In a significant development today the Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Brain Tumours (APPGBT), Derek Thomas MP, has written to the Chancellor Rishi Sunak and Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Health Jo Churchill asking them to support the cause.
Derek writes: “I am raising a critical issue with you in relation to brain tumour research and specifically the challenge to the ongoing work of the charity that bears the same name.
“There is a real risk to this research both now and in the future due to the coronavirus outbreak. Fundraising has reduced dramatically and if researchers leave it will be very difficult to ensure the progress made relatively recently is not lost. Can you find a means to secure funding for Brain Tumour Research and other research charities facing similar challenges?”
Derek has provided ministers with a comprehensive overview of our work, quotes from our researchers plus an explanation from our Chief Executive Sue Farrington Smith MBE of the jeopardy we are facing.
Working alongside Derek has been a tremendous boost for Brain Tumour Research and we know he is particularly proud of the University of Plymouth research centre that he visited as it is the nearest to his St Ives constituency; he is pictured during his visit there.
We await the ministers’ response with interest and are encouraging our supporters to engage with Derek and Brain Tumour Research on social media on this issue.
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