National Brain Tumor Foundation and Tug McGraw Foundation Unite with BrainLAB in Support of Patient Education

Leading Physicians Come Together For A Free Educational Program For Brain Tumor Patients And Their Families

WASHINGTON, D.C. – April 15, 2007 – More than 200,000 people in the United States are diagnosed with a primary or metastatic brain tumor each year*. As the need for more effective treatment increases, so does research into improving treatment technology. Today, the National Brain Tumor Foundation (NBTF) and The Tug McGraw Foundation partnered with BrainLAB and other medical leaders in the field of brain tumor treatment, to discuss the latest treatment options available and provide patients with the information they need to make the right choices with their physicians.

“In addition to funding research, we also provide support and information to brain tumor patients and their families. We work to raise awareness around advancements in treatment technology,” said Robert Tufel, MSW, MPH, Executive Director, NBTF. “Empowering patients through education helps them gain a better understanding of their disease, so they can take an active role in their treatment.”

Brain tumors are the second leading cause of cancer deaths in males aged 20-29 and the fifth leading cause of cancer deaths in females aged 20-39*. With the evolution of radiosurgery, chemotherapy, convection enhanced drug delivery and traditional surgical methods, brain tumor patients need to better understand all treatment options available to them so they can make informed decisions.

“Our mission is to raise awareness of brain cancer and pioneer the latest treatments for the disease,” said Jennifer Brusstar, President and CEO, The Tug McGraw Foundation. “Patient education programs like this give us the opportunity to provide patients and their families with vital information, while also creating new partnerships.”

This free educational program “Advanced Treatment Options for Brain Tumors: Radiosurgery and the Latest Technologies,” which took place today at The Fairmont in Washington D.C., was aimed at brain tumor patients and their families and designed to shed light on existing treatment options with a focus on the following areas:

1. Understanding brain tumors
2. Principles of radiosurgery
3. Treatment options for brain tumors
4. How to cope with a brain tumor

Attendees were given the opportunity to speak directly with some of the top brain tumor specialists in the country who presented at the program, including

1. David W. Andrews, MD, from Thomas Jefferson University Hospital
2. Walter Curran, MD, from Thomas Jefferson University Hospital
3. John M. Sampson, MD, PhD, from Duke University Medical Center

“As a leading provider of advanced technology for brain tumor treatment, we view our partnership with NBTF and The Tug McGraw Foundation as a natural fit,” said Jean Hooks, General Manager Oncology Solutions, BrainLAB. “Our goal is to help patients learn more about their disease, the latest treatment options, and what to expect during and after treatment.”

The program also kicks off a BrainLAB fund-raising effort benefiting NBTF and The Tug McGraw Foundation through GoodSearch.com—a search engine that donates 50 percent of its revenue to charities designated by its users. Through GoodSearch, BrainLAB has created an innovative way for its employees to participate in the socially responsible initiatives of the company. Each time its employees search the Internet, a donation will be made by GoodSearch to the foundations.

For more information on the latest in brain tumor treatment technology, fund raising initiatives and available support for patients and their families, please visit NBTF and/or The Tug McGraw Foundation online at www.braintumor.org or www.tugmcgraw.org

About the National Brain Tumor Foundation
The National Brain Tumor Foundation is a nationwide non-profit organization, serving people whose lives are affected by brain tumors. We are dedicated to promoting a cure for brain tumors, improving the quality of life and giving hope to the brain tumor community by funding meaningful research and providing patient resources, timely information and education. For more information contact NBTF at their Patient Information Line, 1.800.934.CURE or visit www.braintumor.org.

About the Tug McGraw Foundation
The Tug McGraw Foundation was established to raise funds for pioneering brain cancer research, increase public awareness of the disease, and support college students who exemplify leadership and Tug’s inspiring “Ya Gotta Believe” spirit. Over 200,000 adults and children annually receive a diagnosis of brain cancer, and the mission of the Foundation is to support research that will improve their quality of life in the physical, social, spiritual, and cognitive areas. www.tugmcgraw.org

About GoodSearch.com
GoodSearch is the search engine which donates 50 percent of its revenue to the charities and schools designated by its users. You use GoodSearch exactly as you would any other search engine. And, because it’s powered by Yahoo!, you get proven search results. There are more than 33,000 organizations actively generating funds through using GoodSearch. GoodSearch allows you to support and feel connected to your favorite cause every day while you search the Internet. For more information, visit www.GoodSearch.com.

About BrainLAB
BrainLAB develops, manufactures and markets software-driven medical technology that enables procedures that are more precise, less invasive, and therefore less expensive than traditional treatments. Among the core products are image-guided systems that provide highly accurate real-time information used for navigation during surgical procedures. This utility has been further expanded to serve as a computer terminal for physicians to more effectively access and interpret diagnostic scans and other digital medical information for better informed decisions. BrainLAB solutions allow expansion from a single system to operating suites to digitally integrated hospitals covering all subspecialties from neurosurgery, orthopedics, ENT, CMF to spine & trauma and oncology. With more than 2,650 systems installed in over 65 countries, BrainLAB is a market leader in image-guided technology. The privately held BrainLAB group, founded in 1989, is headquartered in Munich, Germany and today employs around 950 people in 15 offices across Europe, Asia, Australia, North and South America.
For more information, visit BrainLAB at www.brainlab.com.

® registered trademark of BrainLAB in Germany and/or the US

* Source: National Brain Tumor Foundation