Losing a beloved 22-year-old son and brother to a glioblastoma, moved the Wilton family (pictured above centre with Isaac) to donate £186,000 to Brain Tumour Research. Those funds are establishing the Isaac Wilton Scholarship, funding a PhD researcher at our Centre of Excellence at the University of Nottingham, where the team is focused on research into the type of brain tumour which killed Isaac.
Diagnosed, aged 20, after suffering a seizure during a gym session in April 2024, Isaac underwent surgery to debulk the tumour, followed by radiotherapy and chemotherapy, knowing that the cancer was more than likely to return.
Faced with a desperate lack of options, his family felt their only choice was crowdfunding to access an experimental immunotherapy treatment in Germany. But Isaac deteriorated too quickly to really benefit, passing away on 30th October last year.
The incredible donation was made possible through the remaining funds for Isaac’s immunotherapy treatment. It will support the research at Nottingham on next-generation genome sequencing, combined with advanced brain imaging and artificial intelligence (AI). This pioneering work will not only help predict the earliest signs of glioblastoma recurrence but also identify personalised treatments for patients.
Throughout his illness, Isaac was passionate in his support for Brain Tumour Research, sharing his brain tumour story to help our campaign to launch the new Centre in Nottingham, including delivering a speech at the pre-launch fundraising event (photo top right of Isaac with Professor Ruman Rahman, director of the Nottingham Centre). Sadly, Isaac passed away just three months before the Centre’s launch.
Isaac’s mum, Jo (pictured above with Isaac) said: “We are incredibly proud to be able to continue Isaac’s legacy by establishing the Fundraising Group Team Isaac Forever and sponsoring a PhD researcher in his name at the Nottingham Centre of Excellence.
“We know how proud he would be looking down on us and seeing that we are continuing his mission.”
Inspired by the Wilton family? Donate to Team Isaac Forever
Related reading:
- Isaac’s story
- Research into glioblastoma at the Centre of Excellence at the University of Nottingham
- Recent update on the Nottingham Centre’s work
