When the doctors told Rachel Mindrup that her son, Henry, had neurofibromatosis at just four months old, she had never heard of it before. Since then, she has become an active and influential advocate for the NF community through painting portraits of people with the disorder.

A new research study set out to better understand these tumors by looking at how the immune system interacts with them. The researchers wanted to know: Are there similarities between these tumors that could lead to shared treatment options? To answer this, the team analyzed existing genetic data from tumor samples and took a closer look at the immune cells inside each tumor.

As 2026 brings us into a new year of memories and opportunities, we reflect on your unwavering compassion and generosity during our Annual Appeal. From the bottoms of our hearts, we thank you for your continued support of the NF Network and the thousands living with neurofibromatosis. Our work wouldn't be possible without you! See how we're making a difference together.

I was diagnosed with Neurofibromatosis Type 1 (NF1) the day I was born. My mom and older sister also have NF1, and a pregnancy scan had revealed a mass on my face. I was born with six tumors, about the size of an orange, growing out of my mouth. This, along with multiple café-au-lait spots (CALs), confirmed the suspicion that I have NF1. I was fortunate to have the tumors removed when I was just a few days old.