about us
“The organization’s life source is connecting individuals from across the globe who are facing similar situations so that they don’t have to suffer alone after diagnosis. This is something my family did not have the luxury of benefiting from when my dad was sick.”
- Amber Barbach, Founder and Director
About the founder
Amber Barbach, Founder and Director
As founder and director of the Glioblastoma Research Organization, Amber oversees administration, investment management and charitable research funding and brand partnerships for the organization. She leads the design of the overall project funding strategies and policies emphasizing the needs of Glioblastoma brain tumor research.
Amber has a personal connection to her brain cancer advocacy work. She lost her father, Lee Barbach, to Glioblastoma brain cancer in 2018.
Listen to Amber’s GBM caregiving story on our podcast, Glioblastoma AKA GBM.
GBM
Research
What Is Glioblastoma?
Commonly known as glioblastoma multiforme or GBM, Glioblastoma is a highly malignant form of cancer that affects the brain and spinal cord. More than 13,000 Americans are diagnosed with GBM every year. GBM accounts for almost half of all cancerous brain tumors. It can affect anybody at any age, although it is more commonly found in people ages 45 to 70. It is non-genetic in nature and develops quickly. The reasons for its occurrence are unknown.
There is no cure for Glioblastoma. Treatments focus on removing or shrinking the tumor to reduce symptoms; however, they are not successful in long-term survival, making Glioblastoma a devastating diagnosis with most patients surviving an average of 12 to 18 months after diagnosis.
We’ve provided support through our projects, raising over $2.1M+ in the last two years.
Our Role in Funding GBM Research
The Glioblastoma Research Organization is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization raising awareness and funds for new global, cutting-edge research to find a cure for glioblastoma. The organization was established in 2018 and, to date, has provided support to doctors and researchers through eight fully funded projects at leading cancer centers. The GBMRO has also raised over $2.1M+ in the last few years and has partnered with GBM-related projects around the globe.
Connecting Our Community
The organization has the opportunity to meet with leaders in neuro-oncology as well as connect with the people and families directly impacted by Glioblastoma.The stories behind this deadly brain cancer drive our research funding mission. Fueled by our founder's personal experience with GBM, The Glioblastoma Research Organization’s communications channels, such as social media, serve as a bridge to connect those all over the world who are suffering from Glioblastoma or have been affected by the disease. We provide a hub for communication where people in the same situation can share their experiences.
We’re more than 22,000 strong! Join our growing community on Instagram here, and request to be added to our private Facebook group by clicking below.
Medical Advisory Board
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Vidya Gopalakrishnan, PH.D.
The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center
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Ricardo J Komotar, MD, FAANS, FACS
University of Miami Health Systems
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Michael E. Ivan, MD, MBS, FAANS
University of Miami Health Systems
In the news
Support the GBMRO
Create a Facebook Fundraiser.
Want to help support our funding for cutting-edge research? You can raise money centered around your birthday or for any other occasion that inspires you to act without ever leaving Facebook.
Donate in support of our mission.
The Glioblastoma Research Organization invests in global GBM research at leading cancer centers such as Cleveland Clinic, the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, UHealth at the University of Miami and Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City. Your donation will help fund future research which supports physicians and scientists pursuing the latest scientific discoveries that may lead to new treatments for individuals with Glioblastoma.
Our Projects
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Project Liam
Brain tumors are the leading cause of cancer-related death in children. Of all the pediatric brain tumors, high-grade gliomas (HGG) remain the greatest challenge, with few treatment options available and a five-year survival rate of only 10-30 percent. A potential alternative to conventional treatments is to utilize a patient’s own immune system to attack tumor cells—immunotherapy.
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The Lee Project
Funded by the Glioblastoma Research Organization, the laboratory of Dr. Steven Millward at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center has launched The Lee Project, which focuses on the directed evolution of vectors for treating GBM.
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Project Rush
The Glioblastoma Research Organization's Project Rush is in collaboration with Lenox Hill Hospital’s Department of Neurosurgery’s Brain Tumor Center in New York City. Project Rush was inspired by the passing of Neil Peart a Canadian-American musician, best known as the drummer and lyricist of the rock band, Rush.
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Project Nate Roston
The median age for diagnosis of Glioblastoma is 65, with patient prognosis known to decline with increased age. Christopher Hine, Ph.D., a researcher in the Department of Cardiovascular and Metabolic Sciences at Cleveland Clinic's Lerner Research Institute, has a theory that could explain why.
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Project Garcia
Project Garcia marks GBMRO’s fourth fully funded Glioblastoma research project and the first in collaboration with Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center in Miami, Florida. The project includes novel research that uniquely applies a multiparametric intraoperative strategy to guide tumor resection and identify infiltrating tumor cells responsible for tumor recurrence.
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See all projects
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