Ivy Brain Tumor Center

What Ivy Brain Tumor Center does

Ivy Brain Tumor Center is a nonprofit translational research program founded in 2018 at Barrow Neurological Institute in Phoenix, Arizona, through a $50 million grant from the Ben & Catherine Ivy Foundation — the largest single grant in the history of brain tumor research. The center operates the world's largest Phase 0 clinical trials program for brain cancer, a methodology that administers sub-therapeutic doses of investigational drugs to surgical patients and measures drug penetration, target engagement, and pharmacodynamic effect within roughly 10 days, enabling rapid go/no-go decisions on therapeutics for aggressive brain tumors, particularly newly diagnosed and recurrent glioblastoma. Its core infrastructure includes in-house CAP-accredited Pharmacodynamics and Pharmacokinetics core laboratories, advanced tumor genetics profiling, and therapeutic-combination (rather than single-agent) testing matched to individual patient biology.

The center's business model is structured as a philanthropy- and grant-funded translational research operation rather than a commercial enterprise. Primary revenue streams are charitable contributions — chiefly from the Ben & Catherine Ivy Foundation (which has committed over $132 million to brain tumor research cumulatively), the Barrow Neurological Foundation, the Women's Board of Barrow Neurological Foundation (via the Barrow Grand Ball), and corporate philanthropy such as the Arizona Diamondbacks Foundation's Nicole Hazen Fund for Hope — alongside research grants from the NIH/NCI and industry-funded trial collaborations with pharmaceutical partners including GSK (Phase 3 niraparib), AstraZeneca (AZD1390), BeiGene (pamiparib), Karyopharm (selinexor), QED/BridgeBio (infigratinib), Vivace (VT-01), and SonALAsense (sonodynamic therapy). The program has screened more than 7,000 patients and enrolled over 700 in trials since 2018, with the Phase 3 Gliofocus Study now operating across 11 countries and 100+ sites; niraparib received FDA Orphan Drug Designation in November 2025. The center offers no products for sale and generates no product revenue, instead monetizing its translational research infrastructure through industry-sponsored clinical trial execution and academic publications.

Name

Ivy Brain Tumor Center

Legal name

Ivy Brain Tumor Center

Website

https://ivybraintumorcenter.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2018

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Ivy Brain Tumor Center is a nonprofit translational research program at Barrow Neurological Institute operating the world's largest Phase 0 clinical trials program, using pharmacodynamics- and pharmacokinetics-driven drug screening in glioblastoma patients to accelerate brain tumor drug development.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Clinical Research and Brain Tumor Treatment Services

NAICS

Research and Development in Biotechnology (except Nanobiotechnology) (541714), Medical Laboratories (621511), Specialty (except Psychiatric and Substance Abuse) Hospitals (62231)

SIC

Services-Offices & Clinics Of Doctors Of Medicine (8011), Services-Medical Laboratories (8071), Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)

akta.pro primary industry

Clinical Development (Phase I–III Trial Design & Execution) (HLAIALAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Clinical Research & Trial Central Laboratories (HLAFAMAL), Medical Oncology (HLAKAFAB), Oncology Pathways & Precision Medicine Decision Support (HLACAGAH)

Keywords

• Phase 0 clinical trials
• Brain tumor research
• Glioblastoma treatment
• Translational research program
• Neuro-oncology services

Headquarters

HQ city

Phoenix

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, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Philanthropic Donations: As a nonprofit translational research program, the Ivy Brain Tumor Center is funded primarily through charitable donations from individuals, foundations, and corporate sponsors. Major donors include the Ben & Catherine Ivy Foundation and community fundraising events.
2. Research Grants: Funded through grants from external agencies including the National Institutes of Health (NIH), National Cancer Institute (NCI), and industry partnerships with pharmaceutical companies like GSK.
3. Industry Collaborations: Collaborations with pharmaceutical companies such as GSK, AstraZeneca, BeiGene, and others provide research funding and drug development support in exchange for clinical trial execution and data.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The Ivy Brain Tumor Center operates the world's largest Phase 0 clinical trials program for brain cancer, providing personalized brain tumor treatment through rapid drug efficacy testing within days of surgery. The center offers comprehensive brain tumor care including neurosurgery, neuro-oncology, radiation oncology, and neuroimaging, supported by in-house pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics core laboratories that enable go/no-go drug decisions matched to individual tumor genetics.

Product overview

Ivy Brain Tumor Center is a nonprofit translational research program at Barrow Neurological Institute offering a comprehensive suite of brain tumor care services centered around the world's largest Phase 0 clinical trials program. The core offering is the Phase 0 clinical trials program, which enables personalized care by testing therapeutic combinations matched to individual patients' tumor biology within 10 days of surgery. Key clinical trials include the Phase 3 Gliofocus Study (niraparib vs temozolomide for MGMT-unmethylated glioblastoma) and the Phase 0/1 Ris-Rez trial for B7-H3-targeted therapy. Treatment services span neurosurgery, neuro-oncology, radiation oncology, and neuroimaging, supported by dedicated pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics core laboratories that provide rapid tissue analysis. The center also provides supportive care services including neuro-rehabilitation, neuropsychology, palliative care, and patient support groups. The Phase 0 program differentiates from conventional clinical trials by testing drug combinations rather than single agents and delivering results in days rather than months.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Phase 0 Clinical Trials Program The world's largest Phase 0 clinical trials program for brain cancer. Studies whether new drugs reach the intended brain tumor target and have the desired effect within days of surgery, enabling personalized treatment matching based on individual tumor genetics.
• Gliofocus Study Phase 3 global clinical trial evaluating niraparib versus standard-of-care temozolomide in adult patients with newly diagnosed, MGMT-unmethylated glioblastoma. Sponsored by Ivy Brain Tumor Center with funding and collaboration from GSK, operating across 100+ sites in 11 countries with 450 subjects.
• Ris-Rez (Risvutatug Rezetecan) Phase 0/1 Trial Phase 0/1 clinical trial evaluating a B7-H3-targeted antibody-drug conjugate in recurrent grade 4 glioma and brain metastases. Characterizes pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, and safety of the drug.
• Neurosurgery Surgical treatment for brain tumors performed at Barrow Neurological Institute, the highest-volume operative brain tumor center in the U.S.
• Neuro-Oncology Medical oncology services for brain tumor treatment including chemotherapy, targeted therapy, and management of treatment side effects.
• Radiation Oncology Radiation therapy treatment for brain tumors using advanced technologies to target and destroy tumor cells while minimizing damage to healthy tissue.
• Neuroimaging Advanced imaging technologies for brain tumor diagnosis, surgical planning, treatment monitoring, and research applications.
• Supportive Care Services Comprehensive supportive care including neuro-rehabilitation, neuropsychology, palliative care, support groups, and social work services for patients and caregivers.
• Pharmacodynamics Core Laboratory In-house laboratory that measures the effects of treatment on patient's tumor within 10 days of surgery, enabling rapid go/no-go decisions on therapeutic regimens.
• Pharmacokinetics Core Laboratory Laboratory analyzing drug penetration and concentration in brain tumors to assess therapeutic efficacy and guide treatment decisions.
• Clinical Trial Screening Free trial eligibility screening service allowing patients to determine if they qualify for Ivy Center clinical trials. Patients can submit screening requests online or call 602-406-8605 to speak with an Ivy Navigator.
• Preclinical Research Services Preclinical studies evaluating drug candidates for brain tumor penetration and target modulation before clinical trial enrollment.

Quantifiable outcome

• 20.3 months median overall survival in niraparib Phase 0/2 trial vs 12.7 months historical median for MGMT-unmethylated GBM
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered minor, major and core.

• Hensley Beverage CompanyminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 May 2026Hensley Beverage Company sponsors the annual Dine & Donate promotion during Brain Tumor Awareness Month at 16 Arizona Cold Beers & Cheeseburgers locations.
• Cold Beers & CheeseburgersminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 May 202616 Arizona Cold Beers & Cheeseburgers locations participate in the Dine & Donate promotion where $1 from featured burger sales, Chef's Julep Cocktails, and 22oz Michelob Ultra drafts is donated to the Ivy Center during May.
• Women's Board of Barrow Neurological FoundationmajorGTM or Marketing Partner · 24 January 2026Selected the Ivy Brain Tumor Center as the 2026 Women's Board Project. The 61st Barrow Grand Ball raised $11.4 million total with $5.1 million designated specifically for the Ivy Center.
• Arizona DiamondbacksmajorGTM or Marketing Partner · 18 May 2025Arizona Diamondbacks and Executive VP & GM Mike Hazen presented $200,000 donation to the Ivy Center during Brain Tumor Awareness Night at Chase Field. The Diamondbacks Foundation, through the Nicole Hazen Fund for Hope, has contributed over $2 million total for brain tumor research honoring Hazen's late wife Nicole who died of glioblastoma in 2022.
• GSKcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 17 July 2024GSK is supporting the global Phase 3 Gliofocus Study evaluating niraparib versus temozolomide in newly diagnosed MGMT-unmethylated glioblastoma. The partnership sponsors the trial across 11 countries with 450 subjects, building on positive Phase 0/2 interim data showing niraparib achieved drug concentrations exceeding other PARP inhibitors.
• AstraZenecamajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 8 April 2024Phase 0/1 trial of AZD1390, an ATM kinase inhibitor, combined with radiation therapy for newly diagnosed MGMT-unmethylated glioblastoma. AZD1390 acts as a radio-sensitizer preventing acute DNA damage repair.
• BeiGenemajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 16 December 2020First-ever Phase 0 clinical trial for newly diagnosed glioblastoma evaluating BeiGene's pamiparib in combination with fractionated radiotherapy. Also available to patients with recurrent glioblastoma.
• Vivace TherapeuticsminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 26 August 2020Collaboration to evaluate Vivace's VT-01, a first-in-class TEAD palmitoylation inhibitor targeting Hippo pathway hyperactivation, as experimental therapy in glioblastoma and meningioma.
• QED Therapeutics (BridgeBio Pharma subsidiary)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 28 July 2020Investigator-initiated Phase 0/2 clinical trial evaluating infigratinib, an FGFR1-3 selective tyrosine kinase inhibitor, in recurrent high-grade glioma patients with FGFR genetic alterations. Patients with successful tumor penetration continue on infigratinib in Phase 2 expansion.
• SonALAsensemajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 21 November 2019Strategic collaboration to develop and test sonodynamic therapy (SDT) for recurrent glioblastoma through a Phase 0/2 clinical trial. SDT pairs 5-aminolevulinic acid (5-ALA) with MRI-guided focused ultrasound to selectively target and kill tumor cells.
• Karyopharm TherapeuticsmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 11 July 2019Partnership to employ Karyopharm's selinexor (XPOVIQ) in combination with other drugs as a dual-drug experimental therapy for adult glioblastoma. The preclinical study targets XPO1 protein in glioblastoma patients.
• Barrow Neurological InstitutecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Ivy Center is hosted at Barrow Neurological Institute in Phoenix, AZ - the highest-volume operative brain tumor center in the U.S. Barrow treats more brain tumor patients annually than any other center in the United States.
• Head for the Cure FoundationminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAnnual Head for the Cure 5K run/walk raises funds for cutting-edge research at the Ivy Center. Dr. Shwetal Mehta participates in awareness events.
• Gray Matters FoundationminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPatient support organization founded by Lanette Veres, a brain tumor survivor, to provide support and resources for brain cancer patients and caregivers.

Scale indicators12 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• UCSF Brain Tumor Center: Academic brain tumor center running early-phase and investigator-initiated clinical trials for gliomas, with comparable translational research focus on tumor genetics and novel therapeutics.
• Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen): Arizona-based nonprofit translational research institute also funded and recognized by the Ben & Catherine Ivy Foundation. Operates a similar model of genomic/translational research and has historically partnered with the Ivy ecosystem, making it the closest analog by mission and ecosystem.
• Barrow Neurological Institute: Host institution of the Ivy Brain Tumor Center; highest-volume operative brain tumor center in the U.S. Provides the surgical, clinical, and patient-population infrastructure that the Ivy Center's Phase 0 program depends on.
• Stanford Brain Tumor Center: Academic medical center-based program running early-phase and translational brain tumor trials, with a comparable emphasis on novel therapeutics and investigator-initiated studies.
• Northwestern Medicine Lou and Jean Malnati Brain Tumor Institute: Academic brain tumor research program with a similar translational orientation, running early-phase trials for glioblastoma and other CNS tumors. Comparable in focus area and structure.

Broad incumbents

• Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center: Major NCI-designated comprehensive cancer center with a large neuro-oncology service and an extensive portfolio of brain tumor clinical trials. Comparable by mission and patient population but operates at much broader institutional scale.
• Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center: Major academic cancer center with a large Stephen E. and Catherine Pappas Center for Neuro-Oncology. Comparable in mission, scale, and ability to run translational brain tumor trials.
• MD Anderson Cancer Center: One of the largest comprehensive cancer centers in the U.S. with a dedicated Brain Tumor Program. Operates early-phase clinical trials for glioblastoma and other CNS tumors at significantly larger scale; competes for industry-sponsored trials and academic talent.
• Dana-Farber Cancer Institute: NCI-designated comprehensive cancer center with a strong translational research program in brain tumors and prior connection to Ivy COO Dr. Shwetal Mehta. Overlap with Ivy Center in molecular neuro-oncology and investigator networks.

Others

• National Cancer Institute (NCI): Federal funder and operator of intramural brain tumor research; Ivy Center receives NIH/NCI grant funding and competes in the same scientific talent and trial-participation pool. Adjacent rather than competitive, but a key reference point for mission and scale.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/IvyBrainTumCtr
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCKfECuT9bQnZ7KwQJpdsmWg
• Facebookfacebook.com/IvyBrainTumorCenter
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ivy-brain-tumor-center
• Instagraminstagram.com/theivybraintumorcenter/?hl=en

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Ivy Brain Tumor Center