Yesterday’s annual general meeting of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Brain Tumours (APPGBT) saw the charity continue its vital work as secretariat of the influential body.
The election of Officers also saw Derek Thomas MP (pictured) confirmed as Chairman for another year. Hugh Adams, our Head of Stakeholder Relations, outlined the work of the APPGBT over the last 12 months, which has seen:
- The Tessa Jowell Brain Cancer Mission announcing its new Centres of Excellence for patient care
- Work to ensure the DVLA is fit for purpose when supporting the return of driving licences to brain tumour patients
- A presentation on International Brain Tumour Alliance’s worldwide patient charter
- Examining the issues leading to brain tumour patients, including DIPG patients, having to self-fund and travel abroad for clinical trials
- Continued pressure on the Government over the NIHR £40 million promised in 2018
- Work to increase the success rate of scientists applying for funding
Among the MPs and Peers in attendance were Hilary Benn, Baroness Masham and former Health Minister Lord O’Shaughnessy.
In a research update at the meeting which took place online, Professor Silvia Marino, lead researcher at our Centre of Excellence at Queen Mary University of London, outlined the brain tumour research translational pipeline and the challenges in getting new treatments from the scientist’s bench to the patient’s bedside, and Brain Tumour Research’s Head of PR & Communications, Sue Castle-Smith, presented on the Brain Tumour Research Petition Report, giving a flavour of the anger, despair and hope felt by patients and their families who are desperate for a cure.
To find out more about how our campaigning work is making a difference, email Hugh to sign up to receive his weekly email updates: hugh@braintumourresearch.org
Related reading:
Find out more about the APPGBT
Read our Petition Report online