The project
CBTN - Advancing Pediatric Brain Tumor Research Through Crucial Infrastructure Support
The Children's Brain Tumor Network, housed at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, has built the world’s largest open pediatric brain tumor dataset, making data freely available to qualified researchers worldwide. This collaborative infrastructure has accelerated research globally and helped pediatric brain tumors become the first focus of the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health Pediatric Care eXpansion (PCX) initiative, a $50 million national platform designed to improve treatment guidance for children with cancer. While federal funding supports the technology behind these systems, PBTF funds the critical human expertise—such as research coordinators, imaging analysts, and data harmonization teams—needed to ensure every child’s data is complete, accurate, and ready to drive future discoveries. Together, these efforts bridge the gap between today's manual work and tomorrow's fully AI-powered research.