Drug Discovery Initiative
A Preclinical Consortium, Grant Awards and Toolbox to Accelerate Candidate NF Drug Screening
There is currently no effective drug treatment for neurofibromatosis (NF). To help change that, the Drug Discovery Initiative (DDI) funds and facilitates preclinical screening of candidate treatments for NF.
DDI NF Preclinical Consortium: An ongoing $7M program to accelerate the identification of effective drug therapies, testing candidate NF drugs in multiple tumor models of NF. For more information, please click here.
Drug Discovery Initiative (DDI) Awards: Individual grants to fund pilot-stage preclinical drug testing.
NEW for 2012 DDI Amounts INCREASED!
- $30,000 for in vitro drug testing/screens
- $50,000 for in vivo drug testing/screens
DDI Advanced Awards: Advanced in vivo funding of up to $75,000. Applications accepted only by invitation from CTF, from individuals who have previously received an in vivo DDI Award. For more information contact CTF.
2011 DDI Award deadlines:
- February 28, 2012
- August 31, 2012
Click here to view full application and RFA.
DDI Toolbox: An online listing of ‘tools’ and partnering forum for NF drug screening. If you have an NF screening model (cells, animal models) – or a drug you’d like to see tested for NF efficacy – submit them for listing in the DDI Toolbox. Click here to see the latest Toolbox listings.
Toolbox Submissions are accepted on a rolling basis
Download the DDI Toolbox Submissions Information
Questions? Contact:
Kim Hunter-Schaedle, Ph.D.
Chief Scientific Officer
Children's Tumor Foundation
95 Pine Street, 16th Floor
New York, NY 10005
Tel: 212-344-6633 x 231
Email: \n
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Clinical Programs
test clinicla programs |
2011 NF Conference
The 2011 NF Conference co-chairs are Nancy Ratner, PhD (Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH), a leading NF1 researcher with interests in modeling the neurofibromatoses and in preclinical therapeutics in neurofibromatosis; and Michel Kalamarides, MD, PhD (Hôpital Beaujon, Neurochirurgie, Clichy, France), an outstanding neurosurgeon with research expertise in mouse modeling of NF2 meningioma. Three keynote speakers of exceptional standinghave been confirmed: Dr. Charles Eberhart (Johns Hopkins University Wilmer Eye Institute), Dr. Stan Nelson (David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA), and Dr. David Threadgill (University of North Carolina School of Medicine).
We are excited to announce that we will move the 2011 NF Conference back to a mountain setting, Jackson Hole, Wyoming, to create a more intimate environment. The spectacular panorama of the Tetons coupled with a plethora of activities makes Jackson Hole a premier location for this important annual conference; the Snow King Resort will be hosting the meeting. Registration and full agenda will be available October 2010.
Meeting Announcements
Please check here for important meeting updates and announcements prior to the meeting.
NF Conference Overview
The NF Conference is the premier annual event in the neurofibromatosis research and clinical calendar. Now ongoing for over twenty years, it brings together over 300 clinicians and researchers from around the world, to present the latest developments in NF research and clinical care. As well as leaders from the NF community, the Conference includes high-profile keynote speakers from related disciplines such as cancer and neuroscience, serving to stimulate thought and build connections between NF and other disorders.
The annual NF Conference brings together basic and clinical NF investigators from all over the world to present their latest research in NF1, NF2 and schwannomatosis. It is the premier annual gathering of the NF scientific and medical communities anywhere in the world. As this is a forum for sharing highly technical and confidential information, attendees are limited to:
- Scientists and physicians who are focused on understanding or treating NF and,
- Select invited experts from related fields including cancer and neuroscience.
The NF Conference is not intended for and not open to laypersons. However each year immediately after the NF Conference the Foundation issues a layperson summary report of highlights from the meeting, available in July online at www.ctf.org.
Save the Dates!
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NF2 Meeting
Neurofibromatosis Type 2 Meeting: The State of the Art
May 2-4, 2010
Bally's - Las Vegas, Nevada
Chairs: Dr. Derald Brackmann, Dr. Marco Giovannini, Dr. Robert Shannon
Sponsored by House Ear Institute
 
Despite the fact that significant progress has been made in the understanding of the biology of neurofibromatosis type 2 (NF2), patients with this disorder still face a poor clinical outcomes, significant morbidity and a decreased life span. The NF2 field is at a critical juncture and the goal of this conference is to provide a regular forum to bring together biologists, geneticists, clinicians, neurosurgeons, audiologists and others familiar with NF2 to share their latest basic and clinical research findings and experiences, with the ultimate goal to undertake international translational research projects and initiate NF2-specific targeted therapeutic trials.
Relevant questions to be discussed in this meeting are:
1. What Do We Know - and Don’t Know - About NF2 Biology?;
2. What is the natural history of NF2 tumors and its impact on clinical management?
3. Radiosurgery and Radiotherapy for NF2 Tumors?
4. What is the Satus of auditory rehabilitation in NF2 patients?
5. What is the Status of NF2 Preclinical Screening Tools?
6. What are Critical Endpoints in Evaluating NF2 Therapeutic Efficacy and Outcome?
7. What Are the Candidate Drugs and Potential Therapeutic Approaches for NF2?
In addition there will be a special function honoring the career and contributions of Dr. William Hitselberger to acoustic neuroma and auditory brainstem implant surgical techniques.
Please note that this meeting shares highly technical and confidential information, attendees are limited to
I) scientists & physicians who are focused on understanding or treating NF2 and
II) select invited experts from related fields.
This meeting is not intended for or open to laypersons.
This meeting is invitation ONLY and is not open to the general public!
Register Now!
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NF Research News
Read about the latest advancements in neurofibromatosis research. |
Department of Defense NF Research Program
The United States Department of Defense Congressionally Directed Medical Research Program in Neurofibromatosis (CDMRP NFRP) was established in 1996 with a mission to promote research directed toward the understanding, diagnosis, and treatment of neurofibromatosis, as well as enhance the quality of life for persons with the disorder. Since its inception the program has committed over $200 million to NF research. By keeping congressional staff apprised of the importance and success of this program, the Foundation and our constituents have played a key role in ensuring the program continues. |
For Scientists
