Samantha Dickson Brain Tumour Trust (SDBTT) is the leading brain tumour charity in the UK, currently funding over 20 research projects, providing UK-wide support and information to people living with and affected by a brain tumour and campaigning to raise awareness of brain tumours.
Thanks to all our supporters and donors, we’ve now raised over £10m for brain tumour research and support services and we are proud to be the largest dedicated funder of brain tumour research in the UK.
Find out why our work is so important by watching this short film.
We were founded by Neil and Angela Dickson in 1996 shortly after they lost their daughter Samantha to a brain tumour. We became a registered charity in 1997. Find out more about our history and Samantha’s story.
Our achievements and successes to date include:
Research
- Invested over £7 million in over 50 research projects in the UK to date, from lab-based fundamental research and translational research to clinical trials.
- Currently funding 20 leading researchers across the UK, with a portfolio of 21 existing projects at leading institutions such as Cambridge, Newcastle, Royal Marsden ICR and Nottingham.
- First Research Centre of Excellence opened – the dedicated £2.5m Samantha Dickson Brain Cancer Unit at UCL Cancer Institute.
- Currently co-funding vital clinical trials with Cancer Research UK.
- Member of the Association of Medical Research Charities (AMRC) and twice received an award for best practice in peer review – we are the only brain tumour charity with this award.
- Member of the British Neuro-Oncology Society (BNOS), allowing us to connect with the neuro-oncology research and clinical community.
- Established our Grant Review and Monitoring committee – 11 top UK and international brain tumour and cancer experts plus 2 lay members to independently assess applications and make recommendations to Trustees – this has cemented our excellent reputation within the research and clinical communities.
- We have funded major breakthroughs in early diagnosis, medulloblastoma and pilocytic astrocytoma.
- We work with other institutions such as the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health and Cancer Research UK to maximise the impact of our research.
Support
- Supported thousands of patients, families and carers in the UK – we support over 2,000 adults and children affected by brain tumours every year.
- We run Information Days across the UK, family days and produce free-to-download factsheets as well as a free national helpline.
- We are a member of the Telephone Helplines Association.
- We have achieved The Information Standard, which means we have been certified as a provider of high quality health and social care information.
Campaigning and awareness raising
- Launched the HeadSmart: be brain tumour aware campaign to raise awareness of the signs and symptoms of brain tumours in children with parents and healthcare professionals. The UK lags behind many other countries in time to diagnosis childhood brain tumours – our campaign will lead to earlier diagnosis which will reduce long term disabilities and ultimately save lives.
- Founder member of the Brain Tumour Consortium, and involved in many policy and lobbying activities on issues such as early diagnosis, research and access to best practice in treatment throughout the UK. Download our ‘Manifesto for everyone affected by a brain tumour’.
- Successfully campaigned for the introduction of the drug temozolomide to benefit brain tumour patients.
- We are a member of the National Awareness and Early Diagnosis Initiative (NAEDI), Cancer52, the Children’s Cancer and Leukaemia Group (CCLG) and the Cancer Campaigning Group.
- We are represented on the National Cancer Research Institute’s Brain Tumour Clinical Studies Group and Paediatric Brain Tumour Subgroup, actively lobbying for more clinical trials for all brain tumour patients – both adults and children.
We work with an established network of 88 supporter groups raising funds and awareness of brain tumours across the UK.
Read more about all aspects of our work.
We do not receive any government or statutory funding and rely 100% on voluntary donations to fund our work. From running events and challenges to tea parties and sky dives during Brain Tumour Awareness Month in March, find out how to get involved and support us.
As a charity we are governed by a Trustee board, run by a small and efficient staff team and supported by some amazing Patrons.
Keep up to date with what’s happening at SDBTT by:
You can also read our latest news here.
Samantha Dickson Brain Tumour Trust, Saddlers House, 100 Reading Road, Yateley GU46 7RX, Registered Charity No. 1128354