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Elisabeth Raab Accelerator of Science to End Neurofibromatosis (ERASEnf)

has identified critical gaps in care and research that limits the development of innovative care models that improve the overall quality-of-life in neurofibromatosis patient population. ERASEnf is dedicated to building a collaborative teams focusing on biological, psychological and sociological well-being of patients with neurofibromatosis. 

Goals

  1. Advance our understanding of the biology of neurofibromatosis related tumors and develop novel treatment options
  2. Advance research into innovative care models that take into consideration the psychological and sociological domains of well-being in neurofibromatosis

Objective

To take a holistic approach to the neurofibromatosis condition and be a catalyst for innovation in neurofibromatosis management.

Mission Statement

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Vision

Neurofibromatosis cured together

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Mission

Develop multi-disciplinary collaborations to focus on biological, psychological and  sociological research that advance quality of life in neurofibromatosis

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Values

Collaboration
Excellence
Impact
Diversity
Community

Directors

Gelareh Zadeh MD, PhD, FRCSC, FAANS

Dr. Gelareh Zadeh is the Dan Chair and Professor of Neurosurgery at the University of Toronto and the Division Head of Neurosurgery at the Toronto Western Hospital. She holds the Wilkins Family Chair in Brain Tumor Research focusing on building surgical clinical trials for brain tumor patients. Internationally, she is the Editor-in-Chief of Neuro-Oncology, an open access journal of Society of Neuro-Oncology and European Association of Neuro-Oncology. She is also Past-President of the Society for Neuro-Oncology.

Dr. Zadeh is the co-director of the Elisabeth Raab Adult Neurofibromatosis Clinic at the University Health Network. Her clinical practice focuses on Skull Base Neuro-Oncology. Her research program focuses on studying the genomics of nervous system tumors, specifically tumors that are typically considered to be benign tumors by world health organization (WHO) classification, however due to intimate and invasion of critical neurological structures pose a considerable challenge for the care of outcome of patients.

Gelareh Zadeh MD, PhD, FRCSC, FAANS

Suganth Suppiah is an Assistant Professor of Neurosurgery at the University of Toronto and a peripheral nerve surgeon at the Toronto Western Hospital. He completed his neurosurgical training at the University of Toronto and a peripheral nerve surgery fellowship under the mentorship of Dr. Rajiv Midha at the University of Calgary. Dr. Suppiah is the recipient of the Elizabeth Raab Early Career Investigator Chair in Neurofibromatosis Research. He was also awarded the prestigious Francis S. Collins Scholar in Neurofibromatosis Clinical and Translational Research award, supporting his early career launch as surgeon-scientist

Suppiah’s clinical focus is treatment of benign and malignant tumors associated with neurofibromatosis, including neurofibromas, schwannomas and malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors. Dr Suppiah’s research focus is on uncovering the molecular drivers of oncogenesis and malignant transformation of tumors associated with neurofibromatosis.

Dr. David H. Gutmann, MD, PhD

Dr. David H. Gutmann is the Donald O. Schnuck Family Professor in Neurology at the Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis and the Director of the Washington University Neurofibromatosis Centre.

Dr. David Largaespada, PhD

Dr. David Largaespada is a Professor in the Department in Pediatrics and Genetics, Cell Biology, and Development at the University of Minnesota. He is the Associate Director for Basic Research in the Masonic Cancer Centre.

Dr. Susan Short, MBBS, MRCP, FRCR, PhD

Dr. Susan Short is Professor of Clinical Oncology and Neuro-Oncology at the University of Leeds. She currently leads the brain cancer research section at Leeds Institute of Cancer and Pathology.

Dr. Rajiv Midha, MD, MSc, FRCSC, FAANS

Dr. Rajiv Midha is a Professor and Head of the Department of Clinical Neurosciences at the University of Calgary. He is the past-president of American Society for Peripheral Nerve and the Sunderland Society. He is the section editor and board member for peripheral nerve for Neurosurgery, Journal of Neurosurgery and World Neurosurgery.

Dr. Brigitte C. Widemann, MD

Dr. Brigitte C. Widemann is the Chief of Pediatric Oncology Branch at the National Cancer Institute. She is also a medical advisor to Advance RASopathy Therapies initiative at the National Cancer Institute. Her primary interests are in developing effective therapies for children and adults with genetic tumor predisposition syndrome

Dr. Thomas Kislinger, PhD

Dr. Thomas Kislinger is a Professor in the Department of Medical Biophysics at the University of Toronto and Senior Scientist at the Princess Margaret Cancer Centre. His primary interests are focused on the application of proteomics and computational tools to cancer biology and bio marker discovery

Dr. Aaron D. Schimmer, MD, PhD, FRCPC

Dr. Aaron D. Schimmer is a Professor in the Department of Medicine, Medical Biophysics and Institute of Medical Sciences at the University of Toronto. He is the Research Director at the Princess Margaret Cancer Centre and Past President of the Canadian Hematology Society. Dr Schimmer’s clinical practice is focused on treating patients with acute leukemia and related disorders.

News

Anonymous $11 million gift to support and expand neurofibromatosis research at UHN’s Krembil Brain Institute

Toronto (May 17, 2022) – On World Neurofibromatosis Awareness Day, UHN Foundation announces an anonymous gift of $11 million in support of neurofibromatosis (NF) research. NF is a genetic disorder affecting approximately one in 10,000 Canadians. It results in the development of innumerable tumours throughout the nervous system, including the brain, spinal cord and peripheral […]

Dr. Suganth Suppiah joins the Division of Neurosurgery and the Sprott Department of Surgery at University Health Network as a surgeon-scientist.

Dr. Suppiah has surgical expertise in neuro-oncology, peripheral nerve and spine surgery. His clinical and academic focuses will be on benign and malignant tumors associated with neurofibromatosis. Dr. Suppiah is the recipient of the Elisabeth Raab Early Career Research Chair in Neurofibromatosis.