Angela Waanders

Dr. Angela Waanders is an Associate Professor of Pediatrics specializing in Hematology, Oncology, and Stem Cell Transplantation at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. She serves as Section Head of Neuro-Oncology, Director of Precision Medicine Oncology, and Executive Board Chair of the Children's Brain Tumor Tissue Consortium at Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago. As Gus Foundation Chair in Neuro-Oncology, she leads groundbreaking research in pediatric brain tumors and precision medicine approaches.

Dr. Waanders completed her medical education at Tulane University School of Medicine in 2003, followed by residency in pediatrics at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (2003-2006), and fellowship in pediatric hematology/oncology at the same institution (2006-2009). She is board certified in Pediatrics and Pediatric Hematology-Oncology.

Dr. Waanders' research focuses on advancing precision medicine for pediatric brain tumors, with particular expertise in molecular profiling of low-grade and high-grade gliomas. Her work investigates targeted therapies against molecular alterations in the MAPK and PI3K/mTOR pathways, with emphasis on overcoming resistance mechanisms to single-agent therapies. She has pioneered research on BRAF and CRAF gene fusions in pediatric low-grade gliomas and their response to RAF inhibitors.

Dr. Waanders' recent publications demonstrate a clear trajectory toward precision medicine applications in pediatric neuro-oncology. Her work spans from basic genomic characterization to clinical implementation of molecularly targeted therapies. A significant focus is on RAF inhibitors (particularly tovorafenib) for relapsed/refractory pediatric low-grade glioma, representing a major advancement in targeted therapy for these challenging tumors.

Dr. Waanders has been awarded the prestigious Gus Foundation Chair in Neuro-Oncology, recognizing her leadership and contributions to the field. Her work with the Children's Brain Tumor Tissue Consortium has significantly advanced tissue banking and molecular characterization of pediatric brain tumors.

As Executive Board Chair of the Children's Brain Tumor Tissue Consortium, Dr. Waanders oversees one of the largest repositories of pediatric brain tumor specimens globally, facilitating numerous collaborative research projects. She leads multiple clinical trials including the FIREFLY-1 trial investigating tovorafenib for pediatric low-grade glioma and has contributed to the development of large fusion gene panels for pediatric cancer diagnostics.

Dr. Waanders directs the Precision Medicine Oncology program at Lurie Children's Hospital, which integrates genomic analysis with clinical care to develop individualized treatment plans for children with brain tumors. She is a key member of the Pacific Pediatric Neuro-Oncology Consortium (PNOC) and co-leads multiple international collaborative efforts focused on pediatric brain tumor research and treatment optimization.