NEW NAME – SAME IMPORTANT MISSION
Founders of Elizabeth’s Hope, a nonprofit organization that funds pediatric brain tumor research at Weill Cornell Medicine, has announced a new name—the Children’s Brain Tumor Project Foundation—as a reflection of its expanded mission. The new foundation will welcome the support of more patient families who have been impacted by a pediatric brain tumor diagnosis.
Elizabeth Minter created Elizabeth’s Hope after she was diagnosed with a terminal brain tumor at the age of 19. That local fundraising initiative grew to become a certified nonprofit organization and the cornerstone for launching a pediatric brain tumor research laboratory called the Children’s Brain Tumor Project (CBTP) at New York Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medicine. At the time of her passing in 2012, Elizabeth couldn’t have predicted just how important this endeavor would become, or how many other patient families would get involved in supporting the important research that is now underway at the lab.
Elizabeth’s parents, Michael Minter and Emma Hill, have elected to change the name of the organization in order to support the growth of the lab and ensure the sustainability of Elizabeth’s vision to cure kids with brain tumors. The new name and brand are closely aligned with the Children’s Brain Tumor Project laboratory at Weill Cornell Medicine, which accurately demonstrates its mission to exclusively fund the lab.
“Elizabeth started something that aims to change the way children with brain tumors are treated in the future, but we can’t do it alone,” said Emmie. “I want the lab to continue to thrive and to make scientific contributions toward cures and better treatment options for children. The new brand is more inclusive of that vision.”
The lab is led by Dr. Mark Souweidane, Vice Chairman, Department of Neurological Surgery, Director of Pediatric Neurosurgery, New York-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medicine, and Dr. Jeffrey Greenfield, Associate Professor of Neurological Surgery and Pediatrics, Vice Chairman of Academic Affairs, New York-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medicine. The project started more than a decade ago with a couple of experiments at cluttered borrowed benches in other labs. It has since grown into a team of 20 neuroscientists and technicians who work in a dedicated lab space at Weill Cornell Medicine. The team has published more than 100 peer-reviewed articles and brought five clinical trials to fruition, bringing new treatment options to children in the clinic.
“Almost ninety percent of our research is funded by families and family-founded nonprofits who have been impacted by a pediatric brain tumor diagnosis, many of whom were my patients, including Elizabeth,” said Dr. Greenfield. “That brings a tremendous sense of purpose, urgency, and accountability to our work.”
The Fisher family is another one of those families. Kyle and Kelly Fisher lost their daughter, Allie, to gliomatosis cerebri, the same deadly tumor that claimed Elizabeth Minter’s life. The Minters are thrilled to have them join the new board of directors, along with several others who have shown dedication to the cause.
“We have always shared this vision with the Minter family, and it brings us comfort to honor the memory of our daughter by teaming up with them and helping to lead this organization,” said Kyle.
Moving forward, the Children’s Brain Tumor Project Foundation remains committed to exclusively funding the groundbreaking research at Weill Cornell Medicine’s Children’s Brain Tumor Project. The two initiatives share the same single goal: to bring hope to children and their families who are confronted with the diagnosis of a rare and often incurable brain tumor.
