Scientists need time, stability and the right environment to develop ideas, build collaborations and translate discoveries into better outcomes for patients. That’s why growing capacity is a central part of our new Research Strategy.
From Discovery to a Cure: Our Research Strategy for Brain Tumour 2026-2031 continues our ambitious aim to grow research capacity across the UK. One of the ways we will do this is by supporting our Brain Tumour Research Centres of Excellence to create vibrant research environments and provide early career researchers with the support and development opportunities they need to establish themselves in the field.
Having worked in our Plymouth Centre as a research fellow for the past eight years, and supported by the Charity since 2021, Dr Gil-Ranedo has recently secured a tenured (open-ended) position at the university and is beginning to build his own research group in collaboration with Dr Claudia Barros.
He shares more about his research into what causes brain tumours to form and how the Charity’s funding has shaped his career.
My career in research into brain tumours began in Spain at the Centro de Biología Molecular Severo Ochoa, where I completed my PhD investigating tumour-initiating cells from glioblastoma patient samples. These are the cells that can start new tumours or cause recurrence in already-treated tumours. During that time, I developed several laboratory models, which I am pleased to say are still being used in different labs around the world today.
I then spent several years working on virus-based therapies designed to target cancer before moving to the University of Plymouth to join Dr Claudia Barros’ lab as a postdoctoral research fellow in neural stem cell biology.
Here I first expanded my understanding of neural stem cells, the healthy counterparts of tumour-initiating cells. This then led me to focus on how brain tumours begin, and this remains at the heart of my work today.
What motivates me is the complexity of how normal brain development can go wrong, and the opportunity this gives us to improve treatments for patients.
Joining the Centre of Excellence at the University of Plymouth in 2018 was a turning point for me.
Like many early career researchers, one of the biggest challenges I faced was a lack of job stability. It takes time to fully develop ideas, and working on short-term contracts limits how much long-term project planning you can do, making this difficult. Continuity can also be an issue as contract cycles often come with relocation between institutions and shifts in project focus. However, while challenging, this has taught me to be adaptable and to make the most of different environments and collaborations.
Joining the Centre of Excellence at the University of Plymouth in 2018 was a turning point for me. The support I received from Dr Claudia Barros and Professor Oliver Hanemann (former Centre Director) alongside the funding from the Charity, has given me the stability to continue focus on my research and develop as a researcher. Importantly, it also played an important role in helping me secure a tenured position.
My current research, supported by Brain Tumour Research, continues to focus on understanding how normal brain cells change in a way that allows them to form a tumour. These ‘tumour-initiating cells’ are important because they help explain why brain tumours are so difficult to treat. The cells have the ability to self-renew and re-establish the tumour after treatment in some cases. By understanding how these cells form, we hope to find new ways to target them more effectively.
In addition, I was recently awarded a Royal Society Research Grant for early career researchers, which will enable our team and international collaborators to investigate how oncolytic (anti-cancer) viral infections affect brain tumour-initiating cells and their interactions with the immune system, with the aim of finding new ways to treat the disease.
However, developing new therapies takes time, often many years. That is why long-term funding is so important. Progress may seem gradual, because it builds over time, but every step forward in the lab brings us closer to finding a cure.
Now in my tenured role, I’m also able to support the next generation of brain tumour scientists. Alongside my own research, I supervise and co-supervise PhD students, supporting research into better models that reflect how tumours interact with healthy brain cells.
Scientific collaboration is essential, and the Centre has a strong collaborative culture, which has continued to grow under the direction of Professor David Parkinson, our new Centre Director. Working closely with different groups, both within the Centre and with other Centres and international collaborators, has really shaped how I approach scientific problems.
The continued mentorship and collaboration with Dr Claudia Barros have also played a key role in my scientific development.
Events organised by Brain Tumour Research, such as the Annual Researcher Workshop, are also really important, as they facilitate the exchange of ideas across Centres, stimulate new collaborations, and help accelerate progress.
While low-grade brain tumours may grow more slowly than their high-grade counterparts, their impact on patients and families can still be profound. Many patients face years of uncertainty, repeated treatments, and neurological complications that affect their quality of life. Continued research is essential to improve outcomes and provide new treatment options for those living with these tumours. At the Plymouth Centre, where low-grade brain tumours are a major research focus, we are working to uncover the biological mechanisms that drive these diseases, with the goal of developing more effective treatments and improving the lives of those affected.
If I could give advice to people starting their career in research into brain tumours, I would encourage them to stay open to where the science takes you, seek out supportive and collaborative environments, and remain persistent. Science can be challenging, but those experiences will open up new opportunities over time.
Discover more about our new Research Strategy here.
If you would like to donate to help fund the vital work taking place across our Research Centres and beyond, please give what you can today or set up a regular gift. Together we will find a cure.
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