Brain Tumour Research Manifesto 2024

Our manifesto – titled It Is Time to Do Things Differently – makes it clear that, in recent decades, other cancers have seen increased research investment and associated improvements in survival rates. Now is the time for us to make the same investment into brain tumours and find a cure for this devastating disease.

It Is Time to Do Things Differently defines the core policy goals for the Campaigning team at Brain Tumour Research in Westminster. It provides a framework for our conversations with politicians and drives our efforts to achieve meaningful outcomes for the brain tumour community. As we engage with the Government, our progress towards these goals is reviewed to ensure they remain a priority in our meetings with Ministers and MPs.

Over the next parliament, we are committed to driving these objectives forwards to deliver real change.

It's Time to Do Things Differently

At the launch of our manifesto at Westminster on Tuesday 19ᵗʰ March 2024, Brain Tumour Research called for the UK Government to declare brain tumours a priority, enabling research funding into brain tumours to become game-changing across the translational pipeline.

We are asking the Government for six achievable and impactful commitments:

Provide a detailed response to the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Brain Tumours (APPGBT) inquiry report, Pathway to a Cure, and an update on the plans to action the recommendations within the report

To declare brain tumours a priority and to approach improving options and outcomes for brain tumour patients with appropriate urgency

Double the annual research spend across adult and paediatric brain tumours from the 20/21 total of £17.6 million to £35 million per year by 2028

Develop a roadmap for full national deployment of the £40 million of research funds made available in 2018, in partnership with Brain Tumour Research

Implement a monitoring system for this spend, with decision-making authority, to be overseen by a new Brain Tumour Research Institute – made up of clinicians, researchers and charities – specifically targeted with funding research that will drive both discovery and translational research, so we find cures

Increased participation of adult and paediatric brain tumour patients in clinical trials

We stand on the brink of having been a core part of the coalition of charities, politicians, pro-bono lobbyists and civil servants who can claim responsibility for the Rare Cancers Bill becoming the Rare Cancers Act 2025. A Private Members Bill brought forward by Dr Scott Arthur MP, the legislation is aimed at improving outcomes for people with rare cancers through research, clinical trials, regulatory review and the naming of a national speciality lead.

Brain Tumour Research has been supporting Dr Arthur with his work from the very outset.

Don’t just take our word for it! Watch this video from one of our most active supporters on what his role as a Brain Tumour Research campaigner has meant to him.

Read Our Manifesto

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