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Brain tumour research

The brain is a soft spongy mass of nerve cells and supporting tissue.Brain tumours are often hard to treat, so research in this area is vital. For children, the survival rates have almost doubled since the late 1960s.

Cancer Research UK supports a broad programme of research into brain tumours. We want to understand their biology and improve diagnosis and treatment.

We have made great progress in the design and development of drugs. For example, we funded research that led to the development of temozolomide, a drug that is used to treat people with some types of brain tumour. It can be taken orally, which means patients don’t have to attend lots of hospital appointments.

You can find out more about brain tumours on our CancerHelp website.

Below are some of the highlights of our brain tumour research portfolio.

On this page

 

Biomarkers

Dr Steven Pollard Dr Steven Pollard

UCL Cancer Institute

University College London, London

Studying stem cells in brain tumours

Dr Steven Pollard is at the forefront of research into brain tumours. His work focuses on the exciting new area of cancer stem cells. These specialised cells only make up a small proportion of the whole tumour but are believed to act as the driving force behind many cancers. Dr Pollard is investigating how cancer stem cells in the brain contribute to the development of brain tumours. He plans to use this information to find effective new ways to treat this disease.

 

Clinical trials

Dr Sara Erridge Dr Sara Erridge

Edinburgh Cancer Centre

University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh

Improving treatment for brain tumours

Dr Sara Erridge is a cancer doctor specialising in the treatment of brain tumours. She is running a clinical trial to find the best way to treat a type of brain tumour called glioma.

Prof David Walker Prof David Walker

School of Human Development

University of Nottingham, Nottingham

Testing treatments for childhood brain cancer

Professor David Walker heads a team at the University of Nottingham. The group is investigating the best way to treat certain childhood cancers known as low-grade gliomas (LGGs). 

 

Drug discovery & development

Dr Chris Jones Dr Chris Jones

Paediatric Oncology

The Institute of Cancer Research, Sutton

Hitting cancer where it hurts: new ways to target childhood brain tumours

Dr Chris Jones at The Institute of Cancer Research in Sutton is investigating the faulty molecules found in a type of childhood brain tumour called glioblastoma. His aim is to understand the changes in the cancer cells that drive the growth of these tumours, and to find new drugs to treat them, saving more children's lives.

 

Radiobiology

Prof Richard Houlston Prof Richard Houlston

Molecular and Population Genetics Team

The Institute of Cancer Research, Sutton

Genes and cancer

Professor Richard Houlston and his team are searching for cancer genes. They are carrying out large-scale studies of human populations to discover genetic faults that increase the risk of certain types of cancer including bowel, brain and lung. They are also searching for genes that influence a person's sensitivity to the effects of radiation.

 

Stem cells

Dr Steven Pollard Dr Steven Pollard

UCL Cancer Institute

University College London, London

Studying stem cells in brain tumours

Dr Steven Pollard is at the forefront of research into brain tumours. His work focuses on the exciting new area of cancer stem cells. These specialised cells only make up a small proportion of the whole tumour but are believed to act as the driving force behind many cancers. Dr Pollard is investigating how cancer stem cells in the brain contribute to the development of brain tumours. He plans to use this information to find effective new ways to treat this disease.

Dr Verdon Taylor Dr Verdon Taylor

Department of Biomedical Science

University of Sheffield, Sheffield

Understanding cells at the root of brain tumours

Dr Verdon Taylor is based at the University of Sheffield. He is studying special cells called stem cells, which researchers think may be the root cause of some cancers. Dr Taylor is focusing on a type of brain tumour called glioma, and his work could lead to innovative new ways to tackle this disease.