We are pleased to announce that former 7NBC Anchor/Health Reporter Janet Wu will emcee our Golf & Tennis Fundraiser on September 18 at the Oyster Harbors Club. Please join us for a day of sport and fun as we support vital brain tumor research.

“While great advances have been made in brain tumor research revealing their complexities and causes, there is considerably more work to be done to provide therapies. I am honored to support the work of the Brain Science Foundation to fund vital research that will help the hundreds of thousands of people living with brain tumors.”
– Janet Wu

About Janet Wu

Janet is a multi-media journalist known for her many years as an anchor/reporter for Boston’s NBC station. She currently contributes health reports for two networks and is an Adjunct Professor at Emerson College.

A frequent Op-Ed contributor to The Boston Globe, her work has also been published in The New York Times, The Boston Herald, and will be included in the 2018 “Norton Sampler of Essays,” one of the most widely read college textbooks.

She graduated from Yale with a dual major in Philosophy and Psychology and earned a master’s degree in Journalism and International Affairs at Columbia University.

She is on the Boston Board of the American Heart Association, in honor of her late father, a noted heart surgeon. She also sits on the Boards of Overseers for the New England Conservatory of Music and Franciscan Children’s Hospital. She is a founding member of SheGives, a philanthropic organization of women and the Boards of Advisors for Homestart and the Max Warburg Courage Curriculum.

She was named the 2015 New England Girls Scouts “Leading Woman of the Year” and delivered a TEDX Talk Cambridge on the power of gratitude.

She plays the piano and cello and has traveled to 70 countries.

Due to popular demand, the Brain Science Foundation will once again host our Autumn Golf Tournament at Oyster Harbors Club in Osterville, MA on Monday, 18th September, 2017. The day will include 20-25 foursomes across eighteen holes in a scramble format with a shotgun start. There will be contests with prizes and awards presented at a cocktail and dinner reception following the tournament. There will also be a tennis tournament, weather permitting. All participants will be invited to join the festivities, including a silent auction. Most importantly, we will hear from renowned researchers and clinicians in the neurosciences that are a part of the leadership of the clinical trials that receive ongoing support from the BSF.

11:00 am: Registration opens and Silent Auction tables open

11:30 am – 12:45 pm: Putting Green & Driving Range Open

11:30 am – 1:30 pm:   Barbeque Luncheon

12:45 pm: Golfers assemble for Shotgun Start and Rules Announcement

1:00 pm Sharp: Shotgun Start

2:00 pm: Tennis tournament begins

5:30 pm: Cocktail hour in Clubhouse and Silent Auction bidding continues

6:30 pm: Dinner & Awards in Main Dining Room

*schedule is subject to change

Meningioma Awareness Day brings together physicians and other health providers, researchers, meningioma patients and their families for mutual learning about the latest research into the causes, detection, and treatment of the disease. The event provides information and strategies for coping with with a meningioma, a tumor that affects 600,000 people in the country.

Some comments from previous events include:

“Thank you BSF! Without you I’d still be fumbling in the dark and scary ‘Rabbit Hole’! Looking forward to the next MAD and all the good folks who will attend.” Patient San Diego, CA

“Thank you all for the sense of hope and not being alone there that you manage to project to me and my wife by your great efforts.” Family Member/ Friend Ellicott City, MD

“Thank you for providing all of this information at one place!” Patient Warren, RI

“I appreciated the way the doctors were able to make such complicated information accessible. Thank you!” Family Member/ Friend Edgartown, MA

“The speakers and their presentations were concise and to the point… which allowed for easier understanding and a wealth of information.” Patient & Survivor Boston, MA

“This was my first time at MAD and I felt I it was a great experience; very informative. I found it especially helpful to speak one on one with the doctors and also other meningioma patients.” Patient Warwick, NY

“Going home, feeling better and more knowledgeable about meningioma and me. Hope to be at the next meeting.” Survivor Boston, MA

“I felt welcomed and empowered.” Patient, Edgartown, MA

Through the generosity of the Daniel E. Ponton Fund for the Neurosciences at Brigham & Women’s Hospital, the Brain Science Foundation is pleased to present an all new patient education event. We are delighted that thanks to Mr. Ponton, we are able to offer this event free of charge for all attendees.

Taking Care & Taking Charge aims to provide brain tumor patients with the tools and resources they need to take care of themselves both physically and emotionally. This unique opportunity will be held at Brigham & Women’s Hospital in Boston on Saturday, March 7, 2015.

We look forward to welcoming brain tumor patients, their family members, caregivers, doctors, nurses, and allied health professionals for a day of education and empowerment.

The program will follow a patient’s journey through the many phases they face, including:

• Discovery: We will look at such topics as diagnosis, bioethics & genetics, and caregiving.
• Treatment: Topic areas will include selecting your health care team, what to expect in the hospital, and a look at chemotherapy and radiation options.
• Long term healing: Specific talks will address psychological aspects, physical and occupational therapy, integrative care, and nutrition.

The day will culminate in a series of breakout sessions where attendees can take a deeper look at such topics as Integrative Care (such as energy therapies and homeopathy), Nutrition, Clinical Trials, Caregiving, and Physical and Occupational Therapy.

View the final program here

For more information, contact Sarah Donnelly at 617-852-5230.

BSF Golf & Tennis Classic raises important funds for groundbreaking clinical trial

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“Tee It Up for Brain Tumor Research: the Brain Science Foundation Golf & Tennis Classic” was a tremendous success! Held on September 21, 2015 at Oyster Harbors Club in Osterville, MA, the tournament gathered 165 supporters, including foundation leadership, corporate sponsors, clinicians, patients, and friends of the foundation. Funds raised at this event will directly fund the first ever Phase II Clinical Trial of personalized drug therapies for Meningiomas. This project is truly groundbreaking and represents a paradigm shift in therapies for primary brain tumors generally and for meningiomas specifically.

Oyster Harbors and Cotuit Bay served as a stunning backdrop for the occasion, and the weather could not have been better. Sixteen tennis players were treated to a competitive round robin on the courts, while 88 golfers were challenged by Oyster Harbors’ beautiful course. Additional sponsors and guests joined for the evening reception, where we were honored to hear from numerous clinicians in the field of neuroscience.

E. Antonio (“Nino”) Chiocca, MD, PhD, Neurosurgeon-in-Chief and Chairman of the Department of Neurosurgery at Brigham & Women’s Hospital and Harvey W. Cushing Professor of Neurosurgery at Harvard Medical School, as well as Jeremy Rich, MD, Chair of the Department of Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine at the Cleveland Clinic were on hand to welcome attendees and speak about the importance of research funds. Priscilla Brastianos, MD, Director of the Central Nervous System Metastasis Program at Massachusetts General Hospital and Instructor of Medical Oncology at Harvard Medical School presented new data regarding the first ever multi-center trial of precision medicine in brain tumors that she and her team launched in September. In 2013, the BSF funded Dr. Brastianos’ research as she led the first effort to comprehensively genomically characterize meningiomas. This research resulted in the discovery of novel, recurrent mutations in Meningiomas, which led Dr. Brastianos’ to launch this clinical trial. The trial began in September, and we expect it will have a significant impact on how we treat Meningiomas in the future.

The BSF is proud to direct all the proceeds of the Golf & Tennis Classic to this exciting clinical trial.

Thank you to all our sponsors and participants! A special thanks to Ocean Spray Cranberries, the Kessler Foundation, the Lagasse Group, Suffolk Construction, DTR Modern Galleries, and New England Capital, all of whom have been top sponsors of this event since its inception in 2009.

The Brain Science Foundation is honored to have such a devoted group of supporters and we would like to thank each of them for their belief in our mission.

March 11, 2015 at 9:00 AM EST -to- March 12, 2015 at 5:30 PM EST
Brigham & Women’s Hospital – Shapiro Center
70 Francis Street
Boston, MA 02115

Register Now

This May, the Brain Science Foundation is proud to co-sponsor The Master Class: Endoscopic Anterior Skull Base Surgery with Brigham and Women’s Hospital. Led by world-renown pituitary expert and longtime Brain Science Foundation collaborator Edward R. Laws, Jr., MD, FACS, the course provides the opportunity for surgeons to learn the endoscopic techniques that he and his team at BWH use to treat pituitary tumors.

We are pleased to offer CME credits for this course.

The Master Class gives neurosurgeons from around the globe the opportunity to learn specialized techniques using the most up to date technology. In addition to didactic lectures on peri-operative management, surgical anatomy, techniques, and complication management, the course features live operations simulcast from the operating room to the lecture hall, including 3-D displays. Attendees have the opportunity to interact with the surgeons in the OR throughout the case.

Dr. Laws and his team have assembled a world-class group of speakers for the program:

Edward Laws, MD FACS,
Course Director
Director, Pituitary/Neuroendocrine Unit
Brigham & Women’s Hospital
Professor of Surgery
Harvard Medical School

John Jane, Jr., MD
Professor
Department of Neurological Surgery
University of Virginia

Spencer Payne, MD
Assistant Professor
Department of Otolaryngology/
Head and Neck Surgery
University of Virginia

Ian Dunn, MD
Department of Neurosurgery
Brigham & Women’s Hospital
Professor
Harvard Medical School

Whitney Woodmansee, MD
Division of Endocrinology
Brigham & Women’s Hospital
Assistant Professor
Harvard Medical School

Sashank Prasad, MD
Department of Neurology/
Neuro-Ophthalmology
Brigham & Women’s Hospital
Assistant Professor
Harvard Medical School

Charles Cho, MD
Neuroradiology
Brigham & Women’s Hospital

Timothy Smith, MD
Department of Neurological Surgery
Brigham & Women’s Hospital

Program Highlights:

• Anatomy and Surgical Techniques
• Neuroendocrinology for the Surgeon
• Neuro-Opthalmology for the Surgeon
• Vascular Nasal Flaps and Skull Base Reconstruction
• Panel Discussion – “Getting in and out of trouble”

Live Operative Simulcasts with commentary by Expert Panel:

• Pituitary Macroadenoma
• Expanded Endonasal Approach to Suprasellar Tumor

Click here to register and read hotel and travel information

“POWER UP for Brain Tumor Research: The Barbara J. Powers Memorial Golf Tournament” was a tremendous success! Held on September 15th, 2014 at Nashawtuc Country Club, the tournament was a significant fundraiser for the Brain Science Foundation and will help to support continued research in the pursuit of a cure for primary brain tumors.

This year’s event was extra special, as it gave the foundation a chance to honor the memory of Barbara J. Powers who was an integral part of the BSF family. Barbara was a driving force behind the Golf & Tennis Classic for years before losing her battle with cancer in 2013.

Foundation leadership were joined by corporate and personal sponsors including Suffolk Construction, Ocean Spray, the Kessler Family Foundation, the Lagasse Group, and many more. Their support goes a long way in helping us raise awareness and much needed funds to support innovative, results driven brain tumor research.

It was a gorgeous day at Nashawtuc Country Club, and all in attendance enjoyed the challenging course, fun contests, delicious meals, and an excellent auction. We were honored to hear from our special guest speaker Dr. Priscilla Brastianos, who shared with attendees the impact that BSF funding has had on her research. Dr. Brastianos and her colleagues are about to launch a cutting edge clinical trial for meningiomas. She has woven together a team of national and international collaborators to study the molecular pathogenesis of brain metastases. The BSF is proud to have provided Dr. Brastianos with her first research grant, and we remain proud to continue to support her work.

Overall the tournament was a true success! The Brain Science Foundation is honored to have such a devoted group of supporters and we would like to thank each of them for their belief in our mission.

POWER UP for Brain Tumor Research brings together BSF supporters to pay tribute

The Brain Science Foundation is thrilled to acknowledge our many sponsors for this year’s POWER UP for Brain Tumor Research: the Barbara J. Powers Memorial Golf Classic.

The Barbara J. Powers Memorial Golf & Tennis Classic

“POWER UP for Brain Tumor Research: The Barbara J. Powers Memorial Golf Tournament” was a tremendous success! Held on September 15th, 2014 at Nashawtuc Country Club, the tournament was a significant fundraiser for the Brain Science Foundation and will help to support continued research in the pursuit of a cure for primary brain tumors.

This year’s event was extra special, as it gave the foundation a chance to honor the memory of Barbara J. Powers who was an integral part of the BSF family. Barbara was a driving force behind the Golf & Tennis Classic for years before losing her battle with cancer in 2013.

Foundation leadership were joined by corporate and personal sponsors including Suffolk Construction, Ocean Spray, the Kessler Family Foundation, the Lagasse Group, and many more. Their support goes a long way in helping us raise awareness and much needed funds to support innovative, results driven brain tumor research.

It was a gorgeous day at Nashawtuc Country Club, and all in attendance enjoyed the challenging course, fun contests, delicious meals, and an excellent auction. We were honored to hear from our special guest speaker Dr. Priscilla Brastianos, who shared with attendees the impact that BSF funding has had on her research. Dr. Brastianos and her colleagues are about to launch a cutting edge clinical trial for meningiomas. She has woven together a team of national and international collaborators to study the molecular pathogenesis of brain metastases. The BSF is proud to have provided Dr. Brastianos with her first research grant, and we remain proud to continue to support her work.

Overall the tournament was a true success! The Brain Science Foundation is honored to have such a devoted group of supporters and we would like to thank each of them for their belief in our mission.

The Brain Science Foundation, the Department of Neurosurgery at Brigham & Women’s Hospital, and the BWH Pituitary/Neuroendocrine Center are pleased to present Pituitary Day 2014. This program will take place on Saturday, March 29, 2014, from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM at the Bornstein Amphitheater at Brigham & Women’s Hospital in Boston.

Pituitary Day unites patients, caregivers, family, and friends with leading clinicians, researchers, nurses and other experts to discuss the latest in pituitary diagnosis and treatment. By way of a series of presentations and panel discussions, we will discuss basic and new information related to pituitary disorders, including physical and psychological aspects, and other important patient issues.

Our expectation is for this to be a truly remarkable and empowering experience and we hope you will consider joining us this year. For more information, please contact Sarah Donnelly at 617-852-5230 or sarah@brainsciencefoundation.org.

From December 1 – 2, the Brain Science Foundation cosponsored The Master Class: Endoscopic Anterior Skull Base Surgery with Brigham & Women’s Hospital Pituitary Neuroendocrine Center. Led by world-renowned pituitary expert and longtime Brain Science Foundation collaborator Edward R. Laws, Jr., MD, FACS, the course provided the opportunity for surgeons to learn the endoscopic techniques that he and his team at BWH use to treat pituitary tumors.

After a successful course offering in March 2011, Dr. Laws and his team again assembled a world-class group of speakers for the program. Participants learned specialized techniques using the most up to date technology. In addition to didactic lectures on the peri-operative management, surgical anatomy, techniques, and complication management, the course features live operations simulcast from the operating room to the lecture hall, including 3-D displays. Attendees have the opportunity to interact with the surgeons in the operating room throughout the case.

In addition to the 15 registered participants—all working in neurosurgery—more than 20 other associates of the Brigham Department of Neurosurgery and residents attended select elements of the class. Four vendors of cutting-edge endoscopic instruments—Stryker, NICO, VisionSense, and Karl Storz—provided financial support and had displays set up in a separate vendor’s space.

With another successful Master Class under his belt, Dr. Laws will continue his pituitary tumor educational outreach—this time directed to patients. On March 24, 2012, the Brain Science Foundation will cosponsor Pituitary Day 2012. This event unites patients, caregivers, family, and friends with leading clinicians, researchers, nurses and other experts to discuss the latest in pituitary diagnosis and treatment. By way of a series of presentations and panel discussions, we will discuss basic and new information related to pituitary disorders, including physical and psychological aspects, and other important patient issues.

What participants had to say about the Master Class:

“I plan on obtaining and using some of the [instruments] used during the procedures.”

“One of the best courses I have attended—I plan on setting up my operating room and patient positioning differently now.”

“It was beneficial seeing the surgery live and communicating with the surgeon.”

Fourth Annual Golf & Tennis Classic a Success!

On October 1, 2012, the Brain Science Foundation gathered 200 friends and supporters for the Tee It Up for Brain Tumor Research Golf & Tennis Classic. Participants were welcomed with fantastic weather for the fourth straight year—no small feat considering New England’s reputation for Octobers!

This year we were honored with two special guests: former Bruins Defenseman Mike Milbury and Dr. E. Antonio Chiocca. Mike also served as coach for the Boston Bruins in the early ‘90s, and held several front office positions with the NHL before turning his charms to the world sports broadcasting. Dr. Chiocca recently joined Brigham & Women’s Hospital as they Chair of Neurosurgery and has also become part of the BSF’s Scientific Advisory Committee. Nearly 150 golfers and tennis players were treated to an outstanding early autumn day in New England at the beautiful Willowbend country club.

The 18 holes surrounded by cranberry bogs and Cape Cod woods gave everyone one last experience of summer weather. One golfer said “I’ve gone to all four years of this event and they just keep getting better!” Throughout the course, several fun contests were held, including a chipping contest using the BSF’s brain-shaped stress balls where we discovered little foam brains have a tendency to slice to the right! Mike helped turn up the fun this year! He joined a foursome on the course before helping out with announcing duties for the closest to the pin contest. He later helped out auctioning off items. “It’s great being out here on this amazing day to support this great cause,” he exclaimed as part of the morning’s shotgun start.

A new element for this year’s event, the Innovation Corner, offered attendees a glimpse of some of the impact of the foundation. “It’s amazing to see just how much [the foundation] is doing,” one attendee shared. “It’s amazing to see the cutting edge and future of treatment possibilities.” Dr. Chiocca helped close out the evening by addressing the crowd just after dinner. He discussed the critical need for funding research, particularly in the neurosciences—a field historically neglected by both philanthropy and public funding.

The Brain Science Foundation extends heartfelt gratitude to all the sponsors, participants, volunteers, and donors to the auction for the incredible support that helped make this event! We are especially grateful for the tireless commitment of Diane Coletti and Heather McCarthy, two board members who served as this year’s co-chairs of the Golf & Tennis Planning Committee. Their contributions are sure to help make the coming year one of the most impactful in the Foundation’s history. By the day of the event, we had over 40 corporate sponsors, 124 golfers signed up, 20 people on the tennis courts, and more than 75 auction and in-kind donations!

Dozens rally to support 2012 Tee It Up for Brain Tumor Research Golf & Tennis Classic

The Brain Science Foundation is thrilled to acknowledge our many sponsors for this year’s Tee It Up for Brain Tumor Research Golf & Tennis Classic! From local shops to international industry leaders, the outpouring of support in the fight against brain tumors is an inspiring link we all share in which we can be proud.

Dr. Ed Laws has performed more than 5,000 surgeries on pituitary tumors.

On March 24, 2012, the Brain Science Foundation and Brigham & Women’s Hospital cosponsored Pituitary Day 2012. More than 100 people—patients, caregivers, family, and friends with leading clinicians, researchers, nurses and other experts—came together to discuss the latest in pituitary diagnosis and treatment.

The all-day event opened with the Brain Science Foundation’s newest Trustee, Costa Sideridis, giving the welcome. “I’m here today because I was once in your shoes as an attendee at this event,” began Mr. Sideridis. “I’ve now been to a few of these and I learn something each time. We’re really blessed to have an organization like the Brain Science Foundation and especially someone like Dr. Laws here to put in the energy and resources to offer this event. I’m honored to have this chance to welcome you and I hope everyone has a great day.” The all-star faculty, led by Dr. Edward Laws, included experts from a number of leading health care institutions, including Brigham & Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, and St. John’s Medical Center in Santa Monica, California.

The event covered a wide spectrum of topics—from the prognosis of various pituitary tumors, to surgical treatment and hormonal therapies. A popular session on the psychological aspects of pituitary disease also elicited a great deal of participation from the group. The event emphasized providing patients with information about their disease with ample opportunity for questions from the experienced faculty. “Tremendous day,” one patient noted. “I attended to understand Cushing’s better, but now I understand the whole pituitary system better.”

The Brain Science Foundation is proud to offer educational events aimed at directly benefiting patients, which aligns closely with our mission to improve the knowledge and understanding of primary brain tumors and brain function. With the great success of this day, we hope to offer the program again next year. In the near future, we will be cosponsoring the Master Class in Endoscopic Anterior Skull Base Surgery, a course for neurosurgeons and other health professionals to learn about and witness Dr. Laws’s advanced techniques for operating on pituitary tumors. Dr. Laws noted “I am more convinced than ever that this is a great thing to do for our patients. All of the talks and discussions and arrangements were outstanding.”

The Brain Science Foundation will also host Meningioma Awareness Day on April 27–28 with a similar aim to bring together patients and experts in the field. For more information on Brain Science Foundation events, visit our events page.

Pituitary Day 2012 – Program of Events

“The Most Enjoyable and Well-Planned MAD Yet!”
—Testimonial from attendee at her fifth Meningioma Awareness Day

On April 27 and 28, 2012, the Brain Science Foundation organized Meningioma Awareness Day: Inform, Interact, Inspire. Aligning with National Brain Tumor Awareness Month in May, the BSF designed the event to offer participants a full day of educational presentations, lectures, and opportunities to meet others.

One-on-One: Your Questions Answered held the first night was a big success, with 15 medical experts made available for 150 attendees to ask questions and discuss their conditions. “It was great having the chance to meet one-on-one with surgeons in a relaxed setting, where they could talk about my condition in a more casual setting,” one attendee noted. Later that evening Pulitzer Prize winning author and historian Doris Kearns Goodwin gave a heartfelt talk on succeeding in the face of adversity, while also signing books afterward.

Saturday’s main program provided 200 attendees with a wealth of clinical, research, well being, and personal testimonials concerning meningiomas, from diagnosis to treatment to living life to the fullest.

An initial review of the evaluations showed more than 95% of attendees reporting they were very happy with the event. “I can’t thank you enough for this day,” one attendee shared with us. “Being able to connect with so many others in places just like me was invaluable.”

“The Most Enjoyable and Well-Planned MAD Yet!”
—Testimonial from attendee at her fifth Meningioma Awareness Day

On April 27 and 28, 2012, the Brain Science Foundation organized Meningioma Awareness Day: Inform, Interact, Inspire. Aligning with National Brain Tumor Awareness Month in May, the BSF designed the event to offer participants a full day of educational presentations, lectures, and opportunities to meet others.

One-on-One: Your Questions Answered held the first night was a big success, with 15 medical experts made available for 150 attendees to ask questions and discuss their conditions. “It was great having the chance to meet one-on-one with surgeons in a relaxed setting, where they could talk about my condition in a more casual setting,” one attendee noted. Later that evening Pulitzer Prize winning author and historian Doris Kearns Goodwin gave a heartfelt talk on succeeding in the face of adversity, while also signing books afterward.

Saturday’s main program provided 200 attendees with a wealth of clinical, research, well being, and personal testimonials concerning meningiomas, from diagnosis to treatment to living life to the fullest.

An initial review of the evaluations showed more than 95% of attendees reporting they were very happy with the event. “I can’t thank you enough for this day,” one attendee shared with us. “Being able to connect with so many others in places just like me was invaluable.”