First Ever LBF Giving Circle Helps to Fund CBTN Pre-Clinical Model Program with $20,000 Gift

Helen Keller once said “Alone we can do so little. Together we can do so much.” The Lilabean Foundation for Pediatric Brain Cancer Research (LBF) decided to take this advice and create one of the first giving circles in the pediatric brain cancer sector. Over the course of three months, a group of 15 supporters came together in a virtual setting each month to learn about the landscape of pediatric brain cancer and pooled their pledged funds to select a research project in alignment with LBF’s mission of finding more effective, safer treatments for childhood brain cancer. These 15 supporters pledged $1,100 or more that would go to one of two projects that would be presented by the lead researcher and the group would then vote on specific criteria including Reach & Impact, Innovation, Collaboration, Transparency, and Challenges.

In addition to hearing from the project researchers, the group had the opportunity to hear from experts in pediatric cancer, philanthropy, family members and more. Speakers included Dr. Brian Rood, Director of Clinical Neuro-Oncology at Children’s National, Anne Wintroub, Founder of Upside, expert in CSR and an impassioned connector of people and ideas, Dr. Samuel Blackman, Co-founder & CMO of Day One Biopharmaceuticals, and Dr. Cassie Kline, Director of clinical research in the department of Neuro-Oncology at CHOP. During the second session, the Giving Circle cohort heard presentations from Dr. Jessica Foster and Dr. Mateusz Koptyra of Children’s Brain Tumor Network (CBTN) on two projects. Before this, our partners at CBTN put together two very informative videos for the cohort to watch that gave an overview of the projects, but the real-time discussion with researchers allowed everyone in the group to dig deeper and ask questions about these projects. Both researchers and the projects they presented were very impressive and actively working to continue progress and make advances for pediatric brain cancer. While the vote was close, the group chose to pool their dollars to fund the CBTN Clinical Model Program which aims to better understand how animal models progress the discovery of effective treatments. Lead researcher Mateusz Koptyra said after the announcement of the Giving Circle funding “I would like to express my sincere gratitude for the recognition and support that the Lilabean Foundation Giving Circle has provided me through this award. The financial assistance you've granted to my team will be of great help to us in our effort to develop quality models for pediatric brain tumor research. This award is an affirmation of the importance of our work toward the development of new clinical trials critically needed for children who are bravely fighting the battle with brain tumors. I assure you that the spirit of this award will be the cornerstone in our search for a better future for those kids. This gift will allow us to invest in equipment and support molecular characterization of our organoid models to ultimately use them in therapeutics testing. We will do our best to embody the mission that both of our organizations represent: to provide breakthroughs for every child every time, everywhere.”

The Lilabean Foundation was thrilled to gift $20,000 through our first giving circle and know that it will help to move the needle forward in an extremely important area of research with far-reaching impact. In addition to that, creating a space where supporters and those interested in making an impact in the fight against pediatric cancer could come together and support in a new and involved way was an incredible experience. One Giving Circle participant, April FitzGerald said about her Giving Circle experience “Our family has appreciated the opportunity to be part of the first LBF Giving Circle. The idea of collaborative giving is innovative and energizing! Raising funds for brain tumor research is is an enormous feat - it can feel too big to do alone and too broad to know where to best channel the funds BUT coming together with other members of the Giving Circle allowed us to feed off the energy of others who also had the shared goal of funding a specific clinical trial.”

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LBF's Transformative Partnership with CBTN Drives Groundbreaking Advances Brain Cancer Research

The Lilabean Foundation’s Transformative Partnership with CBTN Drives Groundbreaking Advances in Pediatric Brain Cancer Research

March 12, 2025

The Lilabean Foundation (LBF) has played a vital role in advancing pediatric brain cancer research, providing significant support to the Children’s Brain Tumor Network (CBTN) based at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. From its origins as a small family foundation, LBF has grown into one of the most influential contributors to CBTN, driving innovative research and achieving new milestones in philanthropy. One of the most notable impacts of LBF’s support is its investment in Project Accelerate, an initiative designed to expedite research and enhance the Pediatric Brain Tumor Atlas. Through LBF’s backing, CBTN has been able to recruit essential data engineers and bioinformaticians, improving research methodologies and strengthening data models. This investment has helped break down silos and create more robust predictive models, optimizing diagnostic accuracy and advancing AI technology. This initiative is positioning CBTN to achieve transformative breakthroughs in precision care and treatment for pediatric brain tumors “The impact of The Lilabean Foundation's generosity cannot be overstated,” said Dr. Adam Resnick, Scientific Director of the Children’s Brain Tumor Network.” “With this partnership, we are paving the way for the next era of pediatric brain cancer treatment and care. Thanks to this continued support, we are one step closer to ensuring that children with brain tumors have the best possible outcomes.” Maximizing Research Potential and Driving AI Innovation: LBF’s contributions have also been instrumental in maximizing the impact of the National Institutes of Health’s (NIH) data generation initiative. With LBF’s support, CBTN was able to extract and ship over 7,000 specimens, enabling the standardization of critical molecular data. This data has formed the foundation for AI-driven technologies, putting CBTN at the forefront of AI research and allowing for discoveries that were once unimaginable. By integrating clinical, molecular, and imaging data into a single multimodal dataset, this collaboration is enhancing the ability to create more individualized and effective treatment plans for children with brain tumors. “The integration of this multimodal data is a game-changer,” said Nicole Giroux, Executive Director of The Lilabean Foundation. “It has the potential to dramatically improve how we understand and treat pediatric brain tumors.” Preparing for Future Breakthroughs: With LBF's continued support, CBTN is now poised for its next big leap in research. The foundation’s investment in Project Accelerate has led to the creation of an extensive multimodal dataset, which was instrumental in securing a first-of-its-kind award from the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H). This prestigious award, focused on pediatrics, combined with a new partnership with Amazon Web Services, positions CBTN for major advancements in AI capabilities and further opportunities for breakthrough research. A Legacy of Impact: LBF’s sustained commitment to CBTN is a testament to the power of philanthropy and the profound impact that a dedicated donor community can have on children’s healthcare. Their investments have not only laid the groundwork for groundbreaking research but are also shaping the future of pediatric brain tumor treatment and care, from bench to bedside. “We are incredibly grateful for the support of The Lilabean Foundation,” said Jena Lilly, executive director of CBTN. “Their partnership has been invaluable in driving forward our shared mission to improve the lives of children battling brain tumors. Together, we are creating a future where cures and better treatments are within reach.”

Bethesda magazine features The Lilabean Foundation hero in January/February issue

Bethesda Magazine Features LBF in January/February Issue

February 11, 2025

We are thrilled to be featured in the Bethesda Magazine January/February 2025 edition! It’s a privilege to share the work we’re doing at the Lilabean Foundation to support families and children and the heartfelt origin story of why the foundation exists. Grateful for the opportunity to amplify our mission and continue making a meaningful impact in the community. Thank you Amy Halpern and Bethesda Magazine for capturing and creating such a heartfelt feature. Click here to read the article and the January/February edition of Bethesda Magazine.