The Lilabean Foundation Funds Two Cutting-Edge Initiatives

The Lilabean Foundation is excited to announce funding for two new innovative projects. As we move into the second half of 2024, our commitment to supporting groundbreaking research remains steadfast. Here’s a closer look at the new projects we’re funding and how they’re poised to make a difference.

Transforming Brain Tumor Care for Children: Neonatal Ependymoma Injection Pilot Experiment 

Ependymoma is the second most common malignant brain tumor in children, comprising about 10% of all pediatric brain tumors. Despite efforts to enhance care, survival rates have only slightly improved over the years. The difficulty in studying and treating ependymomas stems from the lack of effective experimental models that accurately replicate the human tumor environment.


Under the leadership of Dr. Brian Rood at Children’s National Hospital, the project aims to create better pre-clinical models for studying ependymoma. The approach involves using mice with fully functioning immune systems to develop these models. By injecting tumor cells into neonatal mice, researchers hypothesize that the cells will grow without rejection, allowing for a more accurate study of tumor-immune system interactions.

Why is this project important?

The new models will help study the complex interactions between ependymoma tumors and the immune system, paving the way for more effective treatments. By understanding the biology and immune dynamics of these tumors, the research aims to improve survival rates and treatment outcomes for children with ependymoma.

Advancing Pediatric Brain Tumor Research Through Comprehensive Data Integration and AI

The Lilabean Foundation will continue to support the work of the Children’s Brain Tumor Network (CBTN) with a two-year grant of $500,000 to CBTN to include a focus on data harmonization and optimization, AI pipeline development & refinement, and project management. LBF’s previous investments have laid the foundation for groundbreaking research and transformative outcomes in pediatric brain tumor research and care. LBF is honored to continue to support this work in its next phase, by supporting data optimization as well as opportunities that utilize this data in action. These projects prioritize the finishing pieces to the foundational data that will map the frontier to translational work at the bench, ultimately creating tangible impacts for children and families affected by brain tumors. 

Supporting Data Optimization with CBTN: 

The comprehensive data enabled by the support of the Lilabean Foundation is driving previously unimaginable research and discoveries in pediatric brain tumor studies. CBTN is now poised to build on this by working with disease experts to create customized data models for many types of brain tumors. By assessing the data that CBTN currently collects, especially imaging and molecular panel data, they will identify key areas for improvement and focus on collecting and harmonizing retrospective data to integrate it with advanced AI, helping to understand brain tumors better.


As part of this funding, a few of the expected outcomes related to data optimization are:

  • Enhanced Disease Data Models 
  • Empowered Research Capabilities 
  • Accelerated Discoveries 

Supporting Data in Action with CBTN: 

With the solid foundation of optimized data capabilities, researchers are poised to push the boundaries of pediatric brain cancer research. The Lilabean Foundation will support two transformative projects.


As part of this funding, a few of the expected outcomes we will see from projects that will have real-time impact on patients diagnosed with brain tumors are:

  • Transform how we care for children with medulloblastoma and improve outcomes by reducing unnecessary side effects 
  • Pilot the validation of 3D organoid models as representation of patient tumors 
  • Establish a precision medicine framework that informs targeted therapeutic strategies 

Why are these projects important? 

Investing in the enhancement of the existing CBTN dataset through retrospective data collection and harmonization efforts is essential to advancing pediatric brain tumor research. By maximizing the potential of multimodal data integration, paired with cutting-edge AI innovations and a strategic approach to real-time application through laboratory projects, researchers and doctors will be able to unlock new insights and drive discoveries that will ultimately improve outcomes for children with brain tumors.

Thank you to all of the LBF donors, sponsors, and supporters who continue to make investments like this possible. To learn more about either of these investments, please reach out to info@lilabeanfoundation.com

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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.
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