Neuro-Oncology

A Team Approach to Treating Brain and Spinal Cord Tumors

At the Brain Care Institute of UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh, we're committed to improving the survival rate for children who have tumors of the brain or spine.

Through teamwork and research, we seek the best possible treatment for each child.

Our experts in childhood brain tumors — along with pediatric neurosurgeons and others — discuss all treatment options at the Neuro-Oncology Tumor Board.

A Full Spectrum of Brain Cancer Support Services for Patients and Parents

The neuro-oncology team at the Brain Care Institute cares about the total well-being of both children and their loved ones.

We offer a full spectrum of support beyond cancer care — from diagnosis and treatment to follow-up visits.

Along with doctors, you and your child have access to a complete health care team of:

  • Counselors
  • Nurses
  • Behavioral health experts
  • Social workers

This support is just one reason that makes the Brain Care Institute at Children’s a special place of healing and hope.

A Leading Site for Neurologic Cancer Research and Clinical Studies

The Neuro-Oncology Program at UPMC Children’s Hospital is at the center of finding new and improved treatments for brain and nervous system cancers.

As one of the leading sites in the United States for childhood neurologic cancer research and clinical studies, our program receives funding from the:

We are also members of the Children’s Oncology Group and the Pediatric Brain Tumor Consortium.

This select group of pediatric hospitals commits to both finding and assessing novel treatments for childhood brain and nervous system cancers.

What does this mean to our brain and spine cancer patients?

Our research funding and partnerships:

  • Allow us to give our patients access to clinical trials of the newest brain and spine cancer treatments.
  • Enable us to develop leading-edge treatment strategies for many types of brain tumors, including gliomas.
  • Give us the chance to take these treatment strategies from the lab to clinical trials, making a powerful impact on the quality of life of our patients.

Learn more about cancer research at UPMC Children's.