Preston Robert Tisch Brain Tumor Center at Duke

What Preston Robert Tisch Brain Tumor Center at Duke does

The Preston Robert Tisch Brain Tumor Center at Duke is a non-profit academic neuro-oncology treatment and research center operating as an organizational unit of Duke University and Duke University Health System in Durham, North Carolina. Founded in 1937, it is one of the first brain tumor research and clinical programs in the United States, with reported headcount of more than 250 full-time employees dedicated exclusively to neuro-oncology. The center delivers adult and pediatric neuro-oncology care, including neurosurgery, radiation oncology, chemotherapy, immunotherapy, and supportive care, through multidisciplinary teams at Duke Cancer Center and McGovern-Davison Children's Health Center.

Its research stack combines proprietary immunotherapies (PVSRIPO, a recombinant poliovirus platform being studied in a multi-site Phase 2 trial combined with pembrolizumab; and D2C7, a Pseudomonas exotoxin-based immunotoxin) with advanced molecular profiling capabilities within the Brain Tumor Omics Program (BTOP), including single-cell genomics and spatial transcriptomics. Translational research is supported through dedicated laboratories (e.g., The Ashley Lab), consortia membership (PNOC, CONNECT), and a UCNS-accredited Neuro-Oncology Fellowship. Patient intake runs via physician referral or self-referral through a structured screening process, with clinical trial enrollment across multiple US academic sites.

The center's revenue mix comprises three streams: patient care services billed to insurance providers (the largest stream by typical academic medical center economics, though not separately disclosed); federal and institutional research grants of approximately $14.4 million annually; and philanthropic donations, including the Angels Among Us event (over $40 million cumulative since 1994, more than $2.7 million raised in 2025). No standalone P&L, total operating revenue, or valuation disclosures are provided; the entity is embedded within Duke University's accounts.

Name

Preston Robert Tisch Brain Tumor Center at Duke

Legal name

The Preston Robert Tisch Brain Tumor Center at Duke

Website

https://tischbraintumorcenter.duke.edu

Company type

Private

Founded year

1937

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Preston Robert Tisch Brain Tumor Center at Duke is a non-profit academic neuro-oncology program at Duke University that delivers adult and pediatric brain tumor treatment and conducts immunotherapy, genomics, and clinical trial research, serving more brain tumor patients annually than most US centers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Neuro-Oncology Care

NAICS

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

akta.pro primary industry

Neuro-Oncology (HLAKAFAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Radiation Oncology (HLAKAFAC), Pediatric Hematology & Oncology (HLAKAFAE)

Keywords

• Neuro-oncology care
• Brain tumor treatment
• Cancer clinical trials
• Immunotherapy research
• Pediatric oncology

Headquarters

HQ city

Durham

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Patient Care Services: Medical services billed to patients and their insurance providers for brain tumor treatment, including surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and clinical care
2. Research Grants and Contracts: Federal and private research funding supporting clinical trials and scientific investigation
3. Donations and Philanthropy: Charitable contributions from donors supporting brain tumor research and patient care, including Angels Among Us event proceeds exceeding $40 million total

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

The Preston Robert Tisch Brain Tumor Center at Duke provides comprehensive multidisciplinary brain tumor treatment (surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, targeted drug therapy, and immunotherapy) for adult and pediatric patients, supported by cutting-edge Phase 1 and Phase 2 clinical trials, basic and translational research, and a UCNS-accredited neuro-oncology fellowship program.

Product overview

The Preston Robert Tisch Brain Tumor Center at Duke operates as a comprehensive brain tumor treatment and research center offering a unified portfolio of clinical services and research programs. The center provides adult and pediatric neuro-oncology care through dedicated clinical programs, augmented by access to cutting-edge clinical trials including immunotherapy approaches. Research activities span basic/translational research, clinical trials, and supportive care research through specialized programs like the Brain Tumor Omics Program (BTOP) and dedicated research laboratories. Educational initiatives include a UCNS-accredited Neuro-Oncology Fellowship. The center integrates patient care with research to translate scientific discoveries into clinical applications.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Adult Neuro-Oncology Program

Quantifiable outcome

• 21% of patients in poliovirus clinical trial achieved three-year survival rate vs typical less than 5% for recurrent brain tumors
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.

• Pacific Pediatric Neuro-Oncology Consortium (PNOC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPNOC is an international consortium with centers within the United States, Europe, Asia, and Australia dedicated to bringing new therapies to children and young adults with brain tumors. Their goal is to improve outcomes by translating the latest findings in brain tumor biology into better treatments.
• COllaborative Network for NEuro-oncology Clinical Trials (CONNECT)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCONNECT consortium conducts clinical trials in high-risk pediatric brain tumors (such as DIPG) to investigate combinations of novel drugs with traditional therapies. They seek to improve outcomes in the worst childhood brain tumors through science, research, collaboration, and service.
• Multiple Clinical Trial Sites (PVSRIPO Phase 2)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPhase 2 PVSRIPO trial includes sites at: Duke (NC), Jacksonville Baptist (FL), University Hospitals Cleveland (OH), with additional sites at Oregon Health (OR), Ohio State (OH), Harvard Dana Farber/Mass General/Beth Israel (MA), Univ. of Connecticut (CT), and Univ. of California San Francisco (CA). Additional planned sites across the US.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center: Premier academic cancer center with a strong neuro-oncology service and immunotherapy research portfolio, comparable in size, talent depth, and clinical-trial pipeline to Tisch at Duke.
• UCSF Brain Tumor Center: Academic brain-tumor center focused on translational research and clinical trials; listed as a Phase 2 PVSRIPO trial site alongside Duke, indicating direct collaboration and competition in immunotherapy programs.
• MD Anderson Cancer Center: Among the largest US cancer centers with a dedicated neuro-oncology program, comparable clinical-trial breadth, and similar academic/NIH-funded research profile to Tisch; competes head-to-head for complex brain tumor referrals and trial sponsorship.
• Dana-Farber / Brigham and Women's Cancer Center: Major Harvard-affiliated neuro-oncology program with overlapping pediatric (PNOC) consortium participation and a similarly deep translational research pipeline; one of the PVSRIPO trial sites competing with Duke.
• Stanford Brain Tumor Center: West Coast peer academic brain-tumor program with comparable immunotherapy, genomics, and clinical-trial activity; competes for complex referrals and senior neuro-oncology talent.
• Cleveland Clinic Rose Ella Burkhart Brain Tumor Center: Specialized brain-tumor program within a major academic medical center, directly comparable in scope (surgery, radiation, immunotherapy, trials) and patient population to Tisch.
• Mayo Clinic Neuro-Oncology Program: Multi-site neuro-oncology program with similar breadth across adult and pediatric brain tumors; competes with Duke for complex referrals and shares the same NCI-designated comprehensive cancer center positioning.
• Johns Hopkins Comprehensive Brain Tumor Center: Directly competing brain-tumor-focused center within a top academic institution, with overlapping immunotherapy and surgical neuro-oncology research; comparable patient volume, faculty citation impact, and clinical-trial activity.

Emerging players

• Northwestern Medicine Lou and Jean Malnati Brain Tumor Institute: Mid-sized academic brain-tumor program with growing research and clinical-trial activity; an emerging peer competing in immunotherapy and translational neuro-oncology.
• Novocure: Commercial-stage oncology company developing Tumor Treating Fields for glioblastoma; represents an alternative therapy modality that competes with Duke's immunotherapy-centric approach for the same recurrent GBM population.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/prtbtcatduke
• Facebookfacebook.com/dukebraintumorcenter
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/preston-robert-tisch-brain-tumor-center-at-duke
• Instagraminstagram.com/dukebraintumorcenter

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Preston Robert Tisch Brain Tumor Center at Duke