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Pediatric Neuro-Oncology Program

Brain tumors are the leading cause of cancer-related deaths among children. At Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh, the Neuro-Oncology Program is committed to improving the survival rate for children who have tumors of the brain and/or spinal cord through state-of-the-art, research-based care. All treatment decisions are discussed at the Neuro-Oncology Tumor Board by a team of subspecialists with expertise in the treatment of childhood brain tumors, including staff from pediatric neurosurgery, radiation oncology, pediatric neuro-oncology and neuroradiology. Patients often are eligible for treatment in one of many innovative research protocols at Children’s Hospital. Such protocols provide our patients with access to new treatment strategies and promising drugs that are available only at a few centers around the country.

The Neuro-Oncology Research Program at Children’s Hospital is funded in part by the National Institutes of Health and the National Cancer Institute. Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh is part of the Pediatric Brain Tumor Clinical Trials Consortium, which has as its goal to identify and evaluate novel treatments and expedite the progress of pediatric neuro-oncological care.

Regina Jakacki, MD, is the director of the Pediatric Neuro-Oncology Program. She can be reached by calling 412-692-5055.

Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh:

is committed to improving the survival rate for children who have tumors of the brain and spinal cord
provides multidisciplinary subspecialty clinical care
has been a member of the Children’s Oncology Group since 1961
provides access to the newest, most promising cancer treatments available through its affiliation with the Children's Oncology Group and the Pediatric Brain Tumor Clinical Trials Consortium
maintains the Neuro-Oncology Research Program through funding from both the National Institutes of Health and the National Cancer Institute

Last Update
April 7, 2010

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