The Children's Tumor Foundation is committed to driving research aimed at preventing, reversing, or managing neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) and all types of schwannomatosis (SWN), including NF2-related schwannomatosis. As the premier non-governmental funder of NF research in the US, it primarily supports early-career researchers and early-stage research in these fields, bridging the gap to substantial governmental or industrial funding.
The Young Investigator Award (YIA) program, initiated in the mid-1980s by the Children’s Tumor Foundation, aims to provide early-career neurofibromatosis researchers with two years of funding. This is designed to help these trainees establish themselves as independent investigators in NF-related research areas. By offering seed funding, the program seeks to attract new talents to the field and support them in generating preliminary data that will help secure larger grants. The YIA program has been pivotal in introducing new leaders to the NF research and clinical communities, contributing significantly to recent rapid advancements in NF research.