The Brain Science Foundation makes grants to support research, treatment, and patient care through the Department of Neurosurgery at the Brigham and Women's Hospital. The BSF's strong working relationship with the hospital and its affiliates allows the Foundation to access the latest thinking in a multi-disciplinary approach to meningioma and other primary brain tumor research and treatment. The BSF is able to fill a critical gap by funding innovations and “seed” projects that other granting agencies would not fund until greater evidence of success is generated.
The Brain Science Foundation uses a portfolio approach to building its grant program. Portfolios are designed to create depth and interconnectedness between projects to leverage change.
Current portfolios are:
- Research Portfolio
Knowledge of the brain and its functioning is increasing rapidly. The Brain Science Foundation’s Research Portfolio selects projects that lay the groundwork for significant advances in the scientific understanding of primary brain tumors with the long-term goal of bringing promising projects to large scale national funding. The Research Portfolio consists of basic, clinical, and epidemiological projects.
- Innovative Treatment Portfolio
For many patients, surgery is the best treatment option for a primary brain tumor. New technologies are revolutionizing these surgeries. New post-surgical treatments to control or diminish tumor growth demonstrate exciting promise when surgery cannot completely eradicate the tumor. The Brain Science Foundation’s Innovative Treatment Portfolio contains projects that put new approaches into practice.
- Quality of Patient Care Portfolio
BSF interest and support has had a major effect on enhancing meningioma and other brain tumor patient care at Brigham and Women's Hospital.
Grants from the Brain Science Foundation are made by invitation only.
There is no sense of pain in the brain itself, which allows neurosurgeons to probe areas of the brain while patients are awake.