Joining Forces to Outsmart Rare Brain Cancers
January 27, 2026 – The Cancer Research Society (CRS) is proud to support a groundbreaking initiative dedicated to rare brain tumours in children and young adults.
In partnership with Kindred Foundation and the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation (PBTF), CRS contributes to the Syren Research Grant, a $650,000 investment aimed at advancing research of disseminated low-grade gliomas (DLGNT), a rare and difficult-to-treat form of pediatric and young adult brain cancer.
The grant was created in memory of Alex Bernard, a talented young musician known as Syren, who faced a DLGNT tumour with remarkable courage. His story inspired a major movement, mobilizing families and patients, as well as researchers and partners, to further knowledge and improve treatments for this type of cancer.
In December 2025, a project with great potential received this new grant: Dr. Adrian Levine of The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids) project entitled “Elucidating the mechanisms of dissemination and resistance to therapies in low-grade pediatric gliomas.” His research will explore why these tumours spread and resist current therapies, with the goal of identifying new treatment avenues and improving outcomes for young patients.
Through this initiative, CRS continues to support highimpact research. This partnership with the Kindred Foundation and PBTF reflects CRS’s ongoing commitment to advancing progress in rare cancers and strengthening the hope of saving more lives.