Bold Leadership with Global Impact.

Jena Lilly has over a decade of leadership in pediatric research operations, with a singular focus on building collaborative systems that accelerate cures. As Executive Director of CBTN, she oversees the strategic and operational growth of one of the world’s largest open-access pediatric brain tumor research initiatives. Under her guidance, CBTN has expanded our global network, enhanced our infrastructure for data and specimen sharing, and launched transformative programs that keep patient impact at the center of every effort. Jena leads with a deep commitment to transparency, equity, and partnership, ensuring every family’s contribution drives real progress.

A leading voice in research-driven pediatric neuro-oncology and precision medicine, Dr. Adam Resnick champions a future where open science, AI-powered platforms, and global collaboration radically transform outcomes for children with brain tumors through his role as the Scientific Co-Director of CBTN. Dr. Resnick’s vision helped shape CBTN’s data-driven ecosystem, now powering thousands of researchers worldwide. His work combines science and infrastructure, driving a research model where discovery is accelerated by access and every dataset is used to its fullest potential.

Tatiana Patton, Director of Operations at the Children’s Brain Tumor Network, leads core operational strategy, infrastructure development, and organizational alignment across the network. She brings to the table expertise in managing complex research programs, optimizing processes, and fostering collaboration among scientific, clinical, and administrative teams. Tatiana’s leadership plays an essential role in strengthening CBTN’s capacity to support global research, accelerate discovery, and improve outcomes for children with brain tumors.

Dr. Sabine Mueller is a globally recognized pediatric neuro-oncologist, researcher, and advocate for children with brain tumors. As Executive Chair of CBTN, she brings a bold, international perspective to the network’s mission, advancing cross-border collaboration, clinical trial readiness, and equitable research practices. Based at UCSF, Dr. Mueller leads translational efforts that combine bedside care with innovative science, always prioritizing the needs and voices of patients and families. Her leadership has been instrumental in shaping CBTN’s strategic vision, expanding our global reach, and accelerating the path from data to discovery to cure.

Dr. Brian Rood is a leading clinician-scientist dedicated to changing the standard of care for children with brain tumors. As Executive Chair of CBTN, he plays a pivotal role in integrating clinical insight with the network’s research strategy. Dr. Rood has helped build CBTN into a powerful platform for discovery, ensuring that data and biospecimens are collected, shared, and used to their fullest potential. With a focus on translational impact and collaborative science, he champions research that leads to real-world improvements in diagnosis, treatment, and long-term outcomes for patients.

Dr. Javad Nazarian is an internationally renowned researcher whose work has reshaped the landscape of pediatric brain tumor science. As a Scientific Chair of CBTN, he helps guide the network’s global research collaborations, with a special focus on rare and hard-to-treat diseases such as diffuse midline gliomas. His leadership spans continents and institutions, combining molecular biology, data science, and patient advocacy to drive meaningful progress. Through his roles with DMG-ACT, the DIPG Registry, and the University of Zurich, Dr. Nazarian ensures that CBTN remains a driving force for innovation and a trusted partner in the worldwide effort to cure childhood brain cancer.

Dr. John Prensner is a physician-scientist and pediatric hematologist/oncologist specializing in the treatment of children with brain tumors. He is a Principal Investigator of an independent biomedical research laboratory focused on the study of the cancer genome in childhood brain cancers. His research interests include the molecular mechanisms and driver genes of brain cancers such as medulloblastomas, atypical teratoid/rhabdoid tumors, and diffuse intrinsic pontine gliomas.