Raising Awareness of Glioblastoma
What is glioblastoma?
Glioblastoma is the most commonly diagnosed high-grade primary brain tumour in adults.
It is incurable and there has been no advance in treatments for two decades.
Around 3,200 people are diagnosed with a glioblastoma every year in the UK; of those just 160 will survive for five years or more.
Glioblastoma accounts for one in three primary brain tumour diagnoses.
The average survival for someone diagnosed with glioblastoma is 12-18 months .
How will we find a cure?
This fast-growing type of tumour is very challenging to treat due to its complex nature. Glioblastomas are diffuse brain tumours, meaning the tumour cells invade healthy areas of the brain.
Treatments are extremely limited and have not improved in decades, but research we are funding at our Brain Tumour Research Centres of Excellence is at the cutting edge of finding a cure.
This research can only happen with your help. Although brain tumours kill more children and adults under the age of 40 than any other cancer, just 1% of the national spend on cancer research has been allocated to brain tumours since records began in 2002.
By making a donation, you are fuelling hope of a better future for all those affected.
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The team at our Centre of Excellence at Queen Mary University of London has developed a world-leading platform to compare glioblastoma stem cells and healthy brain stem cells from the same patient to find out what drives an individual patient's tumour to grow and if this can be targeted with treatments – the first step in personalised treatment for glioblastoma.
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Our Research Centre at Imperial College London is investigating new drug treatments for glioblastoma patients and designing wearable technology which will non-invasively monitor patients to better understand their response to treatment between scans.
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At our Centre at the University of Plymouth, researchers have discovered that just before a glioma brain tumour begins to grow, certain changes—or “readying” processes—happen inside cells. These early changes could be crucial in allowing glioma tumours, such as glioblastoma, to form and grow, and may help scientists find way to prevent this growth.
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Our Centre at The Institute of Cancer Research is working on paediatric-type diffuse high-grade gliomas (a group of challenging brain tumours that include those known as paediatric glioblastoma) and is generating the laboratory data needed to support the launch of new clinical trials.
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The team at our Scottish Centre is dedicated to advancing the development of new treatments for glioblastoma, with the aim of producing the evidence required to rapidly progress these treatments into clinical trials for patients in Scotland and beyond.
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BRAIN UK is the UK's only national tissue bank registry providing crucial access to brain tumour samples for researchers and an essential component in the fight to find a cure for glioblastoma.
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The Patient Research Involvement Movement (PRIME) – funded in partnership with our sister charity brainstrust – is focused on ensuring clinical projects are aligned with the needs of patients.
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The Brain Tumour Research Novel Therapeutics Accelerator, in partnership with Tessa Jowell Brain Cancer Mission, provides bespoke, independent guidance for researchers to help them position their new therapeutic or technology along a realistic pathway to clinical trials.
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In partnership with the Medical Research Council, we are funding a project at Cardiff University which will see Dr Ben Newland working to develop an innovative super sponge to treat glioblastoma patients.
Your stories
Our Patron Theo Burrell is currently undergoing treatment for recurrence of a glioblastoma. She remains hopeful and is a loyal supporter, now taking on our 88 Squats a Day in July challenge to fund the research that will help all those who come after her and are forced to face this diagnosis in the future.
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Read Glenn's storyWithout treatment, Glenn was given weeks to live. He underwent surgery to debulk his glioblastoma but suffered a stroke that left his vision and mobility severely impaired. He is now cared for by his wife, three children, and a hospital-to-home support team.
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Read Nicolette's storyNicolette never got the chance to see her little girl grow up. She died just two weeks after falling ill at work with what was thought to be a migraine.
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Read Max's storyVisual disturbances during a workout led fitness fanatic Max to A&E and a devastating diagnosis. With the support of his fiancé, he is sharing his glioblastoma journey on Instagram to raise awareness.
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Read Indi's storyIndi was just 14 when severe headaches led to two surgeries and 35 rounds of chemotherapy to treat a glioblastoma. Now 18, she lives with the threat of her tumour regrowing and is an advocate for increased funding for research.
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Read David's storyDavid died nine days after being diagnosed with a glioblastoma. The father of three had just begun a new role as a headteacher.
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Read Andy's storyDad Andy died at home, leaving behind two teenage daughters, when a glioblastoma cut his life short. His family are dedicated to raising thousands of pounds in his memory.
