Neurofibromatosis Therapeutic Consortium

NTAP has partnered with the Children’s Tumor Foundation (CTF) to support a network of laboratories that evaluate potential therapeutic agents in animal models of cutaneous neurofibromas (cNFs).

Building on the Neurofibromatosis Therapeutic Consortium (NFTC), founded by the CTF in 2008, NTAP supports two sites dedicated to drug screening in genetically engineered mouse models of cNF. CTF supports laboratories modeling other aspects of NF1 (i.e. malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors and juvenile myelomonocytic leukemia).

Current investigations in this initiative focus on validating clinical results in mouse models, testing targeted therapies, and identifying optimal combination therapies against cNF tumors. The development of research studies is done with input from all of the involved scientists (preclinical and clinical) via monthly conference calls of consortium members and research summits twice a year. NTAP has played a central role in recruiting scientists from the National Cancer Institute - Cancer Therapies Evaluation Program (NCI-CTEP) to inform drug choices for testing in these models.