Lisa Ward

Lisa M. Ward, JD is the mother of Jace Ward who battled Diffused Intrinsic Pontine Glioma for two years before succumbing to the brain tumor at age 22 last summer.   Jace Ward participated as patient #2 in the Stanford University GD2 Car T Cell Trial which opened last year.  He spoke frequently at the NIH, Congress, and to advocacy groups on the importance of patient ownership of genomic data, real time information concerning trials, and funding for DIPG the deadliest pediatric tumor.  Lisa continues their work as Tough2gether Against DIPG.  Ward, in collaboration, leads several national initiatives including the first DIPG Congressional Briefing in 2020, a pediatric brain cancer research funding network, development of the DIPG Patient Navigation System and (soon) National DIPG Tumor Board.  Ward hosts the Tough2gether Against DIPG research breakfast in DC and engages monthly with patient families, doctors, and researchers to better inform patient families considering trials and to share patient data and experiences with researchers