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MARQUETTE -- More knowledge has been gained in the last 10 years than in the past 100 about brain tumors, according to the National Brain Tumor Society.

A research center in the U.P. has significantly contributed.  The work is being done by college students in collaboration with Marquette General.

More than 500 people in the nation are diagnosed with a brain tumor each day.  What comes after that, isn't easy.

"It tends to be pretty devastating--one of the types of cancer where there is minimal treatment options--and so we're trying to advance these options so there's hope," says Professor of NMU Biology Robert Winn.

The Upper Michigan Brain Tumor Research Center is located on NMU campus, and a large amount of the research is done by college students.  They're focusing on one of the biggest mysteries of brain tumors:  what causes the genetic mutations that lead to them.  They made a breakthrough a few years ago, discovering a gene that controls how a patient's tumor will respond to chemotherapy.

"We're building a base of researchers that will continue to expand their careers studying brain tumors and cancer," Winn said.  "That's how, eventually, we'll defeat this disease."

It's all possible through the collaboration with Marquette General, which works to produce funding for the lab.

"If you want to have something special, you really need to go out and get it," says Laurie Neldberg-Weesen of Marquette General.  "What they want to do is go out and get the money so they can do the work they feel is very important."

Marquette General has also purchased equipment for the lab, running about $20,000 to $30,000 for a single machine.  They raise that money through community events, such as an upcoming duathlon.

Marquette General hopes to raise more funds in the coming weeks for the research center with their annual "Hope Starts Here Challenge" May 7.  Click here for more details.