A new national fellowship programme has been launched to help develop the next generation of clinicians specialising in paediatric neuro-oncology, strengthening care and research for children with brain tumours across the UK.
The Tessa Jowell Brain Cancer Mission (TJBCM) has unveiled the Tessa Jowell Paediatric Neuro-Oncology Fellowship, a one-year programme hosted at Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH) and jointly funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) and GOSH Charity.
The fellowship has been created in response to the growing need for specialist training opportunities in paediatric neuro-oncology. Participants will gain hands-on clinical experience while developing expertise in research, innovation and leadership, helping to build a future workforce capable of advancing treatment and care for children diagnosed with brain tumours.
The initiative builds on the success of TJBCM’s adult neuro-oncology fellowship programme, which has already trained six specialists with support from NIHR. This includes the pioneering Tessa Jowell Allied Health Professional (AHP) Research Fellowships, the UK's first national programme dedicated to AHP-led research in neuro-oncology.
Expanding the fellowship model into paediatric services is expected to strengthen specialist care pathways nationwide, ensuring children and families can benefit from greater access to expertise and innovation regardless of where they live.
A national panel of leading clinical and research experts developed the fellowship curriculum, ensuring it complements existing training routes while providing valuable specialist experience in the complex field of paediatric brain tumours.
Brain cancer remains the leading cause of cancer-related deaths among children and adults under the age of 40 in the UK, highlighting the urgent need for continued investment in specialist training, research and treatment development.
Professor Lucy Chappell, Chief Scientific Adviser to the Department of Health and Social Care and CEO of the NIHR, said:
"Research is a vital component of improving the treatment and care for children with complex brain tumours.
"We are proud to partner with GOSH Charity and the Tessa Jowell Brain Cancer Mission to fund this important fellowship and support the next generation of specialist clinicians, whose work can take pioneering treatments from the lab to young patients across the UK.”
The fellowship represents another significant step forward in the UK's efforts to improve outcomes for children with brain tumours by combining specialist clinical training with cutting-edge research opportunities.
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