At the onset of 2026, Love4Lucas marked a significant milestone in its long-standing commitment to pediatric brain tumor research with a fourth consecutive donation of $50,000 to the Children’s Brain Tumor Project at Weill Cornell Medicine.

This continued support has played a meaningful role in advancing the work of Dr. Mark Souweidane and his collaborators, whose research focuses on developing and evaluating new therapeutic strategies for pediatric brain tumors, with a focus on Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma (DIPG). Over multiple years, Love4Lucas funding has contributed to pre-clinical investigations of novel drug delivery approaches, safety evaluations of emerging technologies, and advanced biological/computational analyses aimed at better characterizing the diffuse and invasive nature of these tumors.

“Progress in rare pediatric brain tumors depends on sustained, long-term investment,” said Dr. Mark Souweidane, Co-Director of the Children’s Brain Tumor Project. “The continued support from Love4Lucas has enabled us to pursue innovative and sometimes unconventional approaches that would not be possible without consistent philanthropic partnership.”

The Love4Lucas Foundation was established in memory of Lucas Harashima, who was diagnosed with DIPG at the age of five. Following Lucas’s passing in 2018, his family committed to supporting research efforts that could improve scientific understanding and, ultimately, clinical outcomes for children diagnosed with rare and aggressive brain tumors. Since its founding, Love4Lucas has strategically directed sustained funding toward research programs that emphasize translational impact and collaboration.

“For our family, this work is about honoring Lucas by helping move the science forward,” said Hide Harashima.

“Each year, we are reminded that real progress takes time, collaboration, and commitment,” added Sansan Harashima. “We are grateful to the researchers and to the community that continues to support this mission alongside us.”

In addition to supporting Dr. Souweidane’s work, Love4Lucas funding has also contributed to research led by Dr. Nadia Dahmane, whose studies in developmental biology examine how disruptions in normal brain development mechanisms may contribute to pediatric tumor formation and progression. In particular, her team is focusing on how cellular plasticity, now recognized as a hallmark of cancer, is controlled during the progression of pediatric brain tumors, including DIPG. This work complements therapeutic research by providing critical insight into disease mechanisms and identifying promising new biological targets that may guide the development of future treatment strategies.

Funding from Love4Lucas emphasizes sustained, research-driven investment. As the foundation moves forward, its continued support underscores the importance of strategic partnerships in advancing scientific knowledge and accelerating progress toward more effective treatments for pediatric brain tumors.