MBTI Honoree Tebbe Celebrated for Generous Support
Over the past 15 years, Robin Loewenberg Tebbe has turned the tragic loss of her husband into impactful activism and fundraising support for breakthrough brain tumor studies at the Lou and Jean Malnati Brain Tumor Institute (MBTI) of the Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center at Northwestern University.
In recognition of her longstanding fundraising efforts and advocacy, Tebbe was presented the Minds Matter Award at the annual Minds Matter benefit that drew nearly 400 supporters. The event took place at the Four Seasons Hotel on May 1 and marked a fundraising milestone, raising more than $1.5 million in support of cutting-edge research and patient care. Institute leaders cited Tebbe’s influence as instrumental in achieving this year’s record-breaking total.
Tebbe’s connection to the MBTI began when her first husband, Louis Berger, was diagnosed with glioblastoma and treated by MBTI co-director James P. Chandler, MD, whose steady presence and clinical expertise made a lasting impression during a difficult time for her family. Berger passed away in 2010, but the team at MBTI went above and beyond to ensure that the family was well-informed and cared for throughout Louis’s treatment, Tebbe said.
State-of-the-Art Tools for Tumor Science
MBTI co-directors Amy Heimberger, MD, PhD, and Roger Stupp, MD, recently treated Robin and Mark Tebbe to a tour of MBTI facilities in the Louis A. Simpson and Kimberly K. Querrey Biomedical Research Center on Feinberg’s campus in Chicago. Dr. Heimberger and Dr. Stupp imparted the many ways in which MBTI’s state-of-the-art tools and technologies are catalyzing tomorrow’s breakthroughs.
Vital to MBTI’s research is a tissue bank more than a decade in the making, housing over 5,000 patient-derived tumor specimens. The MBTI has built infrastructure that supports the direct transfer of fresh tumor tissue and blood from the operating room to scientists so that they can study and conduct longitudinal research on live human organoids and brain tumor slices.
Leading organizations such as the National Cancer Institute (NCI) encourage the incorporation of patient-derived tissues in preclinical research, explained Dr. Heimberger, who also serves as the Jean Malnati Miller Professor of Brain Tumor Research. “Using patient-derived material lets us test therapies before they ever reach a clinical trial,” she said. The NCI provides crucial funding for advanced stages of research.
Additionally, the institute’s lab spaces are interconnected on a vast floor dedicated to research, reflecting the institute’s emphasis on collaboration between scientists. The pooling of equipment and resources into a central core allows scientists to have ready access to advanced technologies such as automated sequential spatial proteomics that allow scientists to map potential therapeutic targets within whole tissue samples.
“It’s a highly collegial and a collaborative environment,” Dr. Heimberger said. The model also suits the institute philanthropically, she added, because MBTI teams can dip into funds from donors to overcome research barriers.
Learn more
“Dr. Chandler provided a sense of calmness and comfort to Louis and our family after he received this life-changing diagnosis,” she said. “So, we decided to honor Louis and his doctors by creating a fundraiser to support research.”
Tebbe organized the Magellan Chicago 10K and Half Marathon with the backing of her company, Magellan Development Group. The races mobilized colleagues, friends, and community members, creating an enduring fundraising platform for brain tumor research.
Tebbe also served as a member of the MBTI Advisory Council for many years, and she continues to champion the institute’s mission. She remains closely connected to Dr. Chandler and the broader care team, supporting a program she describes as both innovative and compassionate.
“Robin’s commitment to MBTI over the past 15 years has been extraordinary. What began as a deeply personal loss has grown into a sustained force for progress, elevating research, improving patient care, and providing real hope for patients facing brain tumors today,” said Dr. Chandler, who also serves as the Lavin/Fates Professor of Neurological Surgery. “I’m so grateful for Robin’s enormous impact at MBTI, and I’m proud to call her my friend.”
Before he passed, Louis Berger was known for his infectious geniality. Robin Tebbe, their two sons, and Dr. Chandler attested to Louis’s upbeat spirit—which lasted till the end—at the 2026 Minds Matter event. Alongside her husband, Mark Tebbe, as well as friends and family, Tebbe continues to invest in MBTI’s future, ensuring that others will benefit from the kind of care that helped Louis and their family cope with a daunting diagnosis.
“I want to continue to raise awareness of the programs and research that the Malnati Brain Tumor Institute is doing,” she said. “They are conducting such incredible research and have created a world-class program. Our entire family will continue to support this important institute at Northwestern.”
For more information about supporting the Malnati Brain Tumor Institute, please contact Liz Breslin at elizabeth.breslin@northwestern.edu or 312-503-4576.