On Tuesday evening, Portcullis House in Westminster was the setting for a meeting of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Brain Tumours (APPGBT). These termly meetings are always packed and Tuesdays was no exception, with 11 MPs rubbing shoulders with campaigners, patients and charity representatives.
The meeting heard updates from the last meeting and reviewed brain tumour relevant news from Westminster. Plus, Scott Arthur MP informed attendees about his Private Member's Bill which will be presented to the House of Commons in March and has a focus on less survivable cancers.
The bulk of the meeting, though, was devoted to a presentation from CEO of Brain Tumour Research (who provide the group’s secretariat), Dan Knowles, on progress made against recommendations contained in the 2023 APPG inquiry report – ‘Pathway to a Cure – breaking down the barriers’.
The key takeaway was that, while things may be moving in the right direction, they aren’t moving anywhere quickly enough, and for this progress to be accelerated the Government need to play a full, active and increased part in the funding of research and the removal of the barriers to research breakthroughs.
Dan’s presentation was followed by a robust discussion and the APPG is now set to further engage with Government funding bodies and with the new minister with responsibility for cancer, Ashley Dalton, who has taken up her post this week.
A briefing document for the meeting was produced and can be accessed through this link and the meeting's minutes are with Dame Siobhain McDonagh (our Chair) for review before being uploaded here.
We thought you would be interested to know which MPs joined Dame Siobhain on Tuesday evening and they were:
- Deirdre Costigan
- Peter Swallow
- Scott Arthur
- John McDonnell
- John Slinger
- Charlie Maynard
- Clive Jones
- Helen Hayes
- Monica Harding
- Martin Rhodes
with apologies being received by:
- Ben Lake
- Dr Zubir Ahmed
- Lord Carlisle of Berriew
- Allison Gardner
- Tom Rutland
We’ve published a blog on Scott Arthur's (pictured right) bill – read it here. This is a golden opportunity to drive real change for those affected by brain tumours. For the bill to pass, 102 MPs must be in the chamber on Friday 14th March, to vote in favour.
Your voice can make a difference. Please use this quick and easy template to write to your MP and urge them to attend the second reading.
Earlier in the update we mentioned the new Health Minister Ashley Dalton. Ms Dalton has hardly had time to get her feet under the table at DHSC before facing her first brain tumour question. Having been prompted by campaigning constituents, APPG member Daisy Cooper asked:
"How many funding applications have the National Institute of Health and Care Research received for brain tumour research on diagnosis and screening and drugs and treatment therapies in each of the last 10 years; and how many of those applications secured funding?"
Ms Dalton's reply was:
"Research is crucial in tackling cancer, which is why the Department invests over £1.5 billion per year in research through the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR). NIHR research expenditure for all cancers was £133 million in 2023/24. Cancer is a major area of NIHR spend, reflecting its high priority.
"Over the 10 financial years from 2013/14 to 2023/24, the NIHR received 179 applications for brain tumour research in total. Of these:
- 54 were for research on diagnosis and screening, five of which were funded
- 80 were for research on drugs and treatment, 11 of which were funded and one of which is still under consideration
- 12 were for a combination of both categories of research, six of which were funded
- 32 were for other categories of research, five of which were funded
"The NIHR funds research in response to proposals received from scientists rather than allocating funding to specific disease areas. The NIHR continues to encourage and welcome funding applications for research into any aspect of human health, including brain cancer. Applications are subject to peer review and judged in open competition, with awards being made on the basis of the importance of the topic to patients and health and care services, value for money, and scientific quality.
"In September 2024, the NIHR announced new research funding opportunities for brain cancer research, spanning both adult and paediatric populations. This includes a national NIHR Brain Tumour Research Consortium, to ensure the most promising research opportunities are made available to adult and child patients, and a new funding call to generate high-quality evidence in brain tumour care, support, and rehabilitation. Further information on these new research funding opportunities is available at the following link: “New funding opportunities for novel brain tumour research launched | NIHR"
In case you missed the news on this earlier this week, on Monday 3rd March at 11:00am, we will hold a minute’s silence to mark the start of Brain Tumour Awareness Month.
This moment of remembrance is held every year and is an opportunity to pause, reflect and show our respect for all those lost to brain tumours.
Please observe this poignant moment wherever you are and help us pay tribute to all those affected by this devastating disease.
The Brain Tumour Research office will host the minute’s silence virtually for our entire team and we have been honoured when supporters have joined us in previous years – with many sharing their personal recollections, inspirations and hopes.
We are inviting you to join us again in 2025.
If you would like to be a part of a community remembering and celebrating on Zoom from 10:45-11:15am on Monday 3rd March, please email me and I will send you the Zoom link.
With Parliament in recess next week, there won't be an update, but we will be back on the 28th with news of a meeting of the Cross Party Group on Brain Tumours at Holyrood.
Wishing you all a peaceful time until then.
Karen, Hugh, Thomas and Evan
Published Friday 14ᵗʰ February 2025.