Minister says deep research key to new treatments

CAMPAIGNERS ARE POWERFUL

Our dedicated campaigners are passionate about improving options and outcomes for brain tumour patients. Brain Tumour Research is grateful to those supporters who engage with politicians to keep brain tumours on the agenda.

Amongst them is Stuart Grant, who was diagnosed with a grade 2 oligodendroglioma in 2019. His ‘brutal’ treatment consisted of a craniotomy, followed by radiotherapy and chemotherapy.

Stuart said: “The fact that brain tumours have only received 1% of the national spend on cancer research since records began in 2002 is appalling, especially seeing as they’re the biggest cancer killer of children and adults under the age of 40. It’s counterintuitive and makes no sense at all, which is why I want to help. Brain Tumour Research does great work and I feel it’s a great charity to be involved with.”

If you’d like to connect with Stuart, you can follow him @stuartgrantuk on Instagram

Challenging UK Governments and larger cancer charities to invest more in brain tumour research

Stuart Grant with George Freeman MP

of the national spend on cancer research has been allocated to this devastating disease Our mission is to increase the UK investment in brain tumour research

Stuart invited his MP, George Freeman, to join him in completing some of his 10,000 Steps a Day in February Challenge. As well as being MP for Mid-Norfolk, Mr Freeman is Under Secretary of State and Minister for Science, Research and Innovation. This meeting was reported in the Eastern Daily Press, where Mr Freeman spoke of his aim to put the UK at the forefront of the fight against brain tumours.

The minister said: “We have to understand the underlying mechanism of the brain and that deep research is the key really to developing new treatments. All of us who have had anything to do with medical science know that in the end it’s all about patients. “Below the neck, we have sort of worked out how the body works, but above the neck – the brain – we still don’t understand how it works. Until we really understand we’re not going to be able to develop proper cures.” Hugh Adams, Head of Stakeholder Relations at Brain Tumour Research, said: “The Minister for Science, Research and Innovation publicly expressing these sentiments is of great value to our community. We are indebted to George Freeman for establishing the Task and Finish Working Group on Brain Tumours in a previous ministerial position. “As Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for the Department of Science, Research and Innovation, George Freeman oversees the budget which is managed by the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) through a non-departmental public body of the Government called UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), which includes the Medical Research Council (MRC). Like Brain Tumour Research, the MRC funds the early-stage science, which underpins all clinical innovation. “As a direct result of Stuart engaging with his MP, we secured a meeting with Mr Freeman to discuss the research funding topic and breaking down the barriers to progress. Stuart has demonstrated the power of campaigning and we are grateful for his support.”

Stuart with his wife Emma and daughter Delilah

You can help us raise awareness and influence cancer policy at the highest levels by campaigning with us to increase national investment for brain tumour research: www.braintumourresearch.org/ campaign-with-us