DR MARNIE ROSE FOUNDATION INC

The Dr. Marnie Rose Foundation was founded in 2002 in memory of Dr. Marnie Rose, a 28-year-old pediatric resident who passed away from what is considered one of the deadliest of human cancers, a glioblastoma (or GBM). The diagnosis of 'brain cancer’ exposed its relative unimportance in the hierarchy of cancers, the lack of funding for its research, and the limited interest by pharmaceutical companies to the disease. Rather than retreat, the Foundation’s founding board decided to respond. What began as a simple walk in her memory has turned into multiple programs directed at eradicating brain cancer and continuing Dr. Rose’s legacy in pediatric initiatives. To date, over 20,000 people have participated in the organization’s programs.

The Dr. Marnie Rose Foundation was the first organization in Houston, TX, to raise funds specifically for brain cancer research. The Foundation now has given more than $6 million to Children’s Memorial Hermann Hospital, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, and McGovern Medical School at UTHealth Houston. These local efforts have contributed to creating The Dr. Marnie Rose Professorship of Pediatric Neurosurgery; creating and continuing the Supportive Medicine Program (formerly Palliative Care); the development of the Delta-24 adenovirus (also known as DNX-2401) that is targeted to the immune system; outfitting the first pediatric Life Flight helicopter; and innovative brain cancer research and clinical trials not otherwise supported by the National Institute of Health.