Children’s brain tumours awarded £1.6m

Experts at UCL, Queen Mary University of London and Great Ormond Street Hospital are aiming to develop revolutionary treatments for children diagnosed with low-grade brain tumours, following major new funding. The research team have been awarded £1.6 million by The Brain Tumour Charity to advance knowledge of low-grade brain tumours, how they behave in the body, how to better treat them and how to improve quality of life for children affected. The research will be carried out in collaboration with researchers at the German Cancer Research Centre (DKFZ) and will continue the ground-breaking work of The Everest Centre*, following a second total investment of £5 million by The Brain Tumour Charity. More than 400 children are diagnosed with a brain tumour each year in the UK. And, of these, approximately half are low-grade tumours. Kinder and more effective treatments are needed as 20% of children do not survive for more than 20 years following a diagnosis. The current standard of care, which includes chemotherapy, radiotherapy and high-risk surgery, has a significant impact on a child's quality of life.