{"id":10004,"date":"2026-09-24T18:36:23","date_gmt":"2026-09-24T21:36:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mbinitiative.org\/?page_id=10004"},"modified":"2026-10-20T22:38:01","modified_gmt":"2026-10-21T01:38:01","slug":"cfs","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/mbinitiative.org\/pt\/cfs\/","title":{"rendered":"CFS"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tWhy MBI. Why Now.\u200b\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tScience. Powered by Urgency.\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tMaking science deliver its promise\nat the fastest possible pace.<\/span>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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In the past decades, genomics, immunotherapy, molecular biology, artificial intelligence, and other innovations have transformed medicine.<\/span><\/p>

Yet this progress has not reached children diagnosed with medulloblastoma, a fast-growing and aggressive brain tumor. The standard treatment remains largely based on protocols developed decades ago, and relies on toxic combinations of surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy, potentially associated with lifelong adverse effects. And when medulloblastoma returns, which happens to approximately 30% of patients after initial treatment, the vast majority of these children will die.<\/span><\/p>

The challenge is making scientific progress deliver its promise for these children, at the fastest possible pace.<\/span><\/p>

The Medulloblastoma Initiative (MBI) was created to make that happen.<\/span><\/p>

MBI brings together world-leading scientists, clinicians, institutions, and philanthropists around a shared mission: to accelerate the development of better treatments, and ultimately cures, for children with medulloblastoma.<\/span><\/p>

In only a few years, that mission has already produced measurable results. Laboratories are collaborating across institutions. Scientific discoveries are moving rapidly toward Phase 1 clinical trials that are already treating patients. New therapeutic targets continue to emerge. And a growing international consortium is building the scientific foundation for future therapies.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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Find out how this model works<\/a><\/span>, what it has already achieved<\/a><\/span>, and how philanthropy can help<\/a><\/span> accelerate what comes next.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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The MBI Model<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tA different way fund scientific research<\/span>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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What began as an urgent effort to accelerate research for one child evolved into a different model for organizing and funding scientific research.<\/p>

The MBI model is built around a simple principle: bring outstanding scientists together around one coordinated scientific strategy, provide the resources that allow them to work collaboratively, and maintain a constant sense of urgency about moving discoveries toward patients.<\/p>

This approach has attracted attention beyond the medulloblastoma community, including recognition by MIT as an innovative approach to accelerating medical research.<\/p>

The model rests on several interconnected principles.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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PLACEHOLDER<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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Concurrent, not sequential<\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
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MBI does not distribute scattered grants to unrelated projects.<\/span><\/p>

Each of the laboratories in our consortium contributes specific expertise and addresses a different part of the scientific challenge. Some laboratories study tumor biology and development. Others create experimental models, identify and validate therapeutic targets, develop immunotherapies, or translate discoveries into early clinical trials.<\/span><\/p>

Scientific priorities are considered across the consortium, allowing projects to complement one another and resources to be directed toward a common objective: developing better treatments and cures for medulloblastoma.<\/span><\/p>

Instead of evaluating the impact of each grant only in isolation, MBI considers how the collective portfolio of research fits together and advances the overall scientific strategy.<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>

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Collaboration as the default<\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
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Collaboration sample graph<\/figcaption><\/figure>


At the heart of the MBI model is a simple idea: the world\u2019s leading scientists can accomplish more by working together than by working in isolation<\/span>. Participation in MBI depends not only on scientific excellence, but also on a willingness to collaborate.<\/span><\/p>

All knowledge is shared across the consortium. Researchers know what other laboratories are working on, reducing unnecessary duplication and creating opportunities for complementary work.<\/span><\/p>

A model developed in one laboratory can become a resource for others. A therapeutic target identified by one investigator may support development elsewhere. A discovery made by one team can immediately influence the direction of another project.<\/span><\/p>

The value of each discovery therefore extends beyond the laboratory where it originated. Knowledge becomes a shared resource.<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>

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Urgency as an operating principle<\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
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Urgency is not simply part of MBI\u2019s history. It is part of its operating philosophy.<\/span><\/p>

MBI was created because a child could not wait for the traditional pace of research. That original urgency has carried through the organization and into the scientific consortium.<\/span><\/p>

Projects are expected to advance toward clear objectives and measurable milestones. Scientific obstacles are addressed quickly. Research with the potential to reach patients is prioritized. The goal is to remove avoidable delays and move promising science toward children as quickly as possible.<\/span><\/p>

For MBI, time is not simply a measure of efficiency:<\/span> it is what can determine whether a promising discovery reaches the clinic soon enough to matter for children.<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>

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Translational research as a priority<\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
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MBI places particular emphasis on translational research: moving scientific discoveries from the laboratory toward treatments that can ultimately reach patients.<\/span><\/p>

Basic and foundational research remain essential. But within the MBI ecosystem, particular attention is given to discoveries with the potential to generate therapeutic targets, treatment strategies, and clinical trials.<\/span><\/p>

This translational focus connects the different stages of research around a common objective<\/span>. Scientific knowledge is not only an end in itself; whenever possible, it becomes the foundation for the next therapeutic opportunity.<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>

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Philanthropy as the backbone<\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
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Philanthropy makes the MBI model possible.<\/span><\/p>

Instead of funding isolated projects without connection to one another, philanthropic resources can support a coordinated portfolio of research across institutions and across different stages of scientific development.<\/span><\/p>

This provides greater flexibility and continuity, allowing promising work to move forward without every scientific step having to wait for a new and independent funding cycle.<\/span><\/p>

It also allows scientific priorities to be determined according to their potential to advance the overall mission and accelerate treatments for children.<\/span><\/p>

In this model, philanthropy does more than fund research.<\/span><\/p>

Philanthropy<\/span> connects research, sustains collaboration, reduces fragmentation, and helps turn individual scientific projects into a coordinated effort toward a cure<\/span>.<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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