About our Brain Tumour Research Initiative
We will be investing up to £1 million a year over the next five years to fund pioneering research in Wales into brain tumours, including central nervous system tumours and cancers that have spread to the brain.
Our Brain Tumour Research Initiative aims to establish Wales as a world-leader in brain tumour research. By bringing together and supporting scientists, clinicians and neurosurgeons from across Wales, we will provide a platform to drive forward discovery and innovation.
The research will provide scientists with a greater understanding of the disease, develop more accurate diagnostic tests and generate new lifesaving and life-prolonging treatments for patients, as well as understanding how best to support people living with brain tumours.
Our goal is a future where there are improvements not only in survival rates for brain tumours, but also in the support and the quality of life of brain tumour patients everywhere.
Why do we need the Brain Tumour Research Initiative?
There has been a reported 39% increase in the incidence of primary brain tumours in the UK since the 1990s, with over 600 of these occurring within Wales every year.
Unlike for many other cancer types, long-term survival rates for brain tumours have shown little improvement over the last 30 years, with less than 15% of patients currently surviving 10 years or more after their diagnosis.
While childhood primary brain tumours have better outcomes, the detrimental impact of current treatments means these children often struggle to lead fully independent lives as adults.
Unfortunately, few new treatment options have been introduced during recent decades. New and kinder treatment strategies are needed that not only improve survival rates, but importantly can also reduce long-term side effects and cognitive impairment to ensure patients can enjoy a good quality of life.
Which research areas will our Brain Tumour Research Initiative cover?
Our Brain Tumour Research Initiative will fund brain tumour research across 5 broad themes, which aim to capture the breadth of research opportunities in this field.
The below graphic displays these themes, as well examples of areas of research within them (N.B. these are not exhaustive). We will consider proposals that do not fall under these themes if they are pertinent to brain tumour research in Wales.
