BeWonderNow brings hope to the fight against brain cancer

Through the Wyss Institute Spark Awards, individual donors and families help advance breakthroughs that the world urgently needs

A one-time gel that could help stop brain cancer

In contrast to advances made in other types of cancer, brain cancer survival rates remain little-changed despite years of research. Only a handful of treatments have been approved for the more than 100 types of brain tumors, none of which extend survival more than two years on average or are considered to be curative. Surgical removal and radiation remain the standard of care for many brain tumors, even as new targeted immunotherapy options become available for other cancers.

One major obstacle is the brain’s natural defense system, the blood-brain barrier, which blocks more than 98% of drugs from entering the brain.

A team of researchers at the Wyss Institute, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, and MIT, led by Associate Institute Director Natalie Artzi, Ph.D., have developed a promising solution: a sticky hydrogel to deliver medications that surgeons can spray directly into the brain during tumor removal. The gel slowly releases drugs and nanoparticles that activate the body’s immune system to recognize and destroy remaining cancer cells.

By delivering treatment exactly where it’s needed, this approach could eradicate residual cancer cells and help prevent tumors from returning – with just a single application during surgery. Watch Artzi’s TEDxMIT talk from 2022 about eliminating brain cancer at its source to learn more.

Sparking discoveries, transforming futures

Thanks to the generous support of the BeWonderNow, Inc. in honor of their founder, Scott Danielson, Artzi and her team at the Wyss Institute are now building upon the existing progress and develop new ways to tackle treatment of brain cancers.

BeWonderNow, Inc., provides seed-funding for early-stage brain cancer research through pilot grants that bridge the gap between innovation and large-scale support. By empowering physician-scientists and researchers to accelerate discovery, the foundation aims to transform brain cancer from a diagnosis of limited options into one of innovation, progress, and hope for patients and families.

Turning generosity into action

Fueled entirely by donor generosity, the Spark Awards power early-stage Wyss research to improve patient outcomes. Last year’s awards propelled breakthroughs in pediatric cancer, women’s health innovation, and next-generation diagnostics – but the possibilities are as limitless as the challenges we face. Every gift reflects personal passions, accelerates discoveries from the lab into our communities, and ignites a lasting legacy of impact for patients everywhere.