The government announced on Wednesday that it is taking steps to accelerate the process of turning brain cancer research into treatment. This announcement follows calls from individuals, including music producer Pete Waterman, for a greater focus on finding a cure for the disease.
Pete Waterman, whose son Paul died of brain cancer in 2005 at the age of 33, visited the Brain Tumour Research Centre of Excellence at the University of Nottingham. He expressed his desire for a cure, stating, "I don't want anybody to go through what I had to go through." Waterman is a patron of Brain Tumour Research.
Brain Tumour Research highlights that brain cancer is the leading cancer killer among children and adults under 40. The organisation has advocated for an increase in national investment in research to at least £45 million annually by 2029, aiming to match funding levels seen for other cancer types.
The government's announced measures include setting up an expert review, due to report in the next three months, to identify barriers to progress. This review is intended to inform a national action plan to expedite new treatments from laboratories. A new national brain cancer clinical lead will also be appointed to oversee this work.