Professor Steven Clifford and his team at  Newcastle University, funded by Samantha Dickson Brain Tumour Trust, have developed a test for children who have been diagnosed with medulloblastoma, the most common malignant childhood brain tumour. It will allow doctors to determine a much more detailed understanding of the severity of a tumour, enabling more appropriate treatment options and a more accurate prognosis.

The test has just been approved for implementation in European clinical trials at a meeting in Vienna at the International Society for Paediatric Neuro-Oncology conference.  It is set to pave the way for the development of similar tests across other tumour types.

See press release for further details…

Prof. Steven Clifford, Newcastle University

The new grants include three laboratory-based research projects at the Universities of Newcastle and Cambridge and the Institute of Cancer Research at Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust. In addition we have launched a joint clinical trials initiative with Cancer Research UK in which we are co-funding two clinical trials for brain tumour patients, as well as providing a project officer and biomedical scientist to promote and support further UK-based trials.

This research has been made possible by the inspirational efforts of all our supporters in raising funds for brain tumour research. 

Read more about the exciting new grants…

SDBTT has helped fund The Pathways Project, which has produced guidelines for healthcare professionals to follow in order to spot the multiple symptoms that are most commonly associated with childhood brain tumours.  A further project is now underway to publicise these guidelines and to promote awareness of the symptoms of childhood brain tumours.

See the full article here.

The SDBTT-funded research has been published in peer-reviewed science journal Cell Death & Disease, and could lead to improved treatment options for children affected by medulloblastoma, the most common childhood brain tumour type.

See the full press release  and journal article to find out more.

Application packs are available to download from the NCRN website or alternatively by contacting the NCRN Coordinating Centre on 0113 343 2254.

Please note the deadline for return of application forms is 27 January 2010.

Please click here for  a downloadable poster or keep reading for the information contained within:

We are looking to recruit patients and members of the public to join our NCRI Clinical Studies Groups where new ideas for cancer research are developed.

The National Cancer Research Institute (NCRI) is a UK partnership between Government, charity and industry promoting cooperation in cancer research among its 21 member organisations for the benefit of patients, the public and the scientific community.

The National Cancer Research Network (NCRN) was established in April 2001 by the Department of Health in England to improve the quality, speed and integration of cancer clinical trials to improve patient care. The NCRN consists of 32 research networks providing the NHS infrastructure in England to support cancer clinical research and a Coordinating Centre (CC). The NCRN CC is a consortium of the University of Leeds, Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, and the Medical Research Council Clinical Trials Unit. The NCRN is funded by the Department of Health in England and forms part of the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) and the UK Clinical Research Network. The NCRN CC receives additional support from and collaborates with the NCRI and Cancer Research UK. For more information about the NCRN and NCRI, visit our websites at: www.ncrn.org.uk and www.ncri.org.uk

Through its offices in Leeds and London, the NCRN CC manages, administers and supports a variety of initiatives on behalf of the NCRI including the NCRI Clinical Studies Groups (CSGs) whose role is to oversee the development of the portfolio of cancer clinical research in the UK. There are currently 22 NCRI CSGs, including 15 cancer site specific Groups, 6 generic Groups and one *Consumer Liaison Group (CLG).

*NCRI and NCRN define consumers as patients, relatives, carers and other members of the public affected by cancer. Patient and public involvement in the NCRN and NCRI has, to date, been driven by the CLG some of whose members participate at a strategic board level for the NCRN and NCRI, on various committees and on each of the NCRI CSGs.

Help us understand the views and interests of patients and the public on a range of cancer research issues.

• Are you interested in cancer research?

• Do you have excellent communication skills?

• Do you have experience of working in groups/committees?

• Would you enjoy the challenge of applying your skills & knowledge to new areas?

• Do you have time to participate in five – six meetings a year?

We offer an attendance fee for meetings, expenses and training and support to get you up to speed with the issues being discussed.

NCRI and NCRN would like to increase the diversity of their consumer representation and applications are welcomed from consumers based throughout the UK, from all ethnic groups, all age groups, and from people with experience of all kinds of cancer.

Interested applicants are encouraged to contact Karen Inns, NCRN Consumer Liaison Lead at: k.inns@ncrn.org.uk +44 (0)113 343 8945

Application packs are available to download at: www.ncrn.org.uk

Alternatively please contact the NCRN Coordinating Centre on +44 (0)113 343 2254

Deadline for return of applications: 27th January 2010

Interviews will be held in: London during March 2010

Simon Denegri, Chief Executive of AMRC, commented “We are delighted to award our Certificate of Best Practice to Samantha Dickson Brain Tumour Trust, following a successful audit. The award of this Certificate indicates that SDBTT is working to the highest standards in its research grant awards processes and is following our principles of best practice.”

First genetic link for pilocytic astrocytoma identified

Researchers from the University of Cambridge have pinpointed a rearrangement of DNA that causes around two-thirds of all cases of pilocytic astrocytoma – the most common brain tumour in five to 19 year-olds – in a study funded by Samantha Dickson Brain Tumour Trust and Cancer Research UK. For more information about this, see our media page.

Samantha Dickson Brain Tumour Trust and Cancer Research UK (CR-UK) are launching a joint clinical trials initiative for primary brain tumours. Recognising the further need for research into novel agents and therapies in this area, a call for feasibility study applications has been issued, and funding will be made in November 2009. Applications will be reviewed by CR-UK’s Clinical Trials Awards and Advisory Committee (CTAAC) via a one-step application process and are subjected to international, competitive peer review. Any application approved through this route will be eligible for support in the NHS via inclusion on the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) portfolio. This is an exciting development for SDBTT and for brain tumour clinical trials.

The Charity has also recently announced the opening of the Samantha Dickson Brain Cancer Unit at University College London, which will be dedicated to research into brain tumours. The Unit was opened by Earl Spencer, Patron of the Charity. For more information about this, see our media page.

Angela and Neil Dickson with Earl Spencer opening the Unit