Glioblastoma Foundation® Announces the Establishment of Genomic Testing & Research Laboratory
The Glioblastoma Foundation announced today the establishment of a pioneering Genomic Testing & Research Laboratory, scheduled to open in the fall of 2024. This groundbreaking Lab aims to revolutionize glioblastoma treatment by giving patients greater access to comprehensive genomic testing services, as well as identifying drugs specific for their tumors.
Glioblastoma is the most aggressive and lethal form of brain cancer, with a median survival rate of just 12 to 18 months. Because each patient’s glioblastoma is totally unique to them, uniform standards of care fail to have long-term effectiveness.
The goal of the Glioblastoma Foundation’s new Genomic Testing & Research Laboratory is to offer state-of-the-art molecular testing services to patients to inform personalized treatment plans to improve survival and quality of life. The Glioblastoma Foundation aims to make these services available at a low cost, with the goal of significantly improving outcomes for those receiving what is now a devastating diagnosis.
The state-of-the-art Genomic Testing & Research Laboratory, located in Durham, NC, will be equipped to receive tumor tissue samples from all over the US, and provide prompt test results starting this Fall.
"As the leading organization dedicated to supporting the development of targeted treatments for glioblastoma, the Genomic Testing & Research Laboratory represents a significant step forward in the Glioblastoma Foundation’s mission to transform glioblastoma from terminal to treatable," says Gita Kwatra, CEO of the Glioblastoma Foundation. “The Laboratory’s advanced genomic testing services will be accessible to all patients across the US, at the lowest cost possible. Patients will also benefit from faster turnaround times—critical timing for patients with a prognosis of just months. The glioblastoma landscape hasn’t materially changed in over 30 years, with the 5-year survival rate remaining below 10%. We foresee the Glioblastoma Foundation Genomic Testing & Research Laboratory transforming treatment, quality of life, and outcomes."
Gita Kwatra, PharmD MBA will lead the research laboratory and Shari Brown MD, a molecular pathologist, will direct the genomic testing.
Each year, approximately 15,000 people are diagnosed with glioblastoma. For more information about the Glioblastoma Foundation and the new Genomic Testing & Research Laboratory, please visit https://www.glioblastomafoundation.org/
About the Glioblastoma Foundation:
The Glioblastoma Foundation, established in 2016, aims to transform glioblastoma treatment and care through research, advocacy, and support initiatives. By funding innovative research projects, raising awareness, and providing resources for patients and families, the Glioblastoma Foundation strives to improve outcomes and quality of life for those affected by this aggressive form of brain cancer.
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