Childhood Brain Tumor Clinical Trials and Research

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Childhood Cancer Clinical Trials

Find answers to common questions about clinical trials for childhood cancer, including whether or not a clinical trial may be the right choice for your child. Contact us and we can help you navigate your options.

Clinical Trials for Pediatric Patients

Find answers to common questions about clinical trials for childhood cancer, including whether or not a clinical trial may be the right choice for your child. You can also email your questions to clinicaltrials@danafarberbostonchildrens.org

Research is a top priority at Dana-Farber/Boston Children's Childhood Brain Tumor Center. Our physicians work continuously to translate laboratory findings into clinical therapies and find ways to improve survival while reducing the toxicity and long-term impact of treatment.

Our researchers investigate pediatric brain tumor topics such as anti-tumor medications, genetic markers on tumor cells, and the long-term effects of treatment and ways to minimize these effects.

At Dana-Farber/Boston Children's, we have an unparalleled depth of experience in developing new treatments for brain tumors through clinical trials.

Our research and clinical trials have made us a leader in improving survival rates for hard-to-treat pediatric brain tumors like medulloblastoma and atypical teratoid rhabdoid tumor (ATRT). We also were the first pediatric hospital to install a mobile “intraoperative MRI,” which allows surgeons to obtain images while the patient is still under anesthesia and to perform further procedures as needed.

In addition to launching our own clinical trials, we also offer trials available through collaborative groups such as the Children's Oncology Group (COG) and the Pacific Pediatric Neuro-oncology Consortium (PNOC). We are also the New England Phase I Center of the Children's Oncology Group. If your child has a progressive or recurrent tumor, she may be eligible for a number of clinical trials available through these groups, or from one of our independent clinical investigators.

Featured Clinical Trial

Modified Measles Virus (MV-NIS) for Children and Young Adults With Recurrent Medulloblastoma or Recurrent ATRT
This is a two arm Phase I study within the Pacific Pediatric Neuro-Oncology Consortium (PNOC) that looks to determine the safety and recommended phase 2 dose of the modified measles virus (MV-NIS) in children and young adults with recurrent medulloblastoma or atypical teratoid rhabdoid tumor (ATRT).
Principal Investigator: Susan N. Chi, MD