In 2025, the Ty Louis Campbell (TLC) Foundation joined a small group of international families and foundations—collectively known as GC Global—to sponsor the 5th International Gliomatosis Cerebri Conference in London, United Kingdom. The meeting brought together 60 clinicians and researchers and 20 family members from around the world to share research updates, hear perspectives from countries new to the conference, and collaborate on advancing care for patients diagnosed with gliomatosis cerebri (GC), a rare and aggressive infiltrative brain cancer.
The conference was chaired by Chris Jones, PhD (Institute of Cancer Research, UK) and co-chaired by Mariella Filbin, MD, PhD (Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, USA), Andres Morales, MD, PhD (Sant Joan de Déu Children’s Hospital, Spain), and Jeffrey Greenfield, MD, PhD (Weill Cornell Medicine, USA). This internationally respected leadership team set the scientific framework for the meeting and ensured a highly productive and collaborative exchange.
Families and foundation partners convened one day earlier at the Institute of Cancer Research (ICR), where they toured laboratories and learned about ongoing GC research efforts. ICR staff also shared ambitious campus expansion plans, including the development of one million square feet of new research and laboratory space designed to foster collaboration between academic researchers and life-science companies—from early-stage startups to large pharmaceutical partners. This early gathering provided valuable time for families and funders to share their goals, align priorities, and strengthen collaboration.
Attendees left the conference energized by the pace of scientific progress, the willingness of investigators to collaborate across institutions, and promising grant proposals. Post-conference discussions focus on several shared priorities: increasing GC representation at major international scientific meetings, identifying and addressing barriers to clinical trial access, developing a collaborative approach to case review and treatment guidance, and expanding the sharing of cell lines, data, and other critical research resources.
The International Gliomatosis Cerebri Conference is held every two years. The 2027 conference will be hosted by Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston, under the leadership of Dr. Mariella Filbin.
