
2020
NEUROLOGICAL SCIENCES INTERNSHIP PROGRAM AT TGEN DESIGNED TO GIVE HIGH SCHOOL AND UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS INTENSIVE, HANDS-ON RESEARCH EXPERIENCE WORKING ALONGSIDE A MENTOR-SCIENTIST TO LEARN ABOUT TRANSLATIONAL RESEARCH WHILE INVESTIGATING QUESTIONS WITHIN THE NEUROLOGICAL SCIENCES.
Pl: Kristen Kaus
Manager of Education and Outreach
Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen)
USING PRE-CLINICAL EXPERIMENTAL MODELS, GLIOBLASTOMAS TUMORS DISPLAY THERAPEUTIC VULNERABILITY TO PHARMACOLOGIC TREATMENT WITH THE YAP/TAZ INHIBITOR AND PORPHYRIN DERIVATIVE VERTEPORFIN. TESTING OF AN FDA-APPROVED LIPOSOMAL FORMULATION OF VERTEPORFIN IN A PHASE 1/2 CLINICAL TRIALS IN HUMAN GLIOBLASTOMA PATIENTS AND TO IDENTIFY BIOMARKERS PREDICTIVE OF THERAPEUTIC RESPONSE TO THIS DRUG.
PI: Renee D. Read, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Pharmacology and Chemical Biology, Hematology and Medical Oncology
Emory University School of Medicine
THE USE OF STAT3 INHIBITION IN COMBINATION WITH RADIATION TO INDUCE ANTIGEN PRESENTING CELL-T CELL IMMUNOLOGICAL SYNAPSES AND SUBSEQUENT T CELL ACTIVATION IN THE GLIOMA MICROENVIRONMENT.
PI: Amy B. Heimberger, M.D.
Professor, Department of Neurosurgery; Leader of the Brain Tumor Program
MD Anderson Cancer Center
CO-CLINICAL TRIALS FOR GENE FUSION DRIVEN BRAIN TUMORS USING MOUSE MODELS TO INFORM DRUG DEVELOPMENT.
PIs: Eric Holland, M.D., Ph.D.
Sr. VP, Director, Human Biology Division, Director, Solid Tumor Translational Research,
Professor of Neurological Surgery
Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center
Taran Gujral, Ph.D.
Graduate Faculty Member, Molecular and Cellular Biology
Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center
Mark R. Gilbert, M.D.
Branch Chief and Senior Investigator, Neuro-Oncology Branch, National Cancer Institute, and National Institute for Neurologic Disorders and Stroke
National Institutes of Health
ENHANCING CHIMERIC ANTIGEN RECEPTOR (CAR) T CELL THERAPY FOR GLIOBLASTOMA THROUGH THE INDUCTION OF IFN-SIGNALING PATHWAYS. THIS APPROACH AIMS TO ADDRESS TWO OF THE MAJOR CHALLENGES OF IMMUNOTHERAPIES FOR GBM, THE IMMUNOSUPPRESSIVE TUMOR MICROENVIRONMENT (TME) AND THE TUMOR HETEROGENEITY.
PIs: Darya Alizadeh, Ph.D.
Assistant Research Professor in the Department of Hematology/Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation (HCT)
City of Hope
Christine Brown, Ph.D.
Associate Director, T Cell Therapeutics Research Laboratory
Departments of Hematology and Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation and Immuno-Oncology
City of Hope
DEVELOPMENT OF A TRANSCRIPTOMICALLY-GUIDED THERAPEUTIC STRATEGY THAT COMBINES TARGETED THERAPIES THAT BOTH EFFECTIVELY TREAT GLIOBLASTOMA AND PREVENT THE EMERGENCE OF TREATMENT RESISTANCE
PI and Consortium Leader: Steven Rosenfeld MD, PhD
Professor, Departments of Oncology, Neurology, and Molecular Pharmacology
Deputy Director
Mayo Clinic Comprehensive Cancer Center