New investment aims to accelerate treatments for low-grade brain tumors

Researchers focused on accelerating and testing new treatments for low-grade brain tumors are set to receive a transformative £2.8 million to drive their future work.

The Brain Tumour Research Centre of Excellence at the University of Plymouth is a hub for world-leading research into low-grade tumors including low-grade glioma, meningioma, and schwannoma.

There are currently limited treatment options for these types of tumor beyond surgery and radiotherapy, both of which come with many side effects.

The five-year funding from the charity Brain Tumour Research will enable scientists to deepen their understanding of how these tumors develop and translate that knowledge into life-changing therapies. After the first three years, the Centre will undergo an expert review designed to track progress and strengthen its impact.

The new investment builds on a partnership between Brain tumor Research and the University of Plymouth which first began in 2014.

Leading this new phase of work is David Parkinson, Professor of Neuroscience at the University of Plymouth and the newly appointed Director of the Brain tumor Research Centre of Excellence.

Under his leadership, the Centre will continue bringing together scientists, clinicians, and experts from multiple disciplines to improve outcomes for patients and offer renewed hope to families affected by brain tumors. 

It is an honor to lead the Plymouth Centre into this exciting new chapter. This investment from Brain Tumour Research will allow us to build on the world-class foundation established here over the last 10 years and accelerate progress towards much-needed treatments for low-grade brain tumors. By working across disciplines and focusing on translating discoveries from the lab to the clinic, we aim to make a real difference to patients and their families."

David Parkinson, Professor of Neuroscience, University of Plymouth 

Actor and producer Craig Russell underwent surgery at Derriford Hospital in Plymouth for a low-grade meningioma in February 2023. Now an Ambassador for Brain Tumour Research, he said: "Low-grade tumors aren't low impact. With limited treatment options, these tumors have lifelong consequences for patients and their families. I am incredibly pleased that Brain Tumour Research is continuing the partnership with the University of Plymouth, focused on delivering tangible progress for patients. Together we will find a cure."

The investment from Brain Tumour Research will enable the Plymouth team to explore different pathways to improve treatments for patients. These include understanding the role of the immune system in tumor growth, finding new drugs to make radiotherapy more effective, and testing existing drugs for other medical conditions to see if they can make an impact in brain tumors. The team has previously had success with this approach, with a trial underway testing HIV drugs in patients with schwannoma.

More than 100,000 people in the UK are estimated to be living with a brain tumor or the long-term impact of their diagnosis, yet research into the disease has been chronically underfunded.

Glenn Lilley was diagnosed with a meningioma in 2021 after collapsing at home and experiencing sudden memory loss. An MRI scan revealed a large mass on her brain, and doctors told her she would have just six months to live without emergency surgery.

Glenn said: "This funding means so much, not just for people like me, but for the younger generation facing this devastating diagnosis. My tumor was missed for years, and I know the outcome could easily have been different. Centres like Plymouth are essential, without long-term funding, research can't move forward and patients won't get the answers or the treatments they desperately need. Knowing that this investment will help scientists understand tumors like mine gives me hope, and that's something every family affected by a brain tumor deserves."

Underpinning the Centre will be the continued growth of the Plymouth Biobank. Developed in close collaboration with clinicians and patients, the Biobank offers researchers a vital resource of patient-linked tumor samples, blood samples, health information, and genetic data, enabling world-class research and accelerating the development of treatments that could transform lives. 

This renewed investment underlines Brain Tumour Research's commitment to funding sustained, strategic research at its network of Centres of Excellence across the UK. Together, these centres are building a critical mass of expertise focused on understanding the biology of brain tumors and finding new treatments to improve and extend patients' lives.

Dan Knowles, CEO at Brain Tumour Research, said: "This £2.8 million funding from Brain Tumour Research secures the future of our Centre of Excellence at Plymouth, allowing our scientists to continue their world-leading work into the causes, prevention, and treatment of brain tumors. Sustained, long-term funding like this is essential if we are to make the breakthroughs that will ultimately lead to better treatments and, we hope, a cure. We are also delighted to welcome Professor David Parkinson as the newly appointed Director of the Centre. His leadership, experience, and vision will play a crucial role in driving forward the innovative research taking place in Plymouth, bringing renewed momentum and hope to patients and families affected by brain tumors."

Brain tumor Research funds sustainable research at dedicated centres in the UK. It also campaigns for the Government and larger cancer charities to invest more in research into brain tumors in order to speed up new treatments for patients and, ultimately, to find a cure. The charity is the driving force behind the call for a national annual spend of £35 million in order to improve survival rates and patient outcomes in line with other cancers such as breast cancer and leukemia.