Pediatric Brain Tumor Team
Because tumors in children can present differently, along with the fact that a child's brain is still developing, it is important a child or adolescent receives diagnosis and treatment from a physician team specializing in pediatric brain tumors.
Our team includes experts from two renowned hospitals in the Texas Medical Center, who work together to properly diagnose pediatric brain tumors and ensure they receive the most effective treatment, whether it's surgery, radiation therapy or chemotherapy.
Joya Chandra, Ph.D.
Associate professor, Pediatrics division, MD Anderson Cancer Center
Faculty member, UT Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences
Areas of expertise
- Understanding the oxidative environment of cancer cells to develop therapeutic strategies
- Design of novel treatments for glioblastoma
- Targeting of epigenetic enzymes
Stephen Fletcher, D.O.
Associate Professor, Pediatric Surgery department, Children's Memorial Hermann Hospital
Associate Professor, Pediatric Surgery department, University of Texas Health Medical School
Areas of expertise
- Surgery of pediatric brain tumors
- Pediatric vascular disorders
- Chiari malformation in children
- Medical management of trauma-associated brain swelling
- Craniofacial disorders in children
Gregory N. Fuller, M.D., Ph.D.
Professor, Pathology department
Section chief, Neuropathology
Areas of expertise
- Mechanisms of glioma progression and invasion
- Molecular classification of brain tumors
Vidya Gopalakrishnan, Ph.D.
Associate professor, Pediatrics division
Associate professor, Molecular and Cellular Oncology department
Areas of expertise
- Medulloblastoma
- Understanding the mechanisms of RE1 silencing transcription factor (REST)
- Identifying novel targets for medulloblastoma therapy
David R. Grosshans, M.D., Ph.D.
Professor, Radiation Oncology department
Areas of expertise
- Radiation therapy for pediatric and adult brain, spine and skull base tumors
- Proton therapy, including pencil-beam scanning and intensity modulated proton therapy (IMPT)
- Radiation biology of particle therapy
- Research on neurobiology and neural development in children
Mary McAleer, M.D, Ph.D.
Professor, Radiation Oncology department
Areas of expertise
- Radiation therapy techniques for pediatric and adult brain and CNS tumors
- Proton therapy, including pencil-beam scanning and intensity-modulated proton therapy (IMPT)
- Photon therapy, including intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT)
- Stereotactic radiosurgery with Gamma Knife®
- Stereotactic body radiotherapy with image guidance
Susan L. McGovern, M.D, Ph.D.
Associate Professor, Radiation Oncology department
Areas of expertise
- Radiation therapy techniques for pediatric tumors, as well as tumors of the brain and spine in adults
- Proton therapy, including pencil-beam scanning and intensity-modulated proton therapy (IMPT)
- Photon therapy, including intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT)
- Stereotactic radiosurgery with Gamma Knife®
David I. Sandberg, M.D., F.A.A.N.S., F.A.C.S., F.A.A.P.
Director of Pediatric Neurosurgery, Mischer Neuroscience Institute/Children's Memorial Hermann Hospital
Clinical professor, Neurosurgery department, MD Anderson Cancer Center
Areas of expertise
- Surgery of pediatric brain tumors
- Drug therapies for pediatric brain tumors
- Minimally invasive endoscopic management of brain tumors
- Endoscopic management of hydrocephalus
- Spinal tumors
- Congenital spinal anomalies
- Vascular malformations
- Spasticity
- Craniofacial disorders in children
John M. Slopis, M.D.
Professor, Neuro-Oncology department
Section Chief, Pediatric Neuro-Oncology
Medical director, Neurofibromatosis Program
Areas of expertise
- Neurofibromatosis
- Neurological disorders in children with brain tumors
- Clinical trials in patients with neurofibromatosis
Jeffrey S. Weinberg, M.D., FAANS, F.A.C.S.
Associate Professor, Deputy chair and Vice-chair of clinical operations, Neurosurgery department
Director, Intraoperative MRI Program
Areas of expertise
- Intraoperative MRI
- Surgical management of primary and metastatic brain tumors
- Spinal cord tumors
- Stereotactic radiosurgery
- Intraoperative delivery of anti-cancer agents
Wafik Zaky, M.D.
Associate Professor, Pediatrics Division
Areas of expertise
- Developing novel therapies including Phase I personalized targeted therapy clinical trials for brain tumors in children, specially recurrent or progressive disease
- Immunotherapeutic strategies for recurrent and refractory brain tumors