ABTA Alumni Research Network

The ABTA Alumni Research Network (AARN) is a network of brain tumor researchers that have been funded by the ABTA. The purpose of the AARN is to support the ABTA’s mission to advance the understanding and treatment of brain tumors by fostering excellence in brain tumor research through professional development, communications, education, training and collaboration.

15th Annual AARN Meeting
September 17-19, 2026
Schaumburg, IL

Engagement with the ABTA Community

AARN members are invited to speak at ABTA patient education meetings, fundraising events, review ABTA publications for print and digital materials, serve on grant application review committees for ABTA grants.

Here are some examples of recent engagement opportunities:

Eighteen AARN members connected over breakfast with ABTA staff at the Society for Neuro-Oncology Annual Meeting in Honolulu, HI

Defne Bayik, PhD and Dionysios Watson, MD, PhD, hosted ABTA Leadership for a lab tour at the University of Miami and Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center

David Raleigh, MD, PhD, spoke at the ABTA National Conference as part of the Mock Tumor Board session

Zhaohui Wang, PhD hosted ABTA leadership for a tour of the Terasaki Institute for Biomedical Innovation

Sixteen AARN members served on the host committees for the Cleveland, Columbus, Los Angeles, Twin Cities, Michigan, and Northern California ABTA BT5K events

AARN Annual Meeting

As part of the ABTA National Conference, the AARN members-only annual meeting brings researchers and medical professionals together to foster scientific exchange and collaboration to accelerate brain tumor discoveries.

2026 AARN Annual Meeting Co-Chairs

Network. Connect. Build Lifelong Goals at the
AARN Annual Meetings.

Reasons Members Value the Annual Meeting:

“I came out with advice on projects, new collaborations, and immensely useful career advice. Can’t get more valuable than that in only 2 and half days!”

“It is different from other meetings. I felt like everybody is really committed to achieve the final goal of finding a cure for brain tumors.”

“The AARN meeting is one of my favorite conferences. I have made friends, built collaborations, and learned from shared experiences in ways that have helped me and others in the brain tumor field.”