Making Headway Foundation

06/01/2026

As Brain Tumor Awareness Month comes to a close, our work is far from over.

Brain tumors remain the leading cause of cancer-related death in children, yet pediatric brain tumors continue to receive only a fraction of the attention and research investment devoted to many other diseases. For thousands of children and families, the challenges do not end when May ends. They face complex treatments, long-term health effects, educational disruptions, financial burdens, and an uncertain future every day.

At Making Headway Foundation, we are honored to stand alongside these children and families throughout their journeys. We are grateful to everyone who helped raise awareness this month, shared a story, supported a family, advocated for research, or helped shine a light on this critical issue.

Awareness is important, but action is essential. We must continue to push for increased research funding, better treatments, improved quality of life, and stronger support systems for children living with brain tumors and the survivors who carry the effects of treatment for years to come. Together, we can continue to make headway.

05/29/2026

A precision pediatric oncology study unmasked a dual-targeting therapeutic strategy to stop the relapse of medulloblastoma, the most common malignant childhood brain tumor. While initial treatment survival rates are encouraging, roughly 30% of patients experience a devastating recurrence driven by a highly resistant subset of slow-dividing, self-renewing tumor cells.

The research demonstrates that an FDA-approved compound, pyrvinium, can successfully halt this relapse mechanism. By activating a critical protein controller, the therapy simultaneously shuts down two independent survival pathways, effectively trapping the tumor cells and preventing them from engineering a recurrence. Read more at...

A new study leverages a modified pyrvinium hybrid to block GLI and WNT pathways, halting pediatric medulloblastoma relapse.

05/20/2026

Today, May 20, is Clinical Trials Day, recognizing the critical role research studies play in advancing treatment for pediatric brain and spinal cord tumors.

Clinical trials are essential for improving survival rates, reducing treatment toxicity, and developing more targeted therapies for children with cancer. Current research is exploring approaches such as precision medicine, immunotherapy, molecular profiling, liquid biopsy technology, and treatments designed to better cross the blood-brain barrier.

Because pediatric brain tumors are biologically different from adult cancers, dedicated pediatric clinical trials are necessary to better understand tumor behavior and identify therapies specifically designed for children.

Progress in pediatric neuro-oncology depends on collaboration among researchers, clinicians, hospitals, advocates, and families who participate in and support clinical research efforts.

If you, or somebody you love, has been diagnosed with a brain tumor and are looking to learn more about clinical trials, please feel free to visit Making Headway's partner agencies at https://www.braintumornetwork.org/ and https://braintumor.org/research/clinical-trials/

05/06/2026

This week, Making Headway Foundation joined hundreds of other families to advocate in Washington, DC as part of Head to the Hill. Every participant has had a family member diagnosed with a brain tumor and we came together to fight for needed legislation and research funding. As a community, we represented almost every state in the country, and we told our stories to leaders in the House of Representatives and the Senate. It was an inspiring effort and you can help amplify our message. Help Making Headway Foundation, National Brain Tumor Society, and every family impacted by a brain tumor by signing an online letter of support. Click below, it only take a minute.
https://braintumor.quorum.us/campaign/161469/

Add your voice to the advocates meeting with Congress on Capitol Hill during Head to the Hill!

04/06/2026

This weekend, the Gains for Brains Lacrosse Tournament returns for year number TEN and we are SUPER excited for some extraordinary games!

In addition to providing some of the best girls lacrosse in the country (including the #1 team in the country), the Gain for Brains team raises money and awareness for the Making Headway Foundation. Throughout the last 9 tournaments, they have raised over $86,000!

WHERE & WHEN: The Gains for Brains Lacrosse Tournament will be held Saturday, April 25 at Cold Spring Harbor High School. For details, matchups, and to learn more about Gains for Brains, visit https://gainsforbrainslax.org/.

All proceeds from this event will go directly to the Making Headway Foundation, an organization dedicated to the care, comfort and cure of children with brain and spinal cord cancers. To make a donation visit https://makingheadway.org/gains/

  Welcome back to another year of some amazing lacrosse for an outstanding cause! It’s been called the Premier HS Girls Lax Showcase in the country, and for good reason. With 4 of the top 10 nationally ranked teams, and dozens upon dozens of college-bound players, Gains For Brains (GFB) features ...

03/25/2026

Study Identifies Hormone-Driven Mechanism Behind Rare Pediatric Brain Tumor.

Most cancers are driven by genetic changes that help cancer… Read more

02/27/2026

www.cbsnews.com/colorado/video/family-prepares-as-funding-to-pediatric-brain-tumor-consortium-comes-to-an-end

In a few days federal funding will be ending for pediatric brain tumor research, and doctors and families are wrapping up clinical trials and trying to transition the lifesaving work elsewhere.

02/24/2026

A study led by St. Jude Children's Research Hospital assessed cognitive and communication abilities in children treated for the brain tumor ependymoma to understand the impact of treatment better. They found that radiation was a significant contributor to hearing loss, a risk directly linked to cognitive health. Children who developed severe hearing loss experienced a greater decline on cognitive measures compared to children who did not. The study, published in Neuro-Oncology, highlights the importance of more tailored cancer-directed therapies that limit side effects and adherence to supportive interventions, such as hearing aids. More at

A study led by St. Jude Children's Research Hospital assessed cognitive and communication abilities in children treated for the brain tumor ependymoma to understand the impact of treatment better. They found that radiation was a significant contributor to hearing loss, a risk directly linked to cogn...

02/09/2026

Ependymomas are tumors that grow in the brain or spinal cord and are the third-most common type of brain tumor in children. This type of cancer affects about 250 children in the United States each year and is most often diagnosed in children aged eight and younger. In a study published in Nature, University of Michigan researchers have found that a specific molecule called itaconate drives the development of ependymomas. Their findings can help future drug development for children with this type of malignant brain tumor.

In 2025, Making Headway Foundation was proud to support research efforts just like this at the University of Michigan. Read more at

University of Michigan researchers have found that a specific molecule called itaconate drives the development of ependymomas, a pediatric brain tumor. Their findings can help future drug development for children with this type of malignant brain tumor.

02/04/2026

Making Headway is proud to celebrate the passage of the "Give Kids A Chance Act" and the "Accelerating Kids’ Access to Care Act". These two bipartisan pieces of legislation will directly help children facing serious and life-threatening illnesses, especially those with brain tumors. Both bills were approved by Congress and were signed into law this week.

These bills will help expand access to pediatric clinical trials and accelerate the development and review of treatments designed specifically for kids, ensuring families have more options and fewer delays when time matters most.

This moment wouldn’t have been possible without the tireless advocacy of nonprofit organizations, families, caregivers, and clinicians who shared their stories, raised their voices, and refused to give up. Our collective persistence and collaboration is finally paying off.

Today, we celebrate this hard-won progress and recommit to continuing the work until every child with a brain or spinal cord tumor has timely access to the high-quality care and treatments they deserve.