Dr. Mark Souweidane

01/16/2026

Picture of Hope. Dr. Mark Souweidane with his patient, Lisha, who benefitted from his DIPG clinical trial more than ten years ago.

For families facing a DIPG diagnosis, clinical trials are their only hope. And right now, that hope is being threatened.

Dr. Mark Souweidane, one of the world’s leading neurosurgeons in DIPG research, interviewed with The Guardian to share how significant cuts in government funding are bringing clinical trials to a halt.

Souweidane completed a successful trial using convection-enhanced delivery that has helped some children live years beyond their diagnosis — with several long-term survivors, including one child still here 12 years later.

But funding cuts have halted the nationwide expansion of his most promising trial. Seven groundbreaking studies — including his — are now closed to new patients. And families who need options today are being told there are none.

This is why continued funding, advocacy, and awareness matter. Children don’t have time to wait. Their futures depend on keeping research moving forward.

Read more the article through the link below — and help this research move forward by contributing today.
🔗 https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/ng-interactive/2026/jan/15/childhood-brain-cancer-trump

01/12/2026

The Cristian Rivera Foundation (CRF) reached a historic milestone in its mission to cure diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (DIPG) with a $365,000 donation, the largest single gift in the foundation’s history, to support groundbreaking research at Weill Cornell Medicine.

Read more at https://neurosurgery.weill.cornell.edu/about-us/news-updates/cristian-rivera-foundation-sets-new-record-365000-gift-advance-dipg-research

01/06/2026

A powerful moment for pediatric brain tumor research 💛

On January 3, the Cristian Rivera Foundation presented a record-breaking $365,000 gift — the largest in the foundation’s history — to support DIPG research at Weill Cornell Medicine. The gift was presented by John Gungie Rivera and Kenan Thompson to Dr. Mark Souweidane, Co-Director of the Children’s Brain Tumor Project.

This extraordinary contribution will directly advance innovative research focused on developing more effective, targeted treatments for children diagnosed with DIPG — a rare and devastating pediatric brain tumor. It’s a powerful reminder of what’s possible when families, advocates, and researchers come together with a shared commitment to change outcomes.

💛 We are deeply grateful to the Cristian Rivera Foundation and its community for their unwavering dedication to honoring Cristian’s legacy and driving progress toward a cure.

🔗 https://www.childrensbraintumorproject.org/2026/01/05/crf-365000-donation/

01/01/2026

Looking ahead to 2026: more discoveries, more hope, more children’s lives changed.

As the year winds down, there’s still time to make a difference — your last-minute donation to Children’s Brain Tumor Project helps fuel life-saving research and brings brighter futures within reach.

Every tax-deductible contribution, big or small, supports Dr. Mark Souweidane and Jeffrey P. Greenfield MD, PhD in their mission to cure childhood brain tumors. 💛

Donate today and help us start 2026 with hope, progress, and new possibilities.
🔗 lightupthelab.org to donate
🔗 childrensbraintumorproject.org/impact to read the 2025 Impact Report

12/30/2025

12/30/2025

12/26/2025

12/23/2025

Dr. Mark Souweidane Reaches Milestone of 300 Endoscopic Colloid Cyst Resections

I’ve recently reached a personal milestone, completing more than 300 endoscopic resections of colloid cysts, a minimally invasive procedure used to remove benign pockets of tissue deep within the brain. As vice chair of the Department of Neurological Surgery at Weill Cornell Medicine and director of pediatric neurological surgery at NewYork-Presbyterian Komansky Children’s Hospital, this work has been a central focus of my career.

This milestone reflects decades of experience in minimally invasive, endoscopic neurosurgery and my ongoing commitment to refining and redefining the best surgical approaches for treating these rare brain lesions.

Read more at https://neurosurgery.weill.cornell.edu/about-us/news-updates/dr-mark-souweidane-reaches-milestone-300-endoscopic-colloid-cyst-resections-0

12/16/2025

The Pediatric Section of the American Association of Neurological Surgeons held its annual meeting in Memphis, Tenn., Dec. 4–7, bringing together pediatric neurosurgery leaders to review new research, health initiatives and best practices.

Dr. Taemin Oh attended on behalf of Weill Cornell Medicine, highlighting the department’s new initiatives in complex pediatric spine care. Michelle Buontempo attended as chair of the Advanced Practice Provider Committee, sharing updates on the committee’s work over the past year.

12/09/2025

From Patient to Pediatric Neurosurgeon-in-Training

Just one month after her Chiari decompression surgery, Addison walked into school on Career Day dressed as… Dr. Greenfield himself, complete with her own little brain prop!
Her strength, spirit, and curiosity inspire all of us.

We’re so grateful to Addison and her family for sharing this moment with us and we’re honored to be part of her healing journey.

Want to learn more about Dr. Jeffrey Greenfield and his work with patients like Addison? Visit https://neurosurgery.weillcornell.org/faculty/jeffrey-p-greenfield-md-phd