SEVEN groundbreaking projects to research and find better treatments for brain tumours in Wales have been awarded over £1 million in funding.
The money is from the Brain Tumour Research Initiative (BATRI), which is run by the Welsh cancer research charity – Cancer Research Wales.
Launched in April 2024, BATRI aims to establish Wales as a world-leader in brain tumour research.
It brings together scientists, clinicians and neurosurgeons from across Wales to drive forward discovery and innovation in brain tumour research.
Research funded by BATRI will also bring hope for people living with brain tumours and their loved ones across the country.
Finding new and kinder treatments
Dr Lee Campbell – Head of Research at Cancer Research Wales said:
“I’m very proud to announce the first round of funding from BATRI by Cancer Research Wales. 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.
“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, very few new treatment options have been introduced during recent decades. Our aim with BATRI is to find new and kinder treatment strategies to not only improve survival rates, but importantly also reduce long-term side effects and cognitive impairment to ensure patients can enjoy a good quality of life.”
MRI scans
Among the projects receiving funding today is one studying the use of advanced MRI scans for children aged 8-16 with newly diagnosed low-grade glioma – a type of brain tumour.
The project will be overseen by paediatric oncologist Dr Madeleine Adams, who is based at Noah’s Ark Children’s Hospital for Wales in Cardiff, and Professor Derek Jones from Cardiff University Brain Research Imaging Centre (CUBRIC).
In this project, the advanced MRI scanner at CUBRIC – which is one of only four in the world – will look at the tumour structure in more detail than can currently be seen on standard scans.
Curing more brain tumours and reducing side-effects
Dr Madeleine Adams from Noah’s Ark Children’s Hospital for Wales said:
“Around 150 children per year in the UK are diagnosed with low-grade glioma, with around 6-10 of these living in Wales. Many require treatments such as chemotherapy as well as surgery and all children require long term follow-up. At Noah’s Ark Children’s Hospital, there are around 100 children with low-grade glioma undergoing treatment or receiving follow-up care. Many of these children have significant side effects such as loss of vision, difficulties with mobility and hormone imbalance.
“The advanced MRI scanner planned for use in this project will look at the tumour structure in more detail than standard scans. We expect that this greater detail will help us to understand why some tumours behave more aggressively and pinpoint treatments more accurately, with the ultimate aim that, in future, more brain tumours can be cured and long-term quality of life can be improved.”
BATRI is also funding a further 6 projects covering a broad range of research topics.
These include the development of new treatments, improving our understanding of how the immune system fights brain tumours and assessing the most important factors in addressing the care needs of brain tumour patients.
