The NCRI Brain Group has published its new three-year strategy to address challenges faced in brain tumour research and improve outcomes for patients with currently unmet needs.
The NCRI Brain Group is the first to adopt a new model for the NCRI Groups to become more agile and wider-reaching. As part of the new model, each group will work closely with the NCRI, NCRI Partners, Consumers and the broader cancer community to set a strategy and define key priorities.
The priorities identified by the group are as follows:
- Produce and publish a position paper on the challenges faced in brain tumour research
- Develop a window of opportunity study, early-phase trial or basket study for glioblastoma patients
- Improve outcomes for brain tumour patients with unmet needs
- Improve outcomes for patients with poor prognosis
- Build and strengthen links with international groups and prioritise opening international studies for UK patients with rarer brain tumours
- Support and provide guidance for a broad range of research proposals across the brain cancer community
NCRI Brain Group strategic priorities
The establishment of the NCRI Networks will allow the groups to benefit from a multidisciplinary network of skills and expertise to deliver focused activities against key priorities with specific tangible outcomes.
The NCRI Brain Group is focused on clinical and translational issues relating to brain tumours. Over the last decade, we have made significant progress in growing the community of brain tumour researchers in the UK, developing clinical studies, and delivering practice-changing trials.
Professor Michael Jenkinson, Professor of Neurosurgery, University of Liverpool and Chair of NCRI Brain Group
To identify the key priorities in brain tumour research, the NCRI Brain Group held four virtual sessions, attracting over 60 participants from a range of sectors and disciplines, including NCRI Consumer Forum members, Early Career Researchers and Partners.
The sessions allowed for discussion on the overarching challenges, opportunities and gaps in brain tumour research and specific issues and areas of unmet need in the field.
Experts exchanged ideas on the priorities for future brain tumour research. Each session involved researchers from wide-ranging disciplines encouraging cross-cutting collaboration to meet today’s most pressing needs in brain tumour research.
It was fantastic to have so many new people participating in our four strategy sessions discussing the big challenges in developing more effective therapies for brain tumour patients. With the new NCRI wider network and focused working groups, I do not doubt that we are in a strong position to develop innovative approaches to brain tumour research that will lead to patient benefit.
Professor Michael Jenkinson, Professor of Neurosurgery, University of Liverpool and Chair of NCRI Brain Group
Working groups addressing each specific strategic priority are currently being formed. These groups will be made up of the experts needed to address each research question. NCRI is currently looking to appoint a deputy group chair and a chair for each working group.