Brain tumour scientists come together to speed up translation of research from lab to clinic

Brain tumours kill more children and adults under the age of forty than any other cancer. Bought together by the national charity Brain Tumour Research, researchers from QMUL along with Imperial College London, Plymouth University, UCL Institute of Neurology and the University of Portsmouth, will meet in Swindon at a scientific workshop designed to bring together leading thinking around the disease.

The scientists will reveal the results of their own investigations and look for areas of collaboration. All attending are partners of Brain Tumour Research and run the research programmes at the charity’s research Centres of Excellence.

During the workshop the scientists will discuss the origin of brain tumours, the behaviour of brain tumour cells, how brain tumours metastasise from cancers in other areas of the body, the role of the blood brain barrier and the unique challenges this presents, as well as increasing patient recruitment into clinical trials.

Professor Silvia Marino from the charity’s research Centre of Excellence based at Queen Mary University of London said: “Glioblastomas are a malignant, aggressive type of brain tumour and tragically one of the most common. Our research team is focusing on how tumours develop, which is key to advancing their treatment. Workshops such as this one are an important platform for discussion and a step towards improving outcomes for patients and ultimately finding cures."

Sue Farrington Smith, Chief Executive of Brain Tumour Research said: “We now have four flourishing Brain Tumour Research Centres in the UK, which means we are able to build on specialist brain tumour expertise and experience and encourage cross-pollination of the very best thinking at the cutting edge of brain tumour research.

Our ultimate vision is to find a cure for brain tumours through acceleration of research into this most devastating of diseases.

Brain tumours kill more children and adults under the age of 40 than any other cancer. Yet just 1 per cent of the national spend on cancer research is allocated to this devastating disease. This is unacceptable!

We are striving to fund a network of seven dedicated research centres whilst challenging the government and larger cancer charities to invest more in brain tumour research.

Help us fund the fight. Together we will find a cure.”