The City of Los Angeles, Los Angeles County and the State of California have proclaimed May 2025 as Brain Tumor Awareness Month. The decision was a result of longstanding advocacy and outreach efforts from the USC Brain Tumor Center, part of Keck Medicine of USC.

On May 1, Assemblymember Mike Fong successfully presented a motion to declare May 2025 as Brain Tumor Awareness Month in the California State Assembly, stating that “Increased public awareness of brain tumors through advocacy and support for vital research, as well as education about the impact brain tumors have on the lives of patients and their families, are critical to finding a cure.”

On May 13, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved the motion to honor the resilience of individuals living with brain tumors and the critical work of health care professionals and researchers.

The motion, drafted by County Board Chair Kathryn Barger and Supervisor Holly J. Mitchell, stated that Los Angeles County diagnoses and treats more brain tumors than any other county in California. It also cited the contributions of the USC Brain Tumor Center and praised the center’s “cutting-edge diagnostic tools and innovative approaches to design a treatment plan personalized to your precise care needs and type of tumor.”

The City of Los Angeles joined the movement and issued its own formal declaration on May 30. Councilmember Adrin Nazarian presented the official proclamation to the USC Brain Tumor Center team at City Hall.

— Matthew Vasiliauskas and Kate Faye