Global Health at Hackensack Meridian Health

Pediatric Neuro-Oncology

The Pediatric Neuro-Oncology Program at Hackensack University Medical Center’s Joseph M. Sanzari Children’s Hospital is committed to caring for children with brain and spinal cord tumors.

Our program — which is built around research, “outside-the-box” thinking and a willingness to go the extra mile — has led to successful outcomes in patients who were previously told that no treatment options existed.

Patients and their families have traveled from Europe and South America to access innovative brain and spinal cord tumor clinical trials available through our Center for Discovery and Innovation. Our research has led to new developments in treatment for embryonal tumor with multilayer rosettes (ETMR) and other tumors of the brain and spinal cord, including:

Atypical teratoid rhabdoid tumor
CNS germ cell tumors
Craniopharyngioma
Ependymoma
Glioblastoma multiforme
Low-grade glioma
Medulloblastoma

About ETMR One

ETMR is one of the most difficult types of tumors for physicians to successfully treat, due in large part to its rarity, aggression, and the lack of a standard treatment protocol. In order to improve outcomes and radically transform care for children with newly diagnosed or relapsed ETMR, Dr. Derek Hanson – head of our pediatric neuro-oncology program – created ETMR One.

ETMR One is an international registry and research program that allows physicians and researchers from around the world to collaborate and advance ETMR treatment. ETMR One is already seeing results, with the emergence of a new ETMR consensus treatment protocol designed to meet each child’s unique needs, leading to successful patient outcomes.

To learn more about how your child could benefit from participating in ETMR One, see our project overview. Additional information is available for researchers or physicians interested in participating in the program.