Our Vision
A "Passport to Discovery" for Brain Tumor Research
Our vision is to create a leading center for brain tumor research and treatment where scientists and clinicians work together to enhance discovery and rapidly translate new knowlege into real improvements in patient care.
Cancer is a complex genetic disease. We now know that tumor formation is the result of abnormal changes in the many different biological mechanisms that control cell growth and tissue development. It is also clear that there is a great deal of variability in the molecular defects present in different types of tumors, and even in different patients with the same type of tumor. We believe that success in the search for better therapies for this terrible disease requires a much better understanding of this complex tumor biology coupled with the creative use of novel technologies and therapeutic strategies. For this reason, the Clark H. Smith Brain Tumor Center emphasizes collaborative research, where the diverse perspectives and expertise of a team of researchers trained in a broad range of disciplines are combined to address important fundamental and clinical questions about brain tumors.
Patients are key partners in this system of discovery, where clinical data informs basic science and new insights generated in the lab are actively transferred back to the clinic in the form of novel diagnostics and treatments. At the heart of this research model is the "Patient Passport"-a centralized database containing all demographic, pathological, imaging, and molecular profiling data from each brain tumor patient, along with treatment plans and patient outcomes. The database will be used by clinicians to guide clinical research and patient care, and by basic scientists to design and test hypotheses about the origin and progression of brain tumors. Continual dialogue between clinicians and scientists will ensure that the best cutting-edge science and technology is aimed at finding solutions to the most important clinical challenges in neuro-oncology. The database will be a key resource for clinicians as cancer therapy shifts from a "one treatment for all" approach towards a model of personalized patient care, where the molecular and biological signatures of each patient's tumor are analyzed and used to guide the design of individually customized treatment plans. Biomarker-driven tumor profiling will enable clinicians to tailor the combination of therapies each patient receives to increase the effectiveness of treatment while minimizing toxic side effects.
The establishment of strong scientific and clinical training programs in neuro-oncology is considered no less important, as the graduates of these programs will gain the skills and experience they need to excel in multidisciplinary team-based research, and to deliver personalized patient care. By pioneering a new model of cancer research, education, and patient care, the success of the brain tumor program at the Smith Center will ultimately benefit not only brain tumor patients, but also those affected by other cancers.
