An innovative new package of research funding to stimulate brain tumour research in adults, children and young people is announced today.
The new suite of initiatives are the largest ever combined package of their kind and are the next step in a £40 million Government pledge, which was first committed in 2018, to develop new lifesaving and life improving research. It will be announced at a Parliamentary roundtable co-chaired by Health Minister Andrew Stephenson and CEO of the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Lucy Chappell. It is supported by the Tessa Jowell Brain Cancer Mission (TJBCM) in collaboration with NIHR and the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC).
Our CEO Dan Knowles and Director of Research, Policy and Innovation Dr Karen Noble will be attending today’s roundtable, which the Minister announced would take place during the launch of our 2024 manifesto in March.
Minister Stephenson said: “Brain cancer is a dreadful disease, but this latest package of research and funding, developed in partnership with the brain tumour community will help accelerate improvements in treatment and care, so that we can beat this condition and save lives.”
The investment will be used to help develop new treatments for brain tumours, as well as improve patient care, support and rehabilitation. The package of initiatives funded by the NIHR includes:
- A transformative new funding call for the evaluation of novel therapies and optimisation of brain tumour treatments
- A new funding call to generate high quality evidence in brain tumour care, support and rehabilitation
- New Tessa Jowell allied health professional (AHP) research fellowships to build the evidence on the importance of rehabilitation for patients with a brain tumour
You can read about these initiatives in more detail on the TJBCM’s website.
Dan said: “We cautiously welcome today’s announcement and hope it represents a step-change in the Government’s approach to brain tumour research funding. In particular, we welcome plans to establish a national consortium to further research brain tumours, and applaud the collaborative nature of this initiative. We look forward to engaging and stand ready to support on behalf of the brain tumour community. We note and are pleased with the similarities to our Manifesto launched earlier this year, It’s time to do things differently.
“The £40 million was originally announced in 2018, yet only £12 million has been deployed so far. It’s clear we need a new approach and a more collaborative process to ensure another six years are not wasted.
“With brain tumours killing more children and adults under the age of 40, the time to act is now.”
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