The Neuro’s top brain cancer fundraiser returns
A Brilliant Night has donated a total of $1.6 million since 2015
A night dedicated to the memory of those lost to brain cancer and in honour of those still fighting the disease will raise money for research that will lead to better treatments.
The third annual A Brilliant Night gala will take place this year at Montreal’s Le Salon Richmond on Oct. 18 at 6:30 p.m. All proceeds will go to support The Neuro’s Brain Tumour Research Centre. The centre’s goal is to identify new, promising agents and strategies in the laboratory and to ensure they are brought quickly to the patients who need them.
Researchers at The Neuro are developing a brain cancer treatment program that individualizes each patient. Known as precision medicine, this treatment approach for brain cancer allows doctors to tailor treatment to patients' biological characteristics. They are also using bioinformatics to determine why some normal stem cells become cancer stem cells, which will create new possibilities to prevent brain cancer before it occurs.
“Over the last 10 to 15 years,Ěýtremendous progress has been made toward our understanding of brain cancers, but we have a long way to go,” says Dr. Kevin Petrecca, Chief of The Neuro’s Department of Neurosurgery. “The study of cancerĚýstem cells holds great promise for future brain cancer breakthroughs, and The Neuro is well positioned to lead the way in this area.”
This year’s A Brilliant Night will include educational installations that give guests a heightened sense of awe, inspiration and affinity to brain cancer research. Through an emotional and sensorial experience, A Brilliant Night will raise awareness of brain cancer and the importance of brain research.
Since 2015, A Brilliant Night has raised $1.6 million for brain cancer research. This money has been used to advance our understanding of the disease, with the goal of finding better treatments. During this year’s event, researchers will announce the latest findings the funds have made possible.
“The Neuro is such an outstanding hospital, with doctors, nurses, researchers, and all branches ofĚýstaffĚýoperating at a top-tier level,” says Suzanne Wexler, whose mother was a brain cancer patient at The Neuro.Ěý“My family and I areĚýforever grateful to everyone who helped extend her life almost four years, allowing herĚýto seeĚýthree new grandchildren born into this world. Through the gloriousĚýA Brilliant Night fundraiser, weĚýhopeĚýto seeĚýmore lives extended through cutting-edge brain tumor research atĚýThe Neuro.”ĚýĚýĚýĚý
A Brilliant Night would like to thank its sponsors BMO, Desjardins, Metro, Agropur, Alre Properties, Apotex, Caisse de depot et placement du Quebec, CGI, Construction CAL, Fednav, Logistec, Maple Leaf Foods, Normandin Beaudry, Paysafe, Powercorp, Rossy Family Foundation, Transcontinental, Bell, Ivanhoe Cambridge, Jarislowsky Fraser and Vigilant.
To learn more about A Brilliant Night visit:
About brain cancer
Brain cancer is the malignant form of a brain tumour. According to the Brain Tumour Foundation of Canada, 27 Canadians are diagnosed with a brain tumour every day. It is estimated that 55,000 Canadians are surviving with a brain tumour. There are over 120 different types of brain tumours, making effective treatment very complicated. The most common type of primary malignant brain tumour is glioblastoma multiforme. It is nearly always fatal.
The Montreal Neurological Institute and Hospital
The Montreal Neurological Institute and Hospital – The Neuro – is a world-leading destination for brain research and advanced patient care. Since its founding in 1934 by renowned neurosurgeon Dr. Wilder Penfield, The Neuro has grown to be the largest specialized neuroscience research and clinical center in Canada, and one of the largest in the world. The seamless integration of research, patient care, and training of the world’s top minds make The Neuro uniquely positioned to have a significant impact on the understanding and treatment of nervous system disorders. In 2016, The Neuro became the first institute in the world to fully embrace the Open Science philosophy, creating the Tanenbaum Open Science Institute. The Montreal Neurological Institute is a 91ÉçÇř research and teaching institute. The Montreal Neurological Hospital is part of the Neuroscience Mission of the 91ÉçÇř Health Centre.
