About Children's Brain Tumour Research

Did you know that:

• Brain and spine tumours account for 25 per cent of childhood cancer?
• About 400 children (aged 0-16) are diagnosed every year in the UK?
• Almost 50 per cent of those diagnosed with a tumour will die?

The Centre

Nottingham is one of the UK’s centres with expert medical teams who care for young cancer patients and their families. Childhood tumours do not receive major research funds so the University of Nottingham has set up the Children’s Brain Tumour Research Centre.

The Nottingham Centre was conceived by paediatric consultant David Walker and neurosurgeon Jonathan Punt and began to take shape in 1997. Thanks to a successful fundraising appeal, launched by the University, the Centre has now begun a research programme to find out more about these fatal tumours so that far less damaging treatments can be developed.

The Centre provides a focal point for collaborating researchers across the medical and science faculties. Laboratory projects in genetics, cell biology and drug delivery are all under way. The appeal made it possible to appoint a scientific research fellow in genetics in April 2002.

Funds are being used to employ a research co-ordinator and two research assistants, to support postgraduate researchers, and to provide laboratory equipment and consumables. The appeal fund also provides the research team with leverage to secure peer-reviewed grants from various sources.

The Children

William was just over three when he died in October 1998. He became ill in the July and it was discovered he had a type of tumour for which little treatment is effective. His parents were devastated at his illness and how quickly they lost William.

Carly was diagnosed with a brain tumour in 1995. Her treatment was successful at first but the tumour recurred and spread, and she died in 1997 aged 12. Carly’s family now raises money so that there will be answers for other families in the future.

The Appeal

The target for the research programme was set at £1,250,000 in 1997. At the end of 2002, a total of £752,000 had been raised in charitable donations, not only from families with a personal interest in the cause, but also from dedicated individuals and community groups, around the UK, who want to help the University tackle this life-threatening disease.

Stephen Vesse, who co-ordinates the University’s fundraising for this project, has huge admiration for the Centre’s supporters.

“It is a privilege to work with these committed people,” he said. “Our volunteers are so motivated – they are full of ideas and initiative – I just help them to help us.

“The money they have raised means that my colleagues in the Medical School can now plan ahead and recruit expert staff to carry forward the research objectives. Everyone hopes we will find answers to why these tumours occur and develop better ways of treating this illness.”

Our history

The background to the creation of the Research Centre at Nottingham is contained in these facts:

• that brain and spine tumours account for 25 per cent of childhood cancer
• that these tumours are nearly as common as leukaemia in children
• that the incidence of such tumours is rising world-wide, especially in girls
• that about 400 children (aged 0-16) are diagnosed every year in the UK
• that almost 50 per cent of those diagnosed with a tumour will die
• that many of those who survive have to cope with significant disability related to brain damage caused by the tumour or its treatment

Nottingham boasts an expert team which cares for tumour patients from around the region. In this specialist area of medicine this team of doctors has been commended within the NHS for the way they work together to care for children and their families.

But childhood tumours do not receive major research funds so the University of Nottingham set up the Children’s Brain Tumour Research Centre, which will have an impact far beyond the delivery of clinical care in the East Midlands.

The Centre was conceived some years ago by paediatric consultant David Walker and neurosurgeon Jonathan Punt and began to take shape in 1997. Thanks to the successful fundraising appeal, launched by the University, the Centre has now begun a research programme to find out more about these fatal tumours so that far less damaging treatments can be developed.

The Centre provides a focal point for collaborating researchers, specific laboratory projects in genetics, cell biology and drug delivery are under way. A scientific research fellow in genetics was appointed in April 2002 with funds raised by the appeal. Funds are also being used to employ a research co-ordinator and two research assistants, to support postgraduate researchers, and to provide laboratory equipment and consumables.

The target for the research programme was set at £1,250,000 in 1997. At the end of 2002 a total of £752,000 had been raised in charitable donations, mainly from families with a personal interest in the cause, and these funds are being used to secure research grants from other sources.