On Sept. 13 and 14, more than 130 brain tumor researchers from around the country gathered at WashU for the 2024 Christopher Davidson Forum (CDF).
The two day event was established in 2016 by Joanne and Charles F. Knight and their family to honor the memory of their late son-in-law, Christopher Davidson, who was diagnosed with glioblastoma (GBM) and passed away in 2014. It is widely considered one of the best scientific venues for advancing brain tumor research. The bi-annual forum was temporarily paused due to the ongoing effects of the 2020 global pandemic.
“The mission of the CDF remains absolutely clear—to accelerate progress in brain tumor research and management and to ultimately improve outcomes for brain tumor patients,” said Albert H. Kim, MD, PhD, director of The Brain Tumor Center and August A. Busch Jr. Professor of Neurosurgery.
The discussions and collaborations from the 2019 forum resulted in a position statement that was published in the Journal of Neurosurgery. In it, the CDF investigators proposed a bold approach to treating patients with GBM—to routinely biopsy GBM at the time of presumed recurrence. This publication and the national discussions that emanated from it have moved neuro-oncology treatment teams around the country to increasingly pursue biopsy for recurrent GBM. This was the first of numerous collaborations that have emerged, leading to novel scientific and clinical efforts.
“The CDF has evolved into an elite meeting that the best scientific investigators and neurosurgeons around the country want to participate in,” said Eric Leuthardt, MD, MBA, the Shi H. Huang Professor of Neurological Surgery and chief of the Division of Neurotechnology.
The 2024 event featured four keynote speakers along with 20 additional speakers and moderators. The sessions focused on understanding tumor cell biology, tumor resistance to immunotherapies, and defining how the brain interacts with tumor cells. Another major focus was the use of cutting-edge nanotechnology and the methods for the improved delivery of therapeutics to the brain.
“It’s a very exciting time to be part of the brain tumor research community,” said Alexander Stegh, PhD, professor of neurosurgery and research director of The Brain Tumor Center. “The CDF has become a catalyst for forming multidisciplinary partnerships to improve therapeutic options for brain cancer patients.”
Plans for the 2026 Christopher Davidson Forum are already underway.