2026
March 2026: Cure NF With Jack St. Patrick’s Day Inaugural Gala
The CureNFwithJack St. Patrick’s Day Inaugural Gala is set for March 14, 2026 at the Danversport Yacht Club in Massachusetts!
Join us for an evening packed with live entertainment, live & silent auctions, and special recognition of leading scientists — all to raise funds to #EndNF. It’s a night of elegance, hope, and celebration you won’t want to miss. Tickets available at https://www.curenfwithjack.org/events
2025
September 2025: CTF NF Research Reception
On September 14th, 2025, Dr. Stephanie Bouley was a featured speaker alongside Dr. Laura Lehman of Boston Children’s Hospital at the annual NF Research Reception, hosted by the Children’s Tumor Foundation in Chestnut Hill, MA. The luncheon brought together NF patients and their families, offering an opportunity to connect, share experiences, and engage in a fireside Q&A with Dr. Bouley and Dr. Lehman, moderated by Kim Robinson, Major and Planned Giving Officer at CTF. The discussion centered on how the Foundation’s funding initiatives have advanced Dr. Bouley’s bench research on targeting non-MEK pathways in NF1 and Dr. Lehman’s clinical work on Moyamoya disease, as well as how the field of NF research has evolved over the past 10–15 years and the promising therapeutic strategies expected to emerge and advance in the decade ahead.
August 2025: NF Knowledge Series Webinar
Research fellow Stephanie Bouley was this month’s NF Knowledge Series Webinar speaker hosted by the Children’s Tumor Foundation. Stephanie presented her work on identifying new pathways for targeting plexiform neurofibromas. You can learn more about the NF Knowledge Series and other educational webinars here: https://www.ctf.org/educational-events/.
May 2025: NF Family Symposium
On Saturday, May 10th, 2025, the 2025 Patient and Family Neurofibromatosis & Schwannomatosis Symposium was held in Boston, MA. Hosted by Massachusetts General Hospital in collaboration with Boston Children’s Hospital’s Neurofibromatosis Program, this event featured expert discussions, the latest research updates, and resources for patients and families affected by neurofibromatosis and schwannomatosis. The Walker Lab provided lab tours again to interested patients and their families, and Dr. James Walker spoke on our NF1 Sleep study findings! Check out some photos from the event below:
2024
Cure NF with Jack: Fund-a-Cure to #EndNF
We are grateful to be the recipients of support from Cure NF with Jack, which is working to raise $50,000 by the end of 2024 to fund a post-doctoral researcher in our lab. Cure NF with Jack is a nonprofit corporation co-founded by Jack Burke, Jake Burke, and Beth O’Brien, whose mission is to find an effective treatment or cure for individuals battling neurofibromatosis through the funding of research. They are committed to accelerating medical research, driving community action, and raising funds to end NF, and hope that creating awareness, bringing people together, and supporting the medical community in its research endeavors will lead to the day that NF no longer exists. If you would like to donate to their goal, you can do so here.
Updated: You can read a brief interview with Dr. Walker about NF research on Cure NF with Jack’s blog here.
September 2024: Shining a Light on NF1 Gala
Dr. Jim Walker was one of the guest speakers at The Joanna Ruth Bell Foundation Inaugural Gala “Shining A Light on NF1” held at Blenheim Palace, Oxfordshire, UK. The JRBF is a registered non-profit in both the US and UK. Learn more at joannaruthbellfoundation.org
May 4th 2024: Steps2Cure NF Walk
The 16th Annual Steps2Cure NF – Greater Boston walk/run 5K, hosted by NF Northeast, took place on Saturday, May 4th, at the scenic Lake Quannapowitt in Wakefield, MA.The morning kicked off with registration at 9:00 AM near the gazebo, followed by the main event at 10:00 AM. Participants had the choice between a leisurely three-mile walk around the lake or a timed 5K run, all culminating in a celebration featuring snacks, refreshments, and a community raffle. We were thrilled to see Walker’s Walkers make their official return to the event! Representing the lab this year were PhD Candidate Francisco Fernandez and Research Technician Suraj Math, who joined the community to hit the pavement for a great cause. It was a beautiful day to raise both funds and awareness for Neurofibromatosis. A huge thank you to NF Northeast for organizing another fantastic year at the lake and to everyone who supported our team!
2023
November 6th: 2023 Great Jacksby Golf Tournament
The 11th Annual Great Jacksby Golf Tournament to benefit CureNFwithJack took place at the White Columns Golf Course in Milton, Georgia. The event brought together individual golfers and foursomes for a day on the course dedicated to raising funds and awareness for NF research. The Walker Lab is incredibly grateful for the continued support from CureNFwithJack, which plays a vital role in advancing our work toward a cure.
September 9th 2023: Coast to the Cure
The 12th Annual Coast to the Cure ride to benefit NF Northeast took place on Saturday, September 9, 2023, at Stage Fort Park in Gloucester, MA. Cyclists participated by choosing from 24-, 40-, or 66-mile courses along the scenic North Shore. Registration opened at 6:30 AM with staggered starts beginning at 7:00 AM. The Walker Lab is deeply grateful for the continued support from NFNE, which remains instrumental in advancing our research efforts.
August 1st 2023: Shine A Light NF Walk New England−Virtual
The Children’s Tumor Foundation hosted its annual Shine a Light NF Walk, a global virtual event dedicated to raising awareness and funding research to #EndNF. While Neurofibromatosis affects millions of people worldwide, it remains a condition many have never heard of and one that currently has no cure. The Walker Lab was proud to step up this year! Our team, Walker’s Walkers, joined thousands of others to help bring NF out of the shadows. Through your incredible support, we helped raise vital funds that go directly toward bettering the lives of those living with NF. A huge thank you to everyone who joined our team, donated, or cheered us on from afar. We may have finished the walk, but the race to a cure continues!
June 12th 2023: 37th Annual Golf Tournament to Benefit NF Northeast
The Walker Lab was honored to participate in the Grand Finale of the 37th Annual Golf Tournament to benefit NF Northeast on June 12th at Ferncroft Country Club. Dr. James Walker and PhD candidate Francisco Fernandez addressed the attendees, providing an inside look at our current research initiatives and the tangible impact that community-driven fundraising has on laboratory breakthroughs. A significant moment of the evening was the formal recognition of Francisco, who was presented with a plaque for his NFNE Fellowship. This fellowship represents a critical investment in the next generation of NF scientists. We are deeply grateful to NF Northeast for their continued partnership and for providing the resources necessary to accelerate our path toward a cure.
May 17th 2023: World NF Day LIVE
The Children’s Tumor Foundation celebrated World NF Day on May 17th with a global bang! The highlights included a live-streamed world premiere of CTF’s new two-part short documentary during their World NF Awareness Day Live Blue & Green Watch Party. Whether you joined a local watch party, hosted your own, or streamed from the comfort of home, it was an incredible day of unity. We loved seeing everyone decked out in blue and green as a powerful reminder of our collective mission to #EndNF.
May 13th 2023: Steps2Cure NF Walk
Neurofibromatosis Northeast’s 15th Annual Steps2Cure NF Walk took place Saturday May 13th at Lake Quannapowitt in Wakefield, MA! It was an incredible morning in Wakefield, MA, filled with energy, hope, and a shared mission to end NF. Walking alongside families, advocates, and fellow researchers reminds us exactly why we spend our days in the lab. Thank you to NFNE for organizing such an impactful event. Here’s to many more miles together!
May 2023: NF Awareness Month
May was NF Awareness Month – an inspiring thirty days dedicated to amplifying the voices of those affected by NF1, NF2, and Schwannomatosis. A major highlight of the month was the Children’s Tumor Foundation’s (CTF) annual “Shine a Light” campaign. This initiative successfully brought NF “out of the darkness” by lighting up landmarks, homes, and social media feeds in signature blue and green. We are proud to have stood alongside CTF and the thousands of families who worked tirelessly to educate the public. While the month of May has concluded, our mission to bridge the gap between awareness and a cure continues every day in the lab.
April 29th 2023: NF Family Symposium at Massachusetts General Hospital
The NF Family Symposium at Massachusetts General Hospital took place on April 29th 2023. It was a privilege to open our doors and welcome families into the Walker Lab for a firsthand look at our work. Our team loved guiding families through our research space, where we showcased our NF1 models – from complex human cell cultures to our tiny but mighty fruit fly models. Beyond the microscopes, the highlight was the conversation. Lab members spent the afternoon explaining our latest findings and, more importantly, listening to the stories of those we innovate for. Events like these are a vital reminder that our research isn’t just about data; it’s about people. Thank you to everyone who stopped by!
NF Tuesday Takeaway Educational Series 2023
Dr. Jim Walker presented as part of Tuesday Takeaways, a four-part lunch and learn speaker series via Zoom in the spring of 2023 hosted by NF Northeast! These one-hour educational lunch time sessions are geared towards learning about updates and relevant information for our NF community. For details of the program click here.
February 16th 2023: Neurofibromatosis Northeast – Lab Visit
The Walker Lab was pleased to host members of Neurofibromatosis Northeast in February for a research lab tour and Q&A about the work we are undertaking to help end NF. We were excited to share the different facets of the lab and connect with new and familiar faces in person! Check out some photos below! (Photos courtesy of Kristina Rath)
Overview of the Walker Lab
Stephanie explaining the overview
A look at the mutational landscape of NF1
NF1 Flies!
A Drosophila Microscope
Flies under the Microscope
Alex explaining the Drosophila behavior studies
Flies in the TriKinetics Tubes
Francisco and Jim during the Q&A
2022
October 2022: CTF Research Reception
Dr. Jim Walker recently participated as a panelist at a CTF Research Reception held in Chestnut Hill, MA. He was joined by Michael Wootten (CEO, NF2 Therapeutics Inc.) and the discussion was chaired by Dr. Salvo La Rosa (Chief Scientific Officer, Children’s Tumor Foundation).
The panel featured a lively and insightful conversation on recent advances in gene therapy, with a focus on how these developments may translate into future treatments for NF. Events like this offer a valuable opportunity to stay informed about cutting-edge research and its potential impact on patients.
July: NF Summit 2022 in Chicago
The NF Summit, organized by the Children’s Tumor Foundation (CTF), brings together volunteers, organizers and researchers, clinicians, patient advocates, friends, and supporters that have a connection to NF for a three-day symposium filled with education, empowerment, networking, and ways to connect with others on a similar journey. This year, the Walker and Saxena labs were represented at the NF Summit in Chicago by Dr. Stephanie Joy Bouley, who spoke about the Sleep studies we are actively recruiting for, and Anika Fernandez, who consented patients on site to participate! We are grateful for this opportunity and look forward to participating in future events. Learn more about the NF Summit and how to get involved here: https://www.ctf.org/events/nf-summit
May 22nd 2022: Steps2Cure NF Walk/Run – Wakefield MA
The Steps2Cure NF Walk/Run hosted by Neurofibromatosis Northeast took place on Sunday May 22nd, 2022 at Lake Quannapowitt in Wakefield, MA to raise money for NF research. Several members from the Walker and Saxena Lab were in attendance (team: Walker’s Walkers). In addition to completing the 5k on an abnormally hot day for the season, lab members were able to discuss their research with other participants. Check out some photos from the walk below!
May 2022: NF Awareness Month
May is NF Awareness Month, a time when those affected by NF1, NF2, and Schwannomatosis work to bring awareness to the public. More information about NF Awareness Month can be found through the Children’s Tumor Foundation here.
March 2022: Beacon Hill Seminars
Dr. Stephanie Joy Bouley gave a guest lecture as part of the “Emerging Biosciences – Straight from the Lab” Beacon Hill Seminar series. Her lecture focused on implementing novel gene editing strategies to treat Neurofibromatosis type 1.