In a major next step in the fight against brain cancer, the government has launched two new funding calls to help drive forward brain tumour research for adults, children and young people.
The funding calls are being launched by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) in collaboration with the Tessa Jowell Brain Cancer Mission (TJBCM). The research will help further research into:
- Prevention
- Detection
- Management
- Treatment
Government collaboration
The funding calls represent an innovative collaboration between central government, research funders, and charities. The relationship dates back to the late Dame Tessa Jowell launching a call to action in 2018.
CEO at TJBCM, Dr Nicky Huskens, recently featured on the National Health Executive podcast where she discussed Dame Tessa Jowell and the future of brain cancer research.
“The approach announced today will drive forward transformative brain tumour research to improve how we prevent, detect, manage and treat brain tumours, in both adults and children,” said Professor Lucy Chappell, CEO at NIHR.
She added: “As we continue this journey together, I call upon the brain tumour research community to take up this opportunity for collaboration to drive innovation that will help us embed the needs of patients, carers, researchers, and clinicians at every stage in this step-change.”
Brain tumours are still one of the hardest to treat cancers, with only 12% of people surviving beyond five years after a diagnosis.
Funding calls
The first funding call will focus on treatment evaluation and optimisation, which will primarily be delivered through a new NIHR Brain Tumour Research Consortium.
Developments in precision medicine will be drawn upon while new researchers will be brought into the field to bolster capacity, ultimately establishing a network for the delivery of brain tumour clinical trials.
The second funding call, meanwhile, will centre around building the research base on interventions for rehabilitation and other things that help with care, support and quality of life for brain tumour patients.
"Innovative research is vital in our fight against this devastating disease, ensuring people are offered the most cutting-edge treatments and the highest quality care,” commented mental health minister, Baroness Gillian Merron.
She added: “These new research opportunities will bolster this approach – helping to speed up the diagnosis of tumours and aiding the recovery of patients.”
Later this year will also see the launch of the new Tessa Jowell allied health professional research fellowships, which will train two early-career professionals to help build evidence that can improve the quality of life for brain tumour patients.
Dr Nicky Huskens wrote a piece for NHE urging then then-incoming government to not take a ‘two steps back, one step forward’ approach. Read her exclusive piece here.
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