Charing Cross Hospital has been selected to help a charity develop new treatments to fight brain cancer.
Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust is working with Brain Tumour Research to create a research centre of excellence in Fulham Palace Road, Fulham.
The research and fundraising partnership aims to raise £1m a year over the next five years towards new studies involving clinicians at Charing Cross’s existing neuro-oncology unit and scientists from Imperial College London university.
The charity has already worked with the University of Portsmouth and plans to establish seven research centres in the UK in a bid to attract £20million of investment in research into brain cancer, the biggest killer of children and adults under 40.
Kevin O’Neill, a consultant neurosurgeon and head of neurosurgery at Imperial College Healthcare, will work with researchers to investigate the biology of tumour metabolisms to further understand the behaviour of this disease, which affects 16,000 new patients in the UK each year. The team will also be able to extend their use of innovative 3D real time surgical imaging.
Mr O’Neill said: “Our plan is for our Centre of Excellence to focus on every aspect of the patient pathway from early diagnosis of brain cancer to developing revolutionary new treatment options.”
He added: “This new partnership will enable us to research and advance these developments to improve survival rates.”
Sue Farrington-Smith, chief executive of Brain Tumour Research, said: “We are forming a powerful new network of researchers in order to accelerate progress in brain tumour research and make a clinical difference.
“All involved share a vision of a sustainable and secure research environment for brain tumours in the UK, ultimately creating better futures for all those diagnosed and living with a brain tumour.”
