Research That Advances Neurofibromatosis Care
Great strides in neurofibromatosis (NF) research are being made, and our Center is helping lead the way. Our leadership in national research consortia allows us to offer a number of new therapies for NF patients, malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors, optic pathway gliomas and plexiform neurofibromas.
Cincinnati Children’s is part of the Children’s Oncology Group, Neurofibromatosis Clinical Research Consortium, Sarcoma Alliance for Research Through Collaboration and Pediatric Brain Tumor Consortium. Our physicians hold leadership positions in many of these groups, helping to shape national clinical trials that will lead to the next generation’s standard of care. We also offer novel treatments discovered in the lab at Cincinnati Children’s.
Promising Laboratory Research
Nancy Ratner, PhD leads the Cincinnati Center for Neurofibromatosis Research. Dr. Ratner is an internationally noted researcher in NF-related tumors. She and other scientists at Cincinnati Children’s conduct laboratory research that leads to the development of Phase 1 clinical trials for NF research.
Dr. Ratner and her team have already made important discoveries that led to the first effective treatment for NF-related plexiform neurofibromas. Researchers in our program are exploiting new understanding of tumor formation discovered in Dr. Ratner’s lab to find novel methods for treating NF1-related tumors.
