Our Medical Advisory Council is comprised of the lead investigators from our regional centers of excellence, as well as the following individuals. We are fortunate to have these passionate and brilliant experts working alongside us, guiding our efforts and ensuring that we remain at the forefront of research acceleration and patient care.
Carl Koschmann, MD
University of Michigan Medical School ChadTough Defeat DIPG Research Professor Associate Professor, Pediatric Neuro-Oncology Clinical Scientific Director, Chad Carr Pediatric Brain Tumor CenterDr. Koschmann is an Associate Professor with Tenure and the Chad Carr Pediatric Brain Tumor Center Research Professor in the Department of Pediatrics at the University of Michigan. He is also the Chad Carr Pediatric Brain Tumor Center Research Clinical Research Director and the Children’s Brain Tumor Network’s Co-Scientific Director. His lab investigates the molecular mechanisms by which mutations in pediatric diffuse midline glioma (DMG) and DIPG promote tumor growth and affect response to therapy. Finally, he serves as the PI/Co-PI for multiple early phase studies in DMG/DIPG for which his lab performs analysis of correlate tumor and CSF samples.
David Kram, MD, MCR, FAAP
UNC Lineberger Comprehensive CancerDr. David Kram is a pediatric neuro-oncologist, an attending physician in the North Carolina Children’s Hospital, and an Associate Professor of Pediatrics at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine. He specializes in the medical care of infants and children with tumors of the central nervous system. He is a clinical trialist and translational researcher, with interests in tumor diagnostics and drug development/delivery. His ultimate career goal is to help develop new therapeutic strategies for pediatric brain and spinal cord tumors that are more effective and less toxic.
Dr. Melissa Mark, MD
Children’s Hospital of The King’s DaughtersDr. Mark completed fellowship at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center in pediatric hematology/oncology, with a focus on brain tumors in addition to a fellowship in pediatric palliative care. During her fellowship Dr. Mark also completed a masters in clinical research where she focused on evaluation of symptoms and quality of life in pediatric cancer patients.
She is a passionate advocate for the integration of palliative care as a standard of care in pediatric oncology and has spoken on this topic nationally. Her clinical focus is on pediatric brain tumors and expanding access to clinical trials locally.
Dr. Mark is the director of the brain tumor program at Children’s Hospital of The King’s Daughters, in Norfolk, Virginia. She also serves as co-medical director for EdMarc Hospice for Children in the Hampton Roads area. She became an ambassador for Gift from a Child in 2022 and is a passionate speaker on the role of tumor donation to not only support brain tumor research, but also as a means to provide legacy and bereavement support for patients and families.
Adam Resnick, PhD
Data Driven Discovery in Biomedicine (D3b) Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP)Adam Resnick, PhD, is Co-director of Data Driven Discovery in Biomedicine (D3b) at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP). His research is focused on defining the cell signaling mechanisms of oncogenesis and tumor progression in brain tumors. Resnick’s research lab studies cell signaling cascades and their alterations in pediatric brain tumors to elucidate the molecular and genetic underpinnings of each tumor in an effort to identify and develop targeted therapies. Dr. Resnick serves as Scientific Chair for several consortia-based efforts, including the Children’s Brain Tumor Network (CBTN) and Pacific Pediatric Neuro-Oncology Consortium (PNOC), which include more than 20 pediatric hospitals across the globe. Additionally, Dr. Resnick is the Principal Investigator for the NIH Common Fund-supported Gabriella Miller Kids First Data Resource Center. As co-director of D3b, Dr. Resnick leads a multidisciplinary team to build and support a scalable, patient-focused healthcare and educational discovery ecosystem on behalf of all children.