BALTIMORE, Nov. 19, 2025—Two researchers at Kennedy Krieger Institute received $5.5 million to start an innovative three-year neurorehabilitation program aimed at improving the brain health of pediatric cancer patients with brain tumors.
The goal of the innovative program at Kennedy Krieger is to implement individualized and adaptive interventions that would help pediatric cancer patients improve brain health, from the time of diagnosis through long-term survivorship. The interventions are designed to proactively strengthen brain structure and function. Attention and speed of thinking are commonly impacted in children with brain tumors, including during survivorship.
An anonymous donor family interested in investing in pediatric cancer care and survivorship provided the funds for this innovative project, which will be led at Kennedy Krieger by Stacy Suskauer, MD, Vice President of Rehabilitation, and Rachel Peterson, PhD, ABPP, a neuropsychologist. The funding is part of the donor family’s overall $40 million investment in cancer care, supporting a collaboration that includes Johns Hopkins Pediatric Radiation Oncology Research Center at The Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center. Other researchers from Children’s National Hospital, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and Massachusetts General Hospital will participate in related research.
The Washington, D.C.-based Milken Institute Science Philanthropy Accelerator for Research and Collaboration helped to facilitate this joint effort.
“This partnership formed with the goal of advancing care for children with brain tumors is incredibly exciting,” said Dr. Suskauer. “It reflects what makes Kennedy Krieger special and our commitment to building innovative partnerships with other world-class institutions.”
What is unique about this project is the focus on pre-neurorehabilitation. This new approach introduces proactive interventions and increases access to interdisciplinary services for children with brain tumors. Children with brain tumors are frequently referred to Kennedy Krieger for care. This initiative allows more children to get connected with the rehabilitation continuum.
“This program has the potential to transform the quality of life for children with brain tumors,” Dr. Peterson said. “By shining a light on cognitive changes, often an invisible disability for these patients, we are addressing a critical need and investing in meaningful solutions.”
In addition to her role at Kennedy Krieger, Dr. Suskauer is the director of the Division of Pediatric Rehabilitation within the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at Johns Hopkins Medicine. In this role, she oversees pediatric rehabilitation at Kennedy Krieger, Johns Hopkins Hospital, Mount Washington Pediatric Hospital, and Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital in Florida.
Dr. Peterson’s research and clinical expertise focuses on the impact of cancer and cancer treatment on cognitive outcomes for children. She is a recipient of the American Cancer Society’s Clinician Scientist Development Grant.
Work on this project began this fall.
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About Kennedy Krieger Institute
Kennedy Krieger Institute, an internationally known, non-profit organization located in the greater Baltimore/Washington, D.C. region, transforms the lives of nearly 30,000 individuals a year through inpatient and outpatient medical, behavioral health and wellness therapies, home and community services, school-based programs, training and education for professionals and advocacy. Kennedy Krieger provides a wide range of services for children, adolescents and adults with diseases, disorders or injuries that impact the nervous system, ranging from mild to severe. The Institute is home to a team of investigators who contribute to the understanding of how disorders develop, while at the same time pioneer new interventions and methods of early diagnosis, prevention and treatment. Visit www.KennedyKrieger.org/ for more information about Kennedy Krieger.
