Nikki Lyons - Research chair
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Meet Nikki
Nikki is a graduate of Columbia University in with a Bachelors in behavioral neuroscience and biology and is currently a Masters student in the Biomedical Sciences program at Rutgers-New Jersey Medical School.
Her educational and research focus has been on the molecular underpinnings of how stress and brain tumors impact the brain. She currently works in drug delivery and radiation oncology research in Diffuse Midline Gliomas in the Gallitto lab at Columbia University Medical Center.
Over the last several years, she has been increasingly active in patient patient reported outcomes, scientific communication, and health literacy research. Nikki’s work focuses on helping patient families understand the basic science needed to make decisions on clinical trials and treatment decisions for their children. One of the tools developed for this purpose, Brain Tumor 101, is an ongoing series of lectures on the science behind pediatric brain tumors and will debut at Brainstorm Summit.
Outside of brain tumor research, she is also passionate about better accommodation and access to higher medical education for students with chronic illnesses and disabilities.
Brooklyn, NY
630-701-4446
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The DDRFA
Nikki serves as our research chair, helping family foundations better understand the science behind the innovative research being presented. This alliance is group of foundations & funds who fund grants together for research, trial access and data integration or utilization. We are passionate about providing funds to develop an understanding of Diffuse Midline Gliomas, including DIPG. Since June of 2022, we have funded nearly $4 Million in research grants together for DIPG DMG research, data, trials and the national tumor board formation. ddrfa.org
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Behind the Ribbon
May is Brain Cancer Awareness Month, and at Tough2gether, we understand the importance of sharing stories. Nikki is on the committee tasked with bringing awareness to the patient family experience by engaging with researchers and working to create the content necessary to effectively highlight the lesser known and unknown challenges of pediatric brain cancer.