The Children's Tumor Foundation
09/25/2025 | Press release | Archived content
Children’s Tumor Foundation Invests in Emerging Scientific Talent to Drive NF2 Research Forward
Young Investigator at University of Plymouth awarded grant to explore new treatment approaches for NF2-associated brain tumors
A person in a lab coat and gloves uses a pipette at a laboratory workstation with scientific equipment and supplies.Brain tumor research at the Derriford Research Facility (DRF). Internationally renowned Centre of Excellence for research into low-grade brain tumors.
The Children's Tumor Foundation (CTF) is proud to announce new funding through its Young Investigator Award (YIA) program to support a promising research project at the University of Plymouth (Plymouth, England) led by early-career scientist Libby Williams. The project could help advance new treatment options for brain tumors associated with NF2-related schwannomatosis (NF2-SWN).
The study, titled "Analyzing the role and therapeutic potential of ALDH1A3 in NF2-null meningioma," will investigate how a specific protein, ALDH1A3, may contribute to the growth of meningiomas - tumors that are common in patients with NF2-SWN - and whether targeting this protein could offer a new therapeutic approach. NF2-SWN is a genetic condition that causes tumors to form on nerves throughout the body, including the brain and spine. By understanding how ALDH1A3 functions, the project aims to pave the way for more targeted, effective treatments.
The grant was awarded through CTF's Young Investigator Award, a cornerstone grant program at the Children's Tumor Foundation that supports early-career scientists and clinicians pursuing bold ideas with the potential to drive progress across all forms of NF.
"The Young Investigator Award is designed to spark new thinking in NF research and help launch early-career scientists into independent research careers," said Vidya Browder, PhD, Director of Research at the Children's Tumor Foundation. "By supporting researchers like Libby Williams, we're investing in the future of NF2 science and advancing the search for more targeted, effective treatments."
"NF2-related tumors, especially those in the brain, are difficult to treat and can severely affect quality of life," said Annette Bakker, PhD, Chief Executive Officer of the Children's Tumor Foundation. "By investing in early-stage research like this, we're opening doors to new scientific breakthroughs-and ultimately, better treatments for patients."
A person wearing a white lab coat stands in a brightly lit laboratory with scientific equipment and supplies in the background."It is really lovely to receive the funding from the Children's Tumor Foundation to continue my work," said Libby Williams. "Meningioma and schwannoma are under researched, and it is a field that I have become really connected to - I already feel I have accomplished quite a lot, but want to see it taken further."
This project is one of several funded through this year's YIA program, which is advancing research in gene therapy, tumor biology, learning challenges, and cancer neuroscience.
NF is a group of genetic conditions that cause tumors to grow on nerves throughout the body and can lead to serious health issues, including blindness, deafness, pain, and cancer. It affects 1 in 2,000 people of all backgrounds and includes neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) and all forms of schwannomatosis (SWN), including NF2-related schwannomatosis (NF2-SWN, formerly referred to as NF2).
To learn more about the Children's Tumor Foundation's commitment to advancing NF research, visit ctf.org.
Read the announcement from the University of Plymouth.
About the Children's Tumor Foundation
The Children's Tumor Foundation (CTF) is the global leader and catalyst for advancing treatments for neurofibromatosis and schwannomatosis (collectively known as NF), genetic conditions that cause tumors to grow on nerves throughout the body and affect 1 in 2,000 births across all populations worldwide. As the driving force behind NF drug discovery and development, CTF unites patients, researchers, clinicians, and industry to propel innovative therapies from the lab to patients. Visit ctf.org for more information.
Media Contact:
Rebecca Harris, Children's Tumor Foundation
Director, Public Relations
[email protected], 646-738-8563
The Children's Tumor Foundation published this content on September 25, 2025, and is solely responsible for the information contained herein. Distributed via Public Technologies (PUBT), unedited and unaltered, on October 01, 2025 at 14:28 UTC. If you believe the information included in the content is inaccurate or outdated and requires editing or removal, please contact us at [email protected]