On May 25, 2023, in recognition of Brain Cancer Awareness Month, the White House Cancer Moonshot convened leaders from the brain cancer community, including patients, caregivers, oncologists, researchers, advocacy organizations, philanthropy, and industry for a Brain Cancers Forum. Among them was David Ashley, MD, PhD, director of the Preston Robert Tisch Brain Tumor Center at Duke, and Henry Friedman, MD, the James B. Powell Jr. Distinguished Professor of Pediatric Oncology at Duke.
The forum focused on driving progress against glioblastoma and diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (DIPG) some of the most aggressive and deadly brain cancers. Brain cancers, like glioblastoma, the most common brain tumor in adults, and DIPG, which affects children, are particularly difficult to treat.
The forum brought together all parts of the brain cancer community to develop plans for bold new efforts to take on these devastating diagnoses as part of the Cancer Moonshot goal to end cancer as we know it. It opened with a public session, where patient advocates and survivors shared their perspectives to establish priorities. It also featured remarks from Biden-Harris Administration officials and leaders in the brain cancer community. Speakers highlighted their work on innovative care and treatment methods, explained the challenges ahead, and discussed opportunities for collaborative efforts to address these challenges.
The public session was followed by working sessions on glioblastoma and DIPG that brought together different parts of the brain cancer community to spur new ideas, collaborations, and commitments—with a focus on actions that will improve innovative treatments and care, increase equitable access to clinical trials, and develop solutions around data sharing and measurable outcomes.
source: whitehouse.gov