We are delighted that our collaboration with Beatson Cancer Charity to establish the Scottish Brain Tumour Research Centre of Excellence has been shortlisted for the Third Sector Award for Charity Partnership of the Year.
In Scotland, more than 1,000 people are diagnosed with a brain tumour every year, with 433 of those cases being high-grade tumours.
We joined forces with Beatson Cancer Charity in 2024 with a bold goal: to raise £2.4 million over five years to fund groundbreaking research in Scotland, accelerate treatments into clinical trials, and attract world-class research talent. Read more about the pioneering work being undertaken at our Scottish Centre here.
Combining our expertise with Beatson’s strong reach across Scotland, and with the incredible invaluable support of our brain tumour community, our partnership has already delivered extraordinary results. In its first year, it raised over half of its fundraising target, successfully launched the Centre of Excellence in January 2025, and recruited leading staff to spearhead pioneering studies. The initiative has also driven national awareness, with widespread media coverage and recognition in the Scottish Parliament.
Our CEO Dan Knowles (pictured top, second from right, with University of Edinburgh team lead Professor Steven Pollard, Beatson Cancer Charity CEO Gillian Hailstones and University of Glasgow team lead Professor Anthony Chalmers at the launch of the Scottish Centre) said: “To be shortlisted for the Third Sector Award is wonderful recognition of our partnership with Beatson Cancer Charity to establish the Scottish Brain Tumour Research Centre of Excellence. Brain tumours are indiscriminate, killing more children and adults under 40 than any other cancer, yet since 2002 just 1% of the national spend on cancer research has been allocated to them. That is why this Centre is so vital, as it bridges the gap between discovery and clinical testing, accelerates progress towards desperately needed new treatments, and offers renewed hope to patients and families.”
Gillian (pictured below with Dan) added: “We are incredibly proud that this partnership has been shortlisted for the Third Sector Awards. This recognition highlights the importance of coming together to tackle one of the biggest inequalities in cancer research. For too long, brain tumour patients and their families have been left behind, and we are determined to change that. By combining our expertise and resources, we are not only funding vital research but also creating a centre that will deliver real progress in Scotland and beyond. This is about giving patients hope, driving innovation, and showing what can be achieved when charities work together towards a shared vision.”
The nomination reflects not only the success of the past year but also the transformative potential of the partnership moving forward. With strong momentum and widespread support, Beatson Cancer Charity and Brain Tumour Research remain committed to driving breakthrough research and improving outcomes for everyone affected by brain tumours.
You can support the work taking place at our Scottish Centre and across our network of UK Research Centres by setting up a regular donation or giving any amount you can spare today.
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