In Memory of Bozena Biedo

Friends,

I’d like to invite you to join my family in remembering my mother, Bozena Biedo, through support for research at NYU Langone Health. There are so many reasons to support this important work and continue to advance our understanding of brain tumors.

The Neurosurgical Laboratory for Stem Cell Research, which is headed by Dr. Placantonakis, studies stem cell biology in the context of glioma, a malignant brain tumor. We adapt human embryonic stem cell and genetic technologies to model oncogenic processes, with the goal of understanding the early steps in glioma formation and developing translational applications, such as high-throughput drug screening and biomarker identification. Furthermore, we use genetic approaches and patients' tissue to generate models for high-grade gliomas, with emphasis on the role of stem cells in pathogenesis and new therapeutic approaches that directly target them. Our ultimate goal is to translate our laboratory findings to new therapies and diagnostic tests for patients with glioma.

Dr. Placantonakis is a tenure-track physician-scientist, with an interest in the treatment of gliomas and brain tumors, who divides his time between his neurosurgical practice and the laboratory. His laboratory receives support from the National Institutes of Health (NIH), private donors, and private foundations.

If you feel motivated to donate any amount, no matter the size, please do. Your gift would mean so much to our family, and even more to so many others who depend on the work of NYU Langone's faculty and staff.

Thank you for your support, The Biedo Family