Our History
Established in 1973, the ABTA was the first national advocacy organization dedicated solely to brain tumors. At that time neuro-oncology as a medical specialty did not exist, there was limited research funding with no national coordination, there was no reporting system to capture the incidence of brain tumors and there was no resource available to provide patient education and support.
Since then, the ABTA has established the nation’s first brain tumor registry, launched an early-career investigator program to cultivate and advance the field of neuro-oncology, invested more than $35 million towards clinical discovery and built best-in-class education resources and support services used by nearly 200,000 patients and caregivers annually.
Milestones
1973
ABTA Established by Mothers Impacted by Brain Tumors
More than 50 years ago, two mothers were desperately fighting to save the lives of their daughters. Through raw determination and great expectations, Susan Netchin Kramer (Founder) and Linda Gene Goldstein (Co-Founder), forever changed the trajectory of a brain tumor diagnosis by establishing the first national brain tumor organization, the American Brain Tumor Association.
1973
Raising Research Funds through ABTA Holiday Cards
Leveraging the popularity and tradition of holiday cards, the ABTA’s first fundraiser was selling ABTA-branded holiday cards to raise funds for brain tumor research.
1974
Ann Landers Helps ABTA to Reach Nationwide Audience
The ABTA receives national attention by beloved newspaper columnist Ann Landers—reaching more than 60 million readers worldwide.
1976
Mickey Rooney Lends His Voice as National Spokesperson
Actor Mickey Rooney serves as the first ABTA national spokesperson recording a series of radio public service announcements. Pictured with ABTA President, Malcolm Brown.
1977
ABTA Research Funding Increases to $30,000
The ABTA research program awarded $30,000 to brain tumor research across University of California San Francisco, University of Colorado, Rush Presbyterian St. Luke’s Medical Center in Chicago, and Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.
1978
First Education Booklet Published to Empower Patients
A Primer of Brain Tumors – the ABTA’s first patient education publication is published by ABTA Board Member Gail Segal, to ensure patients have accurate and accessible information. Today, the 40-page booklet, along with 18 additional brochures, continue to be offered free to patients and caregivers.
1980
Sinatra Concert Generates Funding & Awareness
Frank Sinatra performs in a benefit for the ABTA at the Arie Crown Theater in Chicago, IL. Sinatra’s star power was a major publicity accomplishment helping to raise much needed awareness of the organization.
1981
ABTA Launches Basic Research Fellowship Grant
The ABTA Research Program establishes its first grant mechanism, a Basic Research Fellowship Grant. The grant is a two-year, $40,000 mentored grant, supporting postdoctoral fellows who are conducting laboratory or field-based research projects that focus on brain tumors. The grant continues to be offered to this day and has increased to $100,000.
1989
ABTA Hires First Paid Executive Director, Naomi Berkowitz
For 16 years, the ABTA was solely a volunteer-led organization. In 1989, the ABTA hired Naomi Berkowitz, its first full-time Executive Director. Naomi went on to serve the ABTA as the Executive Director for 25 years.
1991
ABTA Launches Medical Student Summer Fellowship Grant
Recognizing the importance of attracting physician-scientists into the field of neuro-oncology, the ABTA Research Program launches its Jack and Fay Netchin Medical Student Summer Fellowship Program, awarding $3,000 to students to spend a summer conducting brain tumor research.
1992
ABTA Establishes First National Registry of Brain Tumors
The Central Brain Tumor Registry of the U.S. – the first and only national registry of brain tumors – was founded by the ABTA and incorporated as a separate organization. Today, it remains the leading scientific resource for brain tumors in the U.S., referenced by the medical community, federal government, patients and the media.
1992
ABTA Education & Support Programs Reach 5,000 Patients
Through its educational brochures, 1-800 CareLine, Connections Pen Pal program, Support Group directory and newsletter, ABTA programs begin to serve approximately 5,000 patients and caregivers annually.
1993
ABTA Celebrates 20 Years with First Brain Tumor Symposium
Celebrating its 20th anniversary, the ABTA hosts its first Brain Tumor Symposium for patients and caregivers. Today, the meeting is called the National Conference and is attended by more than 1,000 attendees from around the world.
1996
New GBM Treatment, Funded by ABTA Early-Stage Research
The FDA approves a new treatment for recurrent GBM, a carmustine (chemotherapy) implant, in a form of a wafer. The wafer dissolves slowly and releases carmustine directly into the area where the tumor was removed. ABTA funding during the early part of this product’s research helped to make this new therapy available to brain tumor patients.
1997
ABTA Researchers Discover Gene Involved in the Growth GBM
Identification of the MMAC1 gene (now known as PTEN), an important tumor suppressor frequently mutated in cancers. The study, published in Nature Genetics, was partially supported by a 1994 ABTA Basic Research Fellowship grant awarded to Mark A. Pershouse with mentor Peter A. Steck at M.D. Anderson Cancer Center.
1998
ABTA Research Investment Grows to $3 Million
The ABTA Research Program invests $3 million towards brain tumor research, since 1973. Funding pediatric and adult research to advance the science and understanding of brain tumors.
1999
ABTA Education & Support Programs Reach 13,000 Patients
Through its educational brochures, 1-800 CareLine, Connections Pen Pal program, Support Group directory, patient meetings and newsletter, ABTA programs begin to serve approximately 13,000 patients and caregivers annually.
2002
ABTA Hosts Retreat for Survivors of Benign Brain Tumors
ABTA hosts “We Will Survive” retreat in California for survivors of benign brain tumors. The retreat is the first gathering solely dedicated to navigating health and well-being with a benign tumor.
2005
ABTA Joins Brain Tumor Funders’ Collaborative (BTFC)
To accelerate brain tumor research, the BTFC is a collaborative partnership among organizations to pool funding to support larger-scope brain tumor research projects. Through the BTFC, ABTA has participated in the selection and awarding of over $9 million in research grants.
2006
ABTA Takes it’s First Step with Inaugural Fundraising Walk
Now known as Breakthrough for Brain Tumors 5K (BT5K), patients, survivors and supporters from across the U.S. have helped raise more than $22 million since 2006.
2008
ABTA Advocates for Treatment & Care Guidelines with NCCN
The ABTA becomes the only patient advocacy organization represented on the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) Central Nervous System Cancers Panel. In the following years, ABTA successfully advocates for the integration of follow-up care guidelines, multi-disciplinary treatment plan reviews, and the integration of palliative care into the NCCN standards of care for brain tumor patients.
2009
ABTA Researcher Discovers Importance IDH1 & IDH2 Mutations in Glioma
ABTA-funded research, lead by Donald Williams (Will) Parsons, MD, PhD, discovers the importance of IDH1 and IDH2 mutations in glioma. More than 80% of grade-2 glioma tumors contain IDH mutations that boost tumor growth. With this discovery, an investigational targeted therapy—vorasidenib—was developed specifically to target IDH mutations in low-grade gliomas. Studies demonstrated delayed cancer growth beyond two years and reduced risk of cancer progression or death by 61%.
2010
ABTA Launches High-Risk/High-Impact Discovery Grant
ABTA launches the Discovery Grant Program – one-year $50,000 grants to pursue high-risk/high-impact adult or pediatric research capable of changing paradigms in the diagnosis and treatment of brain tumors.
2011
ABTA’s Innovative Research Program Attracts Spotlight
The Scientist applauds the ABTA Discovery Grant Program for attracting high-risk/high-impact research visionaries, placing it with the Gates Foundation Grand Challenges and NIH New Innovator Awards.
2012
ABTA Alumni Research Network Forms
The ABTA Alumni Research Network (AARN), is established to help ABTA-funded researchers eliminate obstacles to advancing brain tumor science and discovery. The AARN aims to foster research collaborations, scientific exchange and career support.
2014
ABTA Research Advances New Investigational GBM Therapy
ABTA-supported research towards a new first-in-class drug for GBM gives rise to a clinical trial of CT-179, an Olig2 inhibitor, taken orally, once daily, crosses the blood-brain barrier, achieves very high concentrations in the brain, and significantly prolongs survival in animal models of brain cancer. Clinical trials began in mid-2023.
2017
ABTA Launches Research Collaboration Grants
The ABTA Research Program establishes it’s first collaborative grant mechanism – ABTA Research Collaboration Grants. These grants are two-year, $200,000 grants for multi-investigator and multi-institutional brain tumor collaborative research projects. They are intended to promote team science, streamlining and accelerating research progress.
2018
ABTA Establishes Metastatic Brain Tumor Collaborative
With more than 200,000 adults diagnosed with a metastatic brain tumor each year, and no organization dedicated to providing patient support, the ABTA establishes the Metastatic Brain Tumor Collaborative to increase accessibility to clinical trials, establish clear standards of care and improve physician-patient communication reflective of the unique needs of patients with brain metastases. Over the years, the collaborative has grown to more than 10 organizations.
2022
ABTA Research & Patient Support Reaches All-Time High
By the end of 2022, the ABTA research investment totals $34 million since 1973 and more than 100,000 patients and caregivers, across all ages and tumor types, are receiving information and support annually.
2023
ABTA Meets Hope Head On to Recognize 50th Year of Service
While progress has been made, the ABTA knows more must be done. In recognition of its 50 years of service, the ABTA introduces “Meet Hope Head On,” a five-year, $50 million fundraising campaign to aggressively accelerate brain tumor research and expand educational and emotional support programs and services to meet the needs of more members of our brain tumor community.
