More than 100 brain tumour researchers gathered in the historic city of York this week to share exciting progress being made in the field and open new doors for future collaborations at our annual Researcher Workshop.
The two-day event showcased recent developments at our Centres of Excellence and updates from our Funded Initiatives, as well as providing the opportunity for scientists to present on their individual projects and gather feedback and thought-provoking questions.
And this year, for the first time, a number of prizes recognised contributions to research, celebrating the remarkable work being done to increase knowledge about brain tumours, develop new treatments and drive change for the brain tumour community.
Brain Tumour Research Early Career Researcher Award
The Early Career Researcher Award recognises the achievement of an individual at an early stage of their career who has made an outstanding contribution to the neuro-oncology field. The inaugural prize was awarded to Dr James Nicholson at our Centre of Excellence at Queen Mary University of London.
Dr Nicholson’s research is focused on glioblastoma, a highly aggressive high-grade brain tumour that affects around 3,200 people in the UK every year. One of the significant challenges with glioblastoma is that even after aggressive treatment, such as surgery and chemotherapy, the tumour always returns. The recurrent tumour is likely to have developed a resistance to treatment, leaving limited options for patients.
He is investigating both newly diagnosed and recurrent glioblastoma tumours, using the newest single cell sequencing technologies to explore the biological differences between the two. The hope is that by understanding how recurrent glioblastomas develop treatments resistance, researchers can design new ways to stop these tumours from evading therapies.
Dr Nicholson said: “I’m incredibly appreciative to receive the Early Career Researcher Award. I’m at a transition point in my career and in the early stages of setting up my own independent research group. The next steps are to start sequencing across a cohort of patients and really dig into the data to try to uncover the biological mechanisms and how tumours are evading the therapies available to patients today. We hope that will point us in some directions for new therapies in the future.
“The Researcher Workshop is an invaluable event for the scientific community. I’ve met many different people across the Centres of Excellence and it’s opened conversations about collaboration, sample sharing and expertise sharing. I’m looking forward to attending many more in the future.”
Outstanding Contribution to Campaigning
The winner of this inaugural prize was Dr Ben Newland, who leads the ‘super sponge’ project at Cardiff University, for his significant contributions to our campaigning in Wales.
Over many years, Dr Newland has generously shared his time and expertise to help us engage Parliamentarians at the Senedd, supporting us at showcases and events to keep the urgent needs of people affected by brain tumours, and the case for increased investment in research, firmly on the political agenda.
Dr Newland (second from left) supporting us at the Senedd
Dr Karen Noble, our Director of Research and Policy, said: “As the lead researcher of a Brain Tumour Research-funded initiative at Cardiff University, Dr Newland offers Welsh politicians a powerful example of the innovative work taking place in Wales and its potential to drive progress. He is a dedicated champion of research and the needs of patients.
“Dr Newland’s advocacy and commitment have strengthened our influence and helped build momentum for better outcomes for people affected by brain tumours. He is therefore an exceptionally deserving recipient of the Brain Tumour Research Prize for Contribution to Campaigning.”
Best Scientific Image
Voted for by workshop delegates, this award celebrated the remarkable work researchers are carrying out to understand brain tumours in new ways.
The winning image above was created by PhD student Marc Haniford at our Scottish Centre of Excellence, featuring cells from the side of a brain untouched by radiotherapy. The magenta shapes are microglia, the brain’s immune cells, surrounding a large green astrocyte. The yellow dots are fluorescent beads, which allow researchers to observe how these cells absorb materials.
Marc and his colleagues are investigating how radiotherapy and a drug designed to make tumour cells more sensitive to radiation affect the microglia that remain.
See all the image entries below:
Best Poster
And the final award of the workshop was for Best Poster, also determined by delegates’ votes. Research posters offer young and early-career researchers the opportunity to showcase their work, garner early feedback and strike new connections.
Winning the Best Poster Prize was Mobina Tabibian from our Centre of Excellence at the University of Plymouth. Mobina is a PhD student whose research focuses on understanding how glioblastoma tumours evade the immune system. Brain tumours can avoid immune attack by releasing molecules that support tumour growth and suppress the body's natural defences. Using advanced techniques, Mobina is investigating how glioblastoma controls the release of these molecules, with the aim of identifying new treatments that could disrupt communication between glioblastoma causing cells and the surrounding immune cells.
The workshop was a poignant reminder of the dedication of our scientific community, and their determination to improve outcomes for brain tumour patients. For regular updates on how your support is backing this research and moving us closer to a cure for brain tumours, subscribe to our Weekly Newsletter.
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