Together with NREF, we are funding breakthrough neurosurgical research. Dr. Justin Wang’s project proposes to study liquid biopsy as a potential tool in the management of patients with brain tumors; and more specifically Meningiomas. Imagine a future when we might be able to monitor changes in this tumor type through a simple blood test, and not a craniotomy. Funding of exciting projects like this are made possible by the generous support of SBTF donors. 

The NREF Young Clinician Investigator Award supports junior faculty pursuing careers as clinical investigators. Applicants must be neurosurgeons, no more than two years from completing neurosurgical residency training or clinical fellowship, who are full-time faculty in North American teaching institutions.

Justin Zihan Wang, MD, BSc
University of Toronto

• Award: 2021-22 NREF & Southeastern Brain Tumor Foundation (SBTF) Research Fellowship Grant on behalf of the AANS/CNS Section on Tumors
• Project Title: Establishing the utility of plasma-based liquid biopsies in meningiomas using cell-free methylated DNA immunoprecipitation with deep sequencing
• Sponsor: Gelareh Zadeh, MD, PhD, FAANS, FRCSC

Read about the Young Clinician Investigator Awards funded by the NREF and read about all the projects funded by the SBTF on our Impact page.