Brain Tumour Research was delighted to hold a briefing meeting with Ruth Cadbury, Labour MP for Brentford and Isleworth, at the end of last year. Yesterday, at oral health and social care parliamentary questions, Ms Cadbury asked: “What discussions he (The Secretary of State) has had with the National Institute for Health Research on increasing the number of research grants for the treatment of brain tumours?”
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, Jo Churchill, who was replying on behalf of the Secretary of State said: “It is essential that we increase the amount of research to treat brain tumours, which is why in 2018, through the NIHR, the Government announced £40 million over five years for brain tumour research as part of the Tessa Jowell Brain Cancer Mission to increase the number of applications and grants allocated. The NIHR released a highlight notice that encourages collaborative applications to build on recent initiatives and investment already made in this area, as well as working with the Tessa Jowell Brain Cancer Mission to fund workshops for previously unsuccessful researchers in order to support them in submitting higher-quality applications.”
Ruth Cadbury responded: “The £40 million of funding is certainly welcome, but only £6 million of it has been delivered, and there are still difficulties for those trying to get grants for this urgently needed research.”
The minister replied: “There has been £8.8 million committed so far based on the NIHR programme and academy spend. The important thing is the quality of the applications. Brain tumours are invidious, and we need to do more and we need to go faster.”
We are very pleased to have Ruth as a Parliamentary advocate as we campaign for better and more effective access for researchers to NIHR funding for their vital work. We also particularly note Jo Churchill’s final comment, we do indeed “need to do more and we need to go faster” and that is why Brain Tumour Research, as well as being a research funding charity is also, at its core, a campaigning charity too.
A transcript of the full exchange can be viewed here.
Related reading:
If you found this story interesting or helpful, sign up to our weekly e-news and keep up to date with all the latest from Brain Tumour Research.