Universities Join Forces To Tackle Brain Tumours, UK

Main Category: Neurology / Neuroscience
Also Included In: Cancer / Oncology
Article Date: 05 Nov 2007 - 4:00 PDT

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Universities have signed a major agreement to work together on ground-breaking research into brain tumours at an event at the University of Wolverhampton.

A memorandum of agreement to advance research into the disease was signed during International Brain Tumour Awareness Week.

Leading figures from the Manchester Metropolitan University, Keele University and the University Hospital of North Staffordshire NHS Trust signed the agreement. The University of Wolverhampton, the University of Central Lancashire and Lancashire Teaching Hospital's NHS Foundation Trust are already members of the partnership, known as Brain Tumour North West.

The group aims to advance research in the area by opening access to rare tumour material, sharing laboratory facilities and techniques, as well as pooling scientific, medical and statistical expertise.

Representatives from leading brain tumour charities also attended the event, including the Samantha Dickson Brain Tumour Trust, Brain Tumour UK, Ali's Dream and the United Brain Tumour Campaign.

Professor John Darling, Director of the University of Wolverhampton's Research Institute in Healthcare Science, said: "For the first time in the United Kingdom, brain tumour researchers are organising systems for developing big, important projects involving brain tumours which will impact on clinical treatment in the near future. All the researchers involved in Brain Tumour NorthWest are very excited about the new research opportunities and how these will help patients."

The event, at the University's City Campus in Wolverhampton, included scientific presentations and a video performance, courtesy of the International Brain Tumour Alliance, from David Bailey, a singer/songwriter from Charlottesville North Carolina. David is an 11 year brain tumour survivor, who was on a UK concert tour promoting International Brain Tumour Awareness Week in October.

More than 7,000 people a year in the UK are diagnosed with brain cancer, making it the 10th most common cancer for men and the 13th most common for women. Brain cancer deaths amongst children exceed those of leukaemia making it the highest cause of death amongst this age group after accidents.

http://www.wlv.ac.uk