Brain Tumour Research is pleased to welcome Karen Noble PhD to the role of Director of Research, Policy and Innovation.
Karen joins the charity with extensive experience in the field, having previously held senior management roles at the Wellcome Trust, with the NHS Cancer Programme and at Cancer Research UK.
She has a very personal reason to join the fight to find a cure for brain tumours as she lost her sister-in-law to glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) in 2011, at the age of 47.
Karen said: “I have witnessed at first hand the devastation caused by a brain tumour diagnosis and know the despair felt by families when faced with such a dismal prognosis and the fact that patient survival rates haven’t improved in years. Investment is key and I am delighted to be joining an influential charity which is making a difference and giving much needed hope to so many people.”
With 20 years of grants and research management experience working in the life sciences sector, Karen will oversee the development and implementation of the charity’s research and policy strategies with a view to helping to increase the national investment in brain tumour research to £35 million a year.
Sue Farrington Smith MBE, our Chief Executive, said: “Karen joins at a challenging and exciting time. Thanks to our loyal supporters we are looking forward to a period of continued growth and remain confident in our ambition to extend our network of Brain Tumour Research Centres of Excellence in the UK. We have plans to announce calls for applications for a further centre later this year.”