Comprehensive Neuro-Oncology Program

Neuro-oncology team members at Riley Children's Health play with a young patient.

Learning that your child has a brain or spinal cord tumor is scary. This diagnosis is received by approximately 5,000 children in the United States each year. The Comprehensive Pediatric Neuro-Oncology team at Riley Children’s Health and the IU Health Melvin and Bren Simon Cancer Center treat children diagnosed with brain or spinal cord tumors.

While the diagnosis of a brain or spinal cord tumor is scary, you can be rest assured knowing that your child's Riley at IU Health care team will work hard to provide the best treatment options. You will be surrounded and supported by a team that will provide the in-depth information you need in order to be informed and make decisions along with a treatment plan that works for your family.

The care of patients with brain and spinal cord tumors requires multiple specialists viewing and treating the condition from all angles. The Comprehensive Pediatric Neuro-Oncology Program at Riley Hospital for Children at IU Health provides this integrative care approach. Each member of your child's care team is an expert in their own area of care. In addition to neurosurgery and neuro-oncology, your child’s team may include providers from:

These specialists work together to treat the whole patient. This collaboration ensures shared knowledge and communication between all team members. Our holistic approach allows for the best possible care and treatment plan for your child.

Why Choose Riley at IU Health?

When your family comes to Riley at IU Health, you have access to a comprehensive children’s health system that cares for a population of more than 1 million children a year. We care for more than 80% of children with cancer in Indiana. Our Comprehensive Pediatric Neuro-Oncology Program serves ​more than 80 newly diagnosed patients each year.

Superior high-level care. Riley at IU Health is one of a few hospitals across the nation that’s able to provide care for children with brain and spinal cord tumors with multiple pediatric specialists working together.

Dedicated knowledge and expertise. Our team is made up of specially trained pediatric specialists who are involved in each patient’s diagnosis and treatment planning from the earliest stages. 

Multidisciplinary approach. Our program has weekly multidisciplinary meetings to discuss the progress of patients and to gain insights from multiple specialists involved in your child's treatment plan and care.

Extensive research. The comprehensive Pediatric Neuro-Oncology Program at Riley Children's Health is led by a team that is always looking for ways to improve the care provided for children with brain and spinal cord tumors. Our discoveries take place in our practices, operating rooms and laboratories which directly affect your child's health. Our team is actively involved in research projects to improve the understanding of why brain and spinal cord tumors occur while continuing to develop better treatment plans.

Proton Therapy Center Collaboration

Proton radiation therapy ​delivers precise radiation to target tumors and limits effect on surrounding tissue. It is used in the treatment of many pediatric brain and spinal cord tumors. Currently, there is no proton center in the state of Indiana. When needed, our team collaborates with colleagues at these institutions:
  • University of Cincinnati Health Proton Therapy in Cincinnati, OH
  • Northwestern Proton Center in Chicago, IL
  • St. Jude Red Frog Events Proton Therapy Center in Memphis, TN
  • S. Lee Kling Proton Therapy Center in St. Louis, MO

Clinical Trials

We understand that research done today will make patient care better tomorrow. Lessons learned in labs and clinical trials are applied to the daily and long-term treatment plans of our patients. Our program is currently a member of the following consortiums:

Conditions Treated

Our pediatric specialists provide patient- and family-centered care for most related conditions. The links below provide more specific information about some, but not all, of the conditions that we treat.

Services Offered

We offer a number of different Comprehensive Neuro-Oncology Program services. Below are some, but not all, of the services that we provide. If you have a question about a specific service that is not listed here, please contact our program.

Doctors

The expert team of doctors with the Neuro-Oncology Program at Riley at IU Health focuses specifically on the treatment of children with brain and spinal cord tumors.

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    Locations

    Locations

    Riley Pediatric Cancer & Blood Disorders

    4.7 out of 5 stars (513 ratings)

    575 Riley Hospital Dr
    Indianapolis, IN 46202

    317.944.2143

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    Resources

    The Comprehensive Pediatric Neuro-Oncology Program at Riley Children’s Hospital at IU Health has curated relevant resources from other websites and provided links with brief descriptions of the information that is available.

    Resources

    • American Brain Tumor Association

      The goal of this national association is to aid in funding brain tumor research and providing information and education about all tumor types in all age groups.

    • American Cancer Society

      The American Cancer Society is a national, community-based volunteer health organization that is dedicated to eliminating cancer as a major health problem. Learn more about brain and spinal cord tumors in children.

    • Children's Oncology Group (COG)

      The Children’s Oncology Group (COG), a National Cancer Institute supported clinical trials group, is the world’s largest organization devoted exclusively to childhood and adolescent cancer research.

    • Little Red Door

      Little Red Door is an Indiana-based cancer advocacy and support organization offering services for cancer patients, resources for those in need and information on cancer prevention.

    • Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation (PBTF)

      PBFT is a non-profit organization that provides leadership and funding to accelerate the number of targeted therapies for children battling brain tumors today, while equipping families with the patient family education, financial relief and emotional support they need to navigate their child's journey.

    • Child Life

      Our Child Life Specialists use therapeutic interventions to help children have a normal childhood despite illnesses and hospitalization.

    • Financial Assistance Program

      Regardless of your ability to pay, Riley at IU Health believes in caring for all patients.

    • Nutrition Services

      Our nutrition team will work with you and your child to make sure you have the tools you need to make sound dietary choices and manage your child’s condition at home.

    • Pharmacy Services

      If you're coming to Riley at IU Health for outpatient cancer care, our on-site pharmacy can fill any necessary medications for your child to be picked up before you leave.

    • Safety Store

      The Safety Store at Riley at IU Health sells child safety products and provides free injury prevention education and on-site helmet and car seat fittings. Indiana residents can order products from the store's webpage.

    • School Program

      With our school program, your child does not have to miss out on important education while receiving treatment.

    Related Programs & Departments

    We provide multispecialty care for a number of conditions. In addition to the links to our related programs & departments below, Riley at IU Health also offers the following programs:

    • Cancer Predisposition Program
    • Clinic for Non-Surgical Incidental Lesions
    • Clinic for Survivors of Brain Tumors
    • Neurofibromatosis Program
    • Neuropsychology Screening Program
    • Fertility Preservation Program

    For Health Professionals

    Healthcare professionals can refer patients to Riley at IU Health by calling the Indiana Medical Access and Communications System (IMACS) at 317.916.3500 or 800.622.4989. You may also contact our brain tumor coordinator by phone at 317.274.8586 or email at rileybraintumor@iuhealth.org, or you can send a fax to 317.274.8587.

    Refer A Patient

    Refer A Patient

    Riley at IU Health works with referring physicians in Indiana and beyond.

    Refer A Patient

    Research

    In partnership with the Indiana University Health Simon Cancer Center, the Comprehensive Pediatric Neuro-Oncology Program at Riley Children’s Hospital at IU Health participates in research that gives our patients access to the newest developments and treatments for brain and spinal cord tumors.

    Research is conducted through the Molecular Oncology and Experimental Therapeutics research group at the Herman B Wells Center for Pediatric Research. The center conducts basic science research as well as translational research. Translational research allows the science innovations discovered in the lab to support the day-to-day work inside the clinical practice.

    Researchers within the Wells Center receive more than $9 million each year in federal research funds and grants. Funding support comes from various organizations, including the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the American Cancer Society.

    Education

    The Neuro-Oncology Program is part of the Cancer & Blood Diseases Department at Riley at IU Health. This department works daily to train the next generation of pediatric oncologists and researchers. Riley at IU Health is actively affiliated with the Indiana University School of Medicine and the IU Health Simon Cancer Center. Through this affiliation, we offer a pediatric oncology/hematology fellowship. The fellowship program boasts a three-year training format, with two new fellows chosen each year.

    Education Resources: