We are pleased to share that Dr Sarah Kingdon, a Clinical Oncologist at the University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust and a member of the Brain Tumour Research Centre of Excellence at the University of Plymouth, has been awarded Scotland’s first dedicated Neuro-oncology Fellowship.
The inaugural Scottish Tessa Jowell Fellowship is the first from a new partnership between Scotland’s Chief Scientist Office (CSO) and the Tessa Jowell Brain Cancer Mission (TJBCM). It is co-funded by the Beatson Cancer Charity and NHS Lothian Charity and aims to nurture the next generation of future leaders in neuro-oncology.
Taking place within our newly established Scottish Brain Tumour Research Centre of Excellence and jointly hosted by the Edinburgh Centre for Neuro-oncology and the Beatson West of Scotland Cancer Centre, the 12-month Fellowship will provide Dr Kingdon (pictured below) with extensive experience in brain tumour management and the research skills needed to, in time, lead high-impact clinical trials.
Not only does this Fellowship strengthen our aim to grow capacity in the brain tumour field, but it also represents a valuable opportunity for our researchers to work together across different Centres of Excellence. The movement between Brain Tumour Research Centres fosters the exchange of knowledge and skills, which is crucial for advancing research and improving outcomes for brain tumour patients.
We caught up with Dr Kingdon to find out more about her research at our Centre of Excellence and what she plans to learn during her Fellowship.
What research did you undertake at the Brain Tumour Research Centre of Excellence?
At the Brain Tumour Research Centre of Excellence in Plymouth, I had the opportunity to work on several impactful projects and collaborations with Professor Oliver Hanemann in the brain tumour group. I am co-lead on the RETREAT phase 0 clinical trial alongside Prof Hanemann, where we are exploring the repurposing of HIV drugs for brain tumour patients.
My translational research primarily focuses on peripheral biomarkers in meningioma, and I am the clinical link for the Brain Tumour Bank biobank, ensuring that clinical data for primary samples is up to date.
More recently I have started to look at MGMT methylation in high-grade glioma and that is my current focus. In addition, while I am in Scotland, I am concentrating on my clinical development, including expert training in skull base radiotherapy, particularly important in meningioma.
You were funded by NIHR at Plymouth, how did the Brain Tumour Research Centre of Excellence infrastructure at Plymouth support your research?
I was personally funded by the NIHR and received pump-prime funding from the University of Plymouth to undertake my research. However, the Brain Tumour Research Centre of Excellence has been integral to my work in Plymouth.
One of the major strengths of research in the Southwest is the BTB biobank located within the Centre of Excellence. It provides high-quality primary blood and tissue samples for translational research. This resource is invaluable and has significantly boosted the quality of my studies. In addition to my own research, I am the fourth supervisor to two PhD students investigating the radiobiology of meningioma, who receive direct funding from Brain Tumour Research.
What are you looking forward to most during your Fellowship at the Scottish Centre?
Learning about the early phase clinical trials.
I was fortunate to gain experience in an early phase clinical trial while at Plymouth, and I am eager to build on that during my time in Scotland. As part of the Fellowship, I will be working on a phase 1 and a phase 2 trial, and there is a large early phase trial unit where I can learn more.
Working in both Edinburgh and Glasgow also offers diverse clinical experience due to the high volume of patients, and the opportunity to collaborate with multiple oncologists who are experts in their fields. I hope to form a professional network with ongoing future benefit to both regions.
We are proud of Dr Kingdon and excited to see the impact she will make in her new role. Her fellowship will contribute to the growth of our research capacity and help pave the way for future breakthroughs in neuro-oncology.
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