The Government’s new 10 Year Health Plan for England, launched on 3rd July 2025, sets out a bold vision to reinvent the NHS through innovation, prevention, and digital transformation.
For the brain tumour community – patients, clinicians, researchers, and campaigners – this plan includes some important developments that could bring momentum to research and clinical trials.
We welcome the Plan’s recognition that the NHS must adapt urgently to changing health needs, particularly through smarter investment in life sciences, research, and early intervention. But while the ambition is clear, delivery must be underpinned by real commitment to those working in underfunded and historically neglected disease areas like brain tumours.
Rebuilding the research workforce
One of the most significant announcements in the Plan is a new drive to reverse the decline in clinical academic roles. Over the next five years, the Government will work with major charities to fund a year-on-year increase in clinical research positions, including the expansion of Clinical Future Leader Fellowships and new industry-linked innovation roles.
For research into brain tumours, this investment is urgently needed. The field has long faced a shortage of dedicated researchers and clinicians, limiting progress in understanding and treating this complex group of diseases. These new roles offer a chance to rebuild capacity and attract talented scientists into research in the brain tumour field – provided the investment is matched by targeted funding in this area.
Faster, more accessible clinical trials
The Plan also promises a faster, more patient-friendly clinical trial environment. It commits to cutting trial set-up times to just 150 days by March 2026 – potentially the fastest improvement in the UK’s history. The Government also plans to introduce a standardised trial contracting process, reducing red tape and making it easier for NHS Trusts to participate.
A key priority for Brain Tumour Research is ensuring that patients can access trials, and at all stages of their journey. The creation of Primary Care Commercial Research Delivery Centres, set to open in 2026, could open up new opportunities to bring early-stage trials into local and community-based settings.
Harnessing genomics and longitudinal research
The expansion of “Our Future Health” – a world-leading cohort of up to five million participants with linked genomic and health data – has the potential to transform our understanding of disease. For brain tumours, this means more opportunities to detect patterns, identify risk factors, and develop personalised therapies based on individual genetic profiles.
We know that genomics is vital to advancing treatment options for brain tumours. Initiatives like this must ensure sufficient representation of rare and complex diseases to be truly effective. We urge policymakers to prioritise inclusion of brain tumour patients and ensure that data from this cohort is used to inform research across the full spectrum of cancers – not just the most common.
Empowering patients through technology
The Plan outlines a vision for a fully digital NHS, with enhanced functionality for the NHS App and the introduction of a Single Patient Record. One of the most promising features is the planned integration of research tools – allowing patients to be notified of relevant clinical trials via the NHS App and to register interest in taking part through ‘Be Part of Research.’
We will be watching closely to ensure this new system is inclusive, accessible, and tailored to the urgent needs of patients facing life-threatening diagnoses.
The next decade must deliver
The 10 Year Health Plan presents a genuine opportunity to address some of the long-standing challenges facing research into brain tumours – provided its ambitions are matched by sustained, targeted investment and transparent accountability.
Brain tumours remain the biggest cancer killer of children and adults under 40, yet research into brain tumours historically receives just 1% of the national spend on cancer research. We must not allow this disparity to continue for another decade.
At Brain Tumour Research, we will continue to campaign for increased funding, better access to trials, and a research ecosystem that recognises the urgency of tackling brain tumours. This Plan sets the stage. Now, we must ensure brain tumour patients are not left behind.
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