Overview
At age 12, Juliana Abraham was was diagnosed with a rare brain tumor. Thanks to proton therapy, the tumor is now gone. Inspired by her journey, Juliana has a new dream. Watch her inspiring story.
Rady Children’s Multidisciplinary Neuro-Oncology Program is the only program in the San Diego region providing comprehensive care to children and young adults with brain and spinal cord tumors. We provide patient care for more than 500 children with newly diagnosed or previously treated central nervous system tumors and are one of the highest-volume Neuro-Oncology programs in California.
The heart of our program lies in providing not only medical expertise but also compassionate support to families navigating the complexities of a Neuro-Oncology diagnosis.
Our expert multidisciplinary team includes physicians from Hematology-Oncology, Neurosurgery, Neurology, Radiology, Endocrinology/Diabetes, Rehabilitation Medicine, Ophthalmology and Pathology.
State-of-the-art treatment is provided for both newly diagnosed and recurrent spinal cord tumors. Advanced neurosurgery procedures, targeted radiation oncology and the latest biologic therapies are available to our patients through our alliance with the UC San Diego Moores Cancer Center and research collaborations with the Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute and The Scripps Research Institute.
Proton therapy for brain and spine tumors is available for potential patients at California Protons Cancer Therapy Center. Rady Children’s Hospital operates the only pencil-beam scanning proton beam on the West Coast. Patients who reside in San Diego and those referred from out of the area will be followed by our Neuro-Oncology team of health professionals during their treatment.
Read more about our Proton Therapy program.
Genomic Medicine
Besides helping with brain and spinal cord tumors, our Neuro-Oncology Program has also partnered with Rady Children’s Institute for Genomic Medicine to assist in both the diagnosis and management of children with central nervous system tumors. This involves health professionals using the Institute’s rapid whole genome sequencing platform and other molecular profiling technologies to detect novel mutations and pathways involved in tumor growth. Through a multidisciplinary Molecular Tumor Board, patients who meet various criteria to get treatment for brain and spinal cord tumors are recommended for advanced molecular testing.
Research and Clinical Trials
Through our alliance with the UC San Diego Moores Cancer and St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, and participation in collaborative clinical trials groups, we have an active Neuro-Oncology research program to discover better treatment options for brain and spinal cord tumors and ultimately, find cures. Click here for our active clinical trials.
In the News
- Strangers Send Words of Encouragement to Siblings Fighting Brain Cancer, 10news.com, features Rady Children’s patients
- A Brain Tumor Won’t Stop Me, FloGymnastics, features former patient Juliana Abraham.
- Brain Cancer Replaces Leukemia as Top Cancer Killer of Kids, nbcsandiego.com, features John Crawford, M.D., M.S.
- New Gift Broadens Reach of Rady’s Genetics Institute, The San Diego Union-Tribune, features John Crawford, M.D., M.S.
- Genomic Profiling Informs Pediatric Glioma Treatment, Business Wire, features John Crawford, M.D., M.S.
Support Our Program
One hundred percent of your tax-deductible gift benefits Rady Children’s.
To donate, click the link below and select Neuro-Oncology program from the Gift Designation Drop-down menu: