In honor of what would have been Yuvaan (“Yuvi”) Tiwari’s sixth birthday, the Yuvaan Tiwari Foundation is making a gift of $675,000, spread over three years, to the lab of renowned Stanford pediatric brain tumor physician and scientist Michelle Monje, MD, PhD.
Yuvi was a bright, active, and loving 2-year-old who was excited to start preschool. His keen sense of humor brought laughter and smiles to those around him. Sadly, after Yuvi’s parents noticed an abrupt change in his gait and facial features, doctors diagnosed him with diffuse midline glioma (DMG), an aggressive and inoperable pediatric brain tumor. As Yuvi’s mother, Parvati Tiwari, dove into the research surrounding her son’s condition, she came across the Monje Lab at the Stanford School of Medicine.
While today DMG is a universally fatal diagnosis, Dr. Monje’s lab is on a mission to find treatments and a cure. Dr. Monje’s research includes studies into how a child’s own immune cells can be engineered to attack cancer cells. The hope is that these engineered immune cells, known as CAR T cells, can one day serve as a treatment, reducing the size and impact of a patient’s tumor.
“Here at Stanford, we opened one of the first CAR T cell trials for DMG, translating discoveries from the lab to the clinic for children with DMG,” says Dr. Monje. “We have seen promising initial results, but there is so much work to be done to learn how to optimize the treatment and find solutions for all children with DMG. I am so grateful to the Yuvaan Tiwari Foundation for helping us advance this work and learn more about the nuances of CAR T cell therapy as a treatment for children with brain tumors.”
“Through Yuvi’s journey, we witnessed firsthand the urgent need for innovative treatments for DMG. We also discovered the funding gap for research,” says Parvati Tiwari. “Dr. Monje’s groundbreaking work in decoding the biology of DMG and laying the foundation for cancer neuroscience has paved the way for significant advancements in the field. We are optimistic about the application of CAR T-cell therapy, and honored to support the Monje Lab as they continue to optimize immunotherapeutic strategies for DMG, providing a beacon of hope for families in the fight.”
Yuvi passed away in 2021, just seven months after he was diagnosed with DMG. Parvati and her husband, Satya, founded the Yuvaan Tiwari Foundation in his memory. The foundation’s goal is to accelerate innovative pediatric brain tumor research and support impacted families. Since its inception, the foundation has funded over $2 million in DMG research.
“Yuvi always saw the bright side of life and we hope his legacy will continue to shine a light for other children battling brain tumors,” says Parvati.
Thank you, Parvati and Satya, and the Yuvaan Tiwari Foundation, for your generous support of pediatric brain tumor research at Stanford. We are honored to continue this vital work in Yuvi’s memory.
