At the start of Glioblastoma (GBM) Awareness Week, Brain Tumour Research is announcing a new collaboration with Beatson Cancer Charity to change the story for brain tumour patients in Scotland. Our two leading charities are joining forces to raise the funds needed to open a new Scottish Brain Tumour Research Centre of Excellence based at Edinburgh and Glasgow Universities.
Our ambitious plans north of the border would see the creation of the largest group of multidisciplinary glioblastoma (GBM) researchers in the UK working to bridge the gap between promising new discoveries and patient benefit, from the research laboratory to the hospital bedside.
We're bringing together our 15 years of experience changing the landscape for the brain tumour community in the UK with Beatson's strong track record, working in the heart of communities and in hospitals to transform the way cancer care is funded and delivered.
If we are able to secure the funding needed, this collaboration would see leading experts in the field targeted to bring forward desperately needed clinical trials for GBM, the most commonly diagnosed high-grade brain tumour in adults.
Our CEO, Dan Knowles, said: “New, improved treatments for GBM patients are desperately needed. At present, new discoveries and approaches are not progressing quickly enough into clinical testing in patients. The Scottish Brain Tumour Research Centre of Excellence would help bridge this gap, leading to pivotal preclinical proof-of-concept data to support clinical trial development for patients. The Centre represents a significant investment in Scotland and would complement our other Centres of Excellence at the University of Plymouth, Imperial College London, Queen Mary University of London, and the Institute of Cancer Research.”
Martin Cawley, CEO of Beatson Cancer Charity, said: “This is such an exciting initiative and one which has the positive potential to make a significant impact into advancing research and ultimately new treatment options for brain tumours. Beatson Cancer Charity is delighted to be working in partnership with Brain Tumour Research to make this happen. I have no doubt this will result in a deeper understanding of the complexity of brain tumours and lead to a breakthrough in exciting new treatments in the years ahead.”
Find out more about our ambitions in Scotland.
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