Her Spirit, Our Drive.

A brighter future for kids with brain cancers.

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What we do

Our Mission

Supporting research targeting safe, effective treatments for children with rare brain cancers. Collaborating globally to promote awareness of research, resources, and treatments related to childhood brain cancers.

Supporting Research

In 2008, Tali’s Fund approached the Arthur and Sonia Labatt Brain Tumour Research Centre at SickKids Hospital in Toronto, Canada to initiate research in the area of ATRT.  We collaborated with the Mitchell Benjamin Duckman Fund to provide a seed of $30,000 for ATRT research under the direction of Dr. Annie Huang.  At the time, they had data and tumour tissue from 14 patients for analysis. That initial investment has led to landmark findings by SickKids investigators as well as a global collaborative effort with over 150 participating centres worldwide.  Tali’s Fund continues to support Dr. Huang’s research team and their collaborative efforts, as well as to advocate for much needed ongoing research to find a cure for ATRT and other rare childhood brain cancers. 

Supporting Families and Promoting Awareness of Resources and Treatment Options

Tali’s Fund is committed to supporting families impacted by ATRT and other childhood cancers by helping to direct them to treatment options and by providing information and links for a wide range of supports and resources.

Family Support

Rare Brain Tumor Consortium

International Consult at SickKids in Toronto

ATRT Information and Treatment

Dr. Huang and her team are known as world leaders—and some children with ATRT are now surviving. We have reason to be hopeful and optimistic.

“We are saving these kids. We are breaking through ceilings.”
Dr. Huang

Why Study Childhood Brain Tumours?

Cancers of the central nervous system (CNS) are the second most common type of
cancer in children.

● In Canada, central nervous system (CNS) tumours are the leading cause of cancer-
related death among children. Despite treatment advancements, survival rates
remain low.

Childhood brain tumours are one of the most underserved areas of cancer research.

● Both the illness and current radiation-based treatments leave children vulnerable
to long-term neurological deficits.
● Because childhood brain tumours differ from adult tumours in genetic and
molecular profiles, location, and treatment response, findings from adult research
have limited application to children.

All childhood brain cancers are considered rare, but some are even less common and more challenging to treat.

●Aggressive, fast-growing embryonal brain tumours such as ATRT, ETMR, and
pineoblastoma are classified as rare yet account for up to ⅓ of all diagnoses and
¼ of cases in children under the age of 1.

Rare brain tumours are particularly challenging to treat as they are poorly recognized
and therefore severely understudied.

● Limited diagnostic tools and understanding of their progression lead to higher
mortality rates and increased treatment-related toxicities.

By understanding the underlying causes and progression of rare childhood brain tumours, we can gain valuable insights into more common childhood and adult brain cancers – leading to better treatments and improved survival rates.

Your Support Can Make a Difference.

“Childhood cancer is rare, compared to adult cancer—and overall, that’s a very good thing.  But calling it rare can actually hurt the chances of finding new treatments for those unlucky children who do get cancer. Investing more resources in researching the relatively uncharted territory of rare cancers may be one way to maximize impact. These are opportunities where you might learn something so fundamental that it transcends the “rare” cancer in which it was discovered.”

Dr. Annie Huang – Learning About Other Cancers

Length: 1:47

Tali’s Fund is helping to support some promising collaborative research projects for 2023! 

Current Research Initiatives

Our Impact

Acknowledgements

International Brain Tumour Alliance (IBTA)

Tali’s Fund is proud to be a member of the International Brain Tumour Alliance (IBTA), a global network founded in 2005 as a dynamic worldwide community for brain tumour patient organizations and others involved in the field of neuro-oncology. The IBTA brings together experience and expertise from all over the world with the aim of enhancing the well-being and quality of life of brain tumour patients and their families.