New analysis by Brain Tumour Research has shown that nearly three quarters (74%) of research funding into brain tumours comes from the charity sector, compared to just 26% from Government.
The data comes as leading scientists and clinicians publish an open letter, coordinated by Brain Tumour Research, calling on the Government to increase investment to generate the pipeline of medicines and interventions that brain tumour patients desperately need.
The latest funding figures show that in 2023/2024, the total national investment in research into brain tumours from charities and the Government was £26.2 million. Of this total, just £6.8 million came from Government.
While government funding has increased in recent years – in 2018/19 it was just £1.8 million – and there has been further investment and commitments by the Labour Government since 2024, the levels are not enough to keep pace with the investment required to create a pipeline of treatments entering clinical trials.
We are calling for an increase in the national investment in research into brain tumours to at least £45 million a year by 2029, in order to close the gap with funding levels seen for other cancer types such as leukaemia, where sustained investment over recent decades has made a huge impact on survival rates.
Dr Karen Noble, our Director of Research and Policy, said: “Brain tumours continue to be the biggest cancer killer of children and adults under the age of 40 in this country. While we welcome political momentum and increased investment through the National Cancer Plan for England, NIHR Consortium and the Rare Cancers Act, we need to see the Government matching or exceeding charity investment if we are to accelerate progress and, crucially, improve survival rates for patients.”
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