Brain injury resulting in learning disorders, epilepsy, ataxia or paralysis commonly results from tumor growth or from treatments such as surgery, radiation therapy and chemotherapy that can cure the majority of certain types of pediatric brain tumors.
The Kennedy Krieger Institute supports diverse efforts devoted to cognitive and physical rehabilitation of children with brain tumors -- from understanding how tumors alter the function of a child's brain to understanding the cellular and molecular pathways responsible for brain tumor growth. Examples of research in children with brain tumors include the development of advanced, non-invasive techniques to better image tumor locations within the brain to improve treatment planning and to better understand how regions of brain affected by tumor or therapy influences neurological function. More basic research using brain tumor animal models and cultured cells are being used to identify new molecular therapeutic targets and novel genes linked to malignancy. New therapeutic approaches are being developed in collaborations with biotechnology companies.