BRAIN TUMOUR RESEARCH AND CLINICAL TRIALS ACTIVITY IN THE UK 2016-2024: INSIGHTS FROM THE TESSA JOWELL CENTRE OF EXCELLENCE PROGRAMME

Abstract AIMS Since 1971, survival for the most severe brain tumours has only increased by 10%.[1] Despite significant progress, there remain barriers to conducting research, and readiness for new brain tumour trials varies across the UK. As part of the Tessa Jowell Centre of Excellence (TJCoE) programme, we conducted a thorough review of research conducted at 21 neuro-oncology centres; here we present the landscape of UK brain tumour research since 2016. [1] https://www.thebraintumourcharity.org/about-us/our-research-strategy/barriers-to-research/ METHODS TJCoE reviews the services delivered by UK neuro-oncology centres against standards defined by 22 experts. Through an extensive application form, we collected 168 data points across treatment, care and research, along- side feedback from 1,000 patients collected by the Brain Tumour Charity. We analysed anonymised data on research and trials collected from 21 centres in 2021 and 2024. RESULTS All 21 centres were conducting basic/translational research, reporting a total of £73 million in 194 grants awarded 2019–2024; this is a 22% reduction from £95 million reported 2016–2021. Despite a significant fo- cus on collaboration, funding is not equitably distributed across the UK; 90% funding was received by under 40% of centres (8/21). In 2024, 35 trials were open or in set-up, with at least two open trials in every centre (range, 2–13), 16 of which were evaluating new treatments (similar to the number in 2021, N=17). All centres reported a desire to increase access to clinical trials, but teams reported several common barriers, namely staffing pressures (76%, 16/21) and resource issues such as imaging or bed availability (43%, 9/21), as well as patient-related factors and lack of trials. CONCLUSION Despite significant pre-clinical and clinical research in UK neuro-oncology, activity remains concentrated in large academic centres. Funding for research also reduced by over 20% since 2016. Recent initiatives to increase funding for research and ensure trial readiness across the UK are very timely.