Make Brain Tumors Count in San Diego! 

The mission of BRICK (Brain Research In Cancer Kids) is to improve the quality of life for pediatric brain tumor patients and survivors through the funding of brain tumor research carried out by Rady Children's Hospital-San Diego. 

​A word from Dr. John R. Crawford, MD

Dr. John R. Crawford, MD, Director of Pediatric Neuro-Oncology at Rady Children's Hospital-San Diego shares his passion for pediatric brain tumor research in San Diego. 

Why are Pediatric Brain Tumors different?

You might not realize that a tumor in the brain affects the patient in different ways than tumors in other parts of the body.  Think about it - it's your brain - the control center of thought, emotion and movement, among other things.  The tumor itself affects the brain and then the treatment to get rid of the tumor also affects the brain (though every effort is made to be as careful as possible).  Children are additionally impacted because their brains are still developing.  Also, there are over 130 types of brain tumors, however different types show up in children than show up in adults, thus the need for specific research targeting pediatric brain tumors.

Though some children will survive the ordeal of the tumor removal and treatment, they are often left with various "late effects" resulting from the surgery, radiation and chemotherapy.  Survivors can have physical, learning and emotional challenges that will limit the quality of their lives into adulthood.  Sadly, some children don't survive their brain tumor and some children have tumors that are not treatable.  The skull forms a fixed volume for the brain so even a non-malignant/benign tumor can severely impair a patient's quality of life or even lead to death.

Dr. John R. Crawford, MD, Director of Pediatric Neuro-Oncology at Rady Children's Hospital-San Diego, desires to improve the quality of life for the children with brain tumors.  The need is great for many scientific studies to try to improve the quality of life for pediatric brain tumor patients currently being treated, those who are survivors, and those yet to be diagnosed.  Rady Children's Hospital-San Diego is a member of various organizations which share research data, so progress made here in San Diego, will ultimately help brain tumor patients around the world.*

Since pediatric brain tumors are a "rare childhood disease", funding from government and private grants is often difficult to obtain.  Please consider giving to this effort to improve the quality of life for all brain tumor patients.

Pediatric Brain Tumor Program

The Pediatric Brain Tumor Program at Rady Children’s Hospital and University of California San Diego consists of a multidisciplinary team from the Divisions of Neurosurgery, Hematology-Oncology, Neurology, Radiation Oncology, Pathology, and Radiology. The Program has a strong translational research component that includes members from a variety of San Diego Institutions (UCSD Moores Cancer Center,Scripps Insitute, Sanford Burnham Institute) whose goal is to provide first class care in the area of pediatric neuro-oncology.

The Pediatric Brain Tumor Program has a variety of Investigator-initiated, and Collaborative Clinical Trials. Rady Children’s Hospital is a Member of the St. Jude Research Hospital Clinical Research Consortium, Children’s Oncology Group, Neuroblastoma-Medulloblastoma Consortium, and Pacific Pediatric Neuro-Oncology Consortium*. Patients are seen both at the Peckham Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders and in the Division of Pediatric Neurosurgery. The Brain Tumor Program offers a weekly multidisciplinary Neuro-Oncology Clinic as well as a long term follow up clinic to include young adults

Links to sites with more information

Overview of brain tumors in children by MedlinePlus
Peckham Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders at Rady Children's Hospital-San Diego
Neuro-Oncology Program at Rady Children's Hospital-San Diego
*Research and Clinical Trials at Rady Children's Hospital-San Diego