The Oligodendroglioma Research Fund supports promising
research specifically targeted at creating new treatments for oligodendroglioma (oligo) while leveraging the scientific expertise and proven process of the National Brain Tumor Society.

The Oligodendroglioma Research Fund was launched in June 2011 through the leadership of the Greene Family. Their vision was to unite patients, families, and people around the world who are touched by oligo, with a common goal – help fight for a cure for this disease. Since its inception, the Fund has quickly gained momentum, capturing the attention of patients and families who seek more treatment options, and ultimately a cure, for this form of brain cancer.

You can make a difference by making a donation to the Oligo Research Fund and asking your friends and family to do the same. By joining forces as a community of donors we can support the Fund’s distinctive approach, giving 100% of the donations to exclusively fund oligo research. Get involved today for someone you love.

The Research

National Brain Tumor Society research grants play a catalytic role in stimulating science and are aimed at translating new discoveries into treatments that can save lives. Read about promising discoveries that have been made in the oligo field.

In 2012, the National Brain Tumor Society convened a panel of the leading oligo research experts to form our Oligo Advisory Council. Chaired by visionaries, Dr. Gregory Cairncross, Professor and Head of the Department of Clinical Neurosciences at the University of Calgary, and G. Yancey Gillespie, PhD at University of Alabama at Birmingham, the group identified three specific areas of research that would hold the most promise to improve patient care and treatment:

1. Genomics
2. Stem cell and lineage biology
3. Tumor modeling

The Request for Applications (hyperlink) was released at the end of 2012 and met with an overwhelming response. The first grant winners will be announced in the spring of 2013 after thorough scientific review. Meanwhile, continued fundraising is critical to support future research. National Brain Tumor Society is committed to continuing to raise awareness and funds in support of oligo research.

Working with the National Brain Tumor Society, the Greene Family joined with other affected families to initiate the creation of the Oligo Research Fund. Continuing to build on their desire to create a movement and find a cure, the Greene’s launched OligoNation in 2013. Donations made in association with OligoNation exclusively support the funded work of the Oligo Research Fund.

Community Spotlight

As the second most common form of glioma, there are many who have been touched by oligo. Read here about people in our community who are fighting for a cure.

On March 1, 2003 at the age of 4 ½, our daughter Isabel had a grand mal seizure while eating lunch. She subsequently was diagnosed with a large infiltrating low grade inoperable brain tumor which we later came to learn was an Oligodendroglioma. Since diagnosis, Isabel has undergone two separate brain surgeries for seizure control, spent over a year on chemotherapy, undergone 30 MRI scans, 4 PET scans, 2 MEG studies, 3 EEG’s and 2 video telemetry. In addition she has suffered over 2,000 complex partial seizures which continue to this day. In short, Isabel has endured more than a child should.

After diagnosis, we were surprised at how little was known about her tumor and even more shocked at the fact there was virtually no research being done on low grade Oligo’s. Isabel’s tumor extends into her brain stem so full resection is not an option. Because of this, we knew much more research had to be done since it is the only alternative that offers Isabel a long term solution. While our family underwrites research at UCLA, we understood what really would be meaningful was broad based support from the entire brain tumor community. So when the NBTS came up with the Oligo Research Fund, it was imperative our family get involved. It was also fortuitous the fund was established right around the time the inaugural walk was being planned for Los Angeles. So in conjunction with the walk, we have been active in obtaining corporate sponsorships, donations in kind and recruiting family and friends to participate in the LA walk. All of the monies we raise go 100% to the Oligo fund.

Isabel and our family live with the cruel impact a brain tumor inflicts. We know the only hope is through more research. And that takes money. That is why we have dedicated ourselves to supporting the Oligo Research Fund. It offers purpose and hope to those impacted where nothing existed before. I can only say we have gotten far more out of our involvement than we ever imagined.