Also ... Send Your Caregiver a Love Note
Also ... Send Your Caregiver a Love Note

Join Our Community of NET Researchers

Apply Now for a 2021 Grant

The deadline to submit Letters of Intent is now less than two weeks away. Don't miss this important opportunity to secure research funding for proposals aimed at accelerating scientific discoveries and advancing our understanding of neuroendocrine tumors and their treatment. Grants range from $100,000 to $1.2 million, with specific awards available for early-career investigators. The deadline is March 8, 2021. To learn about NETRF grant opportunities or begin the application process, click the button below. 
NETRF GRANT OPPORTUNITIES

The North American Neuroendocrine Tumor Society Issues a Position Statement on COVID-19 Vaccinations

The North American Neuroendocrine Tumor Society (NANETs) released a position statement on COVID-19 vaccination for patients with neuroendocrine neoplasms (NENs) in light of the growing body of evidence indicating that patients with cancer have an increased risk of COVID-19 infection and complications. The statement includes guidance on the setting where patients should receive the vaccine, who should administer the shot, and when it should be given during the course of treatment. (MORE)

The Impact of Missed Checkups on NET Patients

The magazine Scientific American recently took a closer at the impact the pandemic is having on cancer patients and detailed how missed treatments and screenings could result in more severe diagnoses down the line. The article features NETRF Board Member and NorCal CarciNET Group Leader Josh Mailman. Mailman describes how his tumors doubled in size while his scans were postponed three times. (MORE)

The Benefits and Risks of Surgery to Remove Metastatic Tumors

It’s estimated that by the time 40 to 60% of NET patients present with symptoms, they already have a metastatic tumor. The most common site of metastasis is in the liver.
In this video from NETRF’s Know Your NETs patient conference, Dr. Xavier Keutgen of the University of Chicago weighs the pros and cons of surgical debulking of the liver. 

Don’t Miss an Episode of the NETWise Podcast

At NETRF, we recently reached the milestone of our 14th NETWise podcast. We launched the series a year and a half ago with the goal of helping patients and caregivers navigate the world of NETs. Next month, we will launch the first of six new episodes in our series. Until then, we invite you to visit the series and catch up on any episodes you might have missed. If you have an idea for a topic you'd like to see covered, send us an email.
EXPLORE THE NETWISE PODCASTS

Plus, NETQuiz #17 on Caregivers

A diagnosis of neuroendocrine cancer impacts the person who receives the diagnosis, as well as those they love.  A spouse, child, or friend may take on the role of caregiver—a partner to the patient on the NET journey and advocate for their loved one.  Learn more about the essential role caregivers play on the care team in this episode of NETWise. Then take the LACNETS quiz to test your knowledge of the Importance of Caregiving.

LungNET Tissue Samples Needed to Advance Research

If you are a LungNET patient who is having surgery, your excess tumor tissue is needed so scientists can grow cell lines for research. NETRF, pattern.org, and the Broad Institute continue to collaborate on a project to create cell lines from tumor samples. These cell lines are critical to cancer research and can be used to analyze the genetic composition of tumors and test the effects of drugs.

If you are having surgery for a LungNET, your excess fresh tumor tissue can be donated to this project.  There is no cost to you or your hospital. Tissue donation does not affect your clinical care or preclude donating tissue to research at your hospital. The more samples collected, the greater the chance for success and creation of diverse NET cell lines. (MORE
This project has already been successful with other NETs.  A new NET cell line from an intestinal NET sample donated through this program has been created at the Broad Institute.  Other NET samples are growing in a “cell nursery.”

Investigator Exploring New Combination Treatment for Small Intestinal and Pancreatic NETs

Dr. Satya Das of Vanderbilt University Medical Center received a NETRF Investigator Award in 2019 to study the effectiveness of a drug combination in shrinking small intestinal and pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors.  NETRF funded Dr. Das' research to study whether cabozantinib, a promising anti-blood vessel growth drug that has been shown in clinical trials to block tumor growth processes in 15% of NET patients, could be more effective if used in combination with a new drug called CB-839. Current treatments for patients with GI NETs often leave residual disease that requires more potent treatments. “The NETRF Investigator award has enabled me to move forward a concept with a new energy-depleting drug (CB-839) in combination with cabozantinib, all the way from an idea to a full clinical trial protocol," says Dr. Das. Read more about this Phase II clinical trial. (MORE)

Wrap Your Caregiver in Love

Support NET Research with a Love Note Gift

Supporting, advocating and caring for a person with a cancer diagnosis is not a job for the weak of heart. Yet, it’s a calling that spouses, partners, siblings, parents, children, aunts, uncles and friends courageously answer every day for the loved ones in their lives diagnosed with neuroendocrine cancer (NETs).

We invite you to express your love and gratitude to those in your family or community who care for you through a Love Note gift. Leave a message about why they mean the world to you and NETRF will send your message along with a Love Note to the person who has been by your side every step of the way. This is a beautiful way to donate to NET research; while recognizing those who give you a sense of hope. (MORE)

Achieving the Highest Standard for Transparency in Fundraising

NETRF earned the 2021 Platinum Seal of Transparency from GuideStar by Candid. This is the highest-level seal awarded by the organization to nonprofits. The award reflects our commitment to transparency and providing the NET community of donors with up-to-date information about our efforts to fund research and educate patients. Our updated profile is available to view on Guidestar.  (MORE)

Do You Need a Tax Receipt? 

Tax season is underway. The tax filing deadline of Thursday, April 15 is just 49 days away and this year the IRS has said it will not extend the deadline in 2021. At NETRF, we are incredibly grateful for the support of our generous donors. Should you need a copy of your official NETRF acknowledgment of your 2020 gift, please email  Susan Payson or Eva May. Our development team would be happy to help you.

Mark Your Calendar for
Rare Disease Day

As a research organization committed to finding a cure for an uncommon cancer, we will stand with the National Organization for Rare Disorders for Rare Disease Day on February 28, 2021. We invite you to join the Show Your Stripes movement by wearing stripes and posting your picture with a message of support on social media. Be sure to tag us on Facebook (@NETRF), Twitter (@CureNETs) and Instagram @NetResearch. (MORE)
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Contact Us

NET Research Foundation
31 St. James Avenue, Suite 365
Boston, MA 02116

(617) 946-1780 | info@netrf.org
The mission of the Neuroendocrine Tumor Research Foundation is to fund research to discover cures and more effective treatments for carcinoid, pancreatic, and related neuroendocrine cancers.

NETRF is a 501(c)(3) organization. All contributions are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law. To learn more,
view our Audited Financial Statements and IRS Form 990.
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