Glioblastoma Foundation

What Glioblastoma Foundation does

The Glioblastoma Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization established in 2016 and headquartered in Durham, North Carolina. Its stated mission is to transform the standard of care for glioblastoma by funding and developing targeted drug therapies, operating a dedicated genomic testing laboratory, supporting focused-ultrasound research, and providing direct patient and caregiver services. The Foundation serves approximately 15,000 individuals diagnosed with glioblastoma each year in the United States, along with their caregivers and the neuro-oncologists, neurosurgeons, and oncologists who treat them; median survival for this population is reported at 12-18 months with a five-year survival rate below 10%.

The Foundation's technology and product portfolio centers on three pillars. First, the Genomic Testing & Research Laboratory, opened in Durham in September 2024, receives tumor tissue samples from across the US and uses the GenomOncology Pathology Workbench platform (integrated November 2025) to analyze DNA mutations, gene expression patterns, and molecular markers for treatment matching. Second, the Foundation owns all rights to lisavanbulin (BAL101553), a microtubule-disrupting oncology drug candidate acquired from Basilea Pharmaceutica in October 2024 that carries FDA Orphan Drug Designation and has Phase 1/2a data published in Cell Reports Medicine (June 2025) showing complete response in one patient, >90% tumor shrinkage in another, and durable benefit exceeding four years in two patients; Dr. Fabio Iwamoto of Columbia University leads the planned US clinical trial. Third, the Foundation funds MRI-guided focused ultrasound research at Weill-Cornell Medical Center under Dr. Rohan Ramakrishna, and supports Dr. Vinay Puduvalli's NIH-funded Phase I work on the HSP-90 inhibitor Onalespib.

The Foundation's revenue model is donations-driven, comprising individual charitable contributions, fundraising events (including official Charity Partner status for the 2026 LA Marathon with a $2,500 minimum per runner), and NIH/government grant funding flowing to supported investigators. Genomic testing services are delivered at the lowest possible cost to patients, with no individual billing disclosed and pricing modeled as pay-as-you-go outside insurance coverage. Customer segments are diffuse: glioblastoma patients (primary), caregivers and family members, and healthcare providers. Leadership includes CEO Gita Kwatra (PharmD, MBA) and Director of Genomic Testing Shari Brown (MD, molecular pathologist).

Name

Glioblastoma Foundation

Legal name

Glioblastoma Foundation

Website

https://glioblastomafoundation.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2016

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Glioblastoma Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit based in Durham, NC that operates a Genomic Testing & Research Laboratory, owns the FDA Orphan Drug Designated candidate lisavanbulin, and funds drug development and patient support services for US glioblastoma patients and caregivers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Brain Cancer Research Foundation

NAICS

Voluntary Health Organizations (813212), Grantmaking Foundations (813211), Scientific Research and Development Services (5417), Research and Development in Biotechnology (except Nanobiotechnology) (541714)

SIC

Services-Medical Laboratories (8071), Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731), Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Disease-Specific Research & Support (e.g., Cancer, Diabetes, ALS) (BPAGACAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Health & Medical Research Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAL), Health Research Funding Agencies (Public/Quasi-Public) (HLAJALAB)

Keywords

• Glioblastoma research
• Genomic testing services
• Brain cancer drug development
• Patient support programs
• Clinical trial funding

Headquarters

HQ city

Durham

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Charitable Donations: The Glioblastoma Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that raises funds through direct donations from individuals, families, and supporters affected by glioblastoma.
2. Fundraising Events: The foundation generates revenue through charity events including the LA Marathon, where participants raise funds (minimum $2,500 requirement for marathon entry).
3. NIH and Government Grants: The foundation receives NIH funding for drug development (e.g., HSP-90 inhibitor research funded through Dr. Vinay Puduvalli's NIH grant).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The Glioblastoma Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that operates a Genomic Testing & Research Laboratory in Durham, NC to deliver molecular and genomic testing services to glioblastoma patients nationwide. It also acquires and funds the development of drug candidates (lisavanbulin and Onalespib/HSP-90 inhibitor), funds MRI-guided focused ultrasound research at Weill-Cornell Medical Center, and runs virtual patient and caregiver support groups. Services are provided free or at the lowest possible cost to patients, funded by donations and grants.

Product overview

The Glioblastoma Foundation is a nonprofit organization that supports the development of targeted drug therapies and genomic testing services for glioblastoma patients. The organization operates a Genomic Testing & Research Laboratory in Durham, NC that provides molecular testing to match patients with personalized treatments. The Foundation's portfolio includes acquired drug Lisavanbulin (an experimental microtubule-disrupting therapy), funded research on Onalespib (HSP-90 inhibitor), and MRI-guided focused ultrasound therapy. Additionally, the Foundation offers patient support services including the Glioblastoma Support Circle virtual support groups and has integrated GenomOncology's Pathology Workbench platform for genomic data analysis. The mission is to transform glioblastoma from terminal to treatable through innovative research, genomic testing, and drug development.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Genomic Testing & Research Laboratory State-of-the-art laboratory in Durham, NC that receives tumor tissue samples from across the US and provides cutting-edge molecular and genomic testing services tailored to glioblastoma patients, producing prompt genomic test results to inform personalized treatment plans.
• Lisavanbulin Drug Development Program Experimental oral oncology drug (prodrug of BAL27862/Avanbulin) acquired by the Foundation that disrupts microtubules in cancer cells, crosses the blood-brain barrier, and is being clinically developed for glioblastoma; Phase 1/2a study published in Cell Reports Medicine (June 2025) and FDA Orphan Drug Designation granted.
• Onalespib (HSP-90 Inhibitor) Drug Development Novel long-acting Hsp90 inhibitor drug funded by the Foundation and supported through NIH grant funding (Dr. Vinay Puduvalli, 'Characterization of Onalespib'), being developed as a chemo and radiosensitizer for adults with newly diagnosed glioblastoma.
• MRI-Guided Focused Ultrasound Program FDA-approved, non-invasive technology funded by the Foundation for the treatment of glioblastoma in subcortical areas not easily removed through surgery; research is led by neurosurgeon Dr. Rohan Ramakrishna at Weill-Cornell Medical Center.
• Glioblastoma Support Circle Professionally-led virtual support group for glioblastoma patients and caregivers, facilitated by clinical psychologists and meeting bi-weekly for 12 weeks, covering symptom management, emotional support, education, future planning, and social support.

Quantifiable outcome

• Genomic testing lab opened September 3, 2024 to serve glioblastoma patients nationally
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

AI capability4 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.

• GenomOncologycoreTechnology or Integration · 11 November 2025GenomOncology partnered with the Glioblastoma Foundation to integrate its Pathology Workbench genomic data analysis platform into the Foundation's new genomic testing lab. The collaboration aims to streamline complex genomic data analysis and provide personalized treatment options, with the platform operational within two weeks of contract signing.
• Basilea Pharmaceutica LtdcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 24 October 2024The Glioblastoma Foundation entered into an asset purchase agreement with Basilea Pharmaceutica Ltd to acquire all rights to lisavanbulin (BAL101553), an oncology drug candidate for glioblastoma treatment. The foundation will continue clinical development and maintain post-trial access for patients.
• Weill-Cornell Medical CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Glioblastoma Foundation funds MRI-guided focused ultrasound research at Weill-Cornell Medical Center, led by neurosurgeon Dr. Rohan Ramakrishna. The research evaluates the efficacy of this FDA-approved technology for treating tumors in subcortical areas not easily removed through surgery.
• Dr. Vinay Puduvalli / NIHmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe foundation supports Dr. Vinay Puduvalli's NIH-funded research on Onalespib, a novel long-acting Hsp90 inhibitor as a chemo and radiosensitizer for newly diagnosed glioblastoma. The NIH grant titled 'Characterization of Onalespib' will identify maximum tolerated dose in combination with standard therapy.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Stand Up To Cancer: Stand Up To Cancer funds multi-institution "Dream Teams" focused on specific cancer types including glioblastoma. Its high-leverage collaborative funding model is comparable to Glioblastoma Foundation's strategy of anchoring multi-partner research initiatives around a focused disease target.
• American Cancer Society: The American Cancer Society is the largest US cancer nonprofit, funding research, patient support, and advocacy across all cancer types including glioblastoma. It is the dominant broad-incumbent with overlapping patient-support and research-funding programs that set competitive benchmarks for any cancer-focused nonprofit.
• National Foundation for Cancer Research: NFCR is a large, established cancer-research nonprofit funding early-stage translational science across multiple cancer types, including brain cancer. It is comparable as a broader-incumbent funding body that brain-tumor and glioblastoma proposals must compete against.
• V Foundation for Cancer Research: The V Foundation is a major cancer-research grantmaker led by a high-profile fundraising brand. It funds glioblastoma research among many other cancers, making it a broader incumbent that competes for top-tier investigators and donor mindshare in the same disease space.

Others

• Foundation Medicine: Foundation Medicine is a leading commercial provider of comprehensive genomic profiling for cancer patients. It is comparable as a genomics-testing service that informs oncologists about targeted treatments for tumors, overlapping with the genomic-testing function of Glioblastoma Foundation's Durham lab.
• Tempus Labs: Tempus is a precision-medicine company providing genomic sequencing and data analytics for oncology. It operates adjacent to Glioblastoma Foundation's genomic-testing lab and represents the commercial-scale model the foundation's lab platform could eventually partner with or be benchmarked against.

Direct peers

• American Brain Tumor Association: ABTA is a long-standing patient-focused brain tumor nonprofit providing education, support services, and research grants, including glioblastoma. It mirrors Glioblastoma Foundation's blend of patient services and research funding and competes for similar donor dollars and grant recipients.
• Musella Foundation for Brain Tumor Research: Musella Foundation is a glioblastoma-specific nonprofit that funds clinical trials, runs the virtualtrials.org trial-matching service, and advocates for patients. It is one of the few organizations targeting GBM as narrowly as Glioblastoma Foundation and pursues a similar drug-development-plus-patient-support playbook.
• End Brain Cancer Initiative: End Brain Cancer Initiative focuses on increasing patient access to advanced treatment options and clinical trials for brain cancer, including glioblastoma. It is comparable in mission intensity on the patient-access and clinical-trial-matching side and competes for the same donor and advocacy ecosystem.
• National Brain Tumor Society: National Brain Tumor Society is the largest US nonprofit dedicated to brain tumor research and patient support, including dedicated glioblastoma programs. It overlaps directly with Glioblastoma Foundation's mission of funding GBM research, advocacy, and policy, making it the closest comparable peer.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/glioblastf
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCPv4M2HbZc4sZXm8CxUcjDQ/featured
• Facebookfacebook.com/glioblast
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/glioblastoma-foundation-inc
• Instagraminstagram.com/glioblastoma_foundation

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Glioblastoma Foundation