The Tessa Jowell Brain Cancer Mission (TJBCM) and Scottish Government’s Chief Scientist Office (CSO) have announced a major partnership to advance brain tumour research and treatment through Scotland’s first dedicated Neuro-oncology Fellowships.
This collaboration, part of the prestigious Tessa Jowell Fellowship Programme, represents a significant step forward in advancing neuro-oncology treatment, care and research opportunities for patients with a brain tumour across Scotland.
Two Fellowship positions have been created: the UK’s first Fellowship in brain tumour Neurology, which will be based at the University of Glasgow and jointly funded by the CSO together with the Beatson Cancer Charity; and a Neuro-oncology Fellowship which is a partnership between the University of Glasgow and the University of Edinburgh.
The inaugural Scottish Neuro-oncology Fellowship is a joint position based at the Beatson West of Scotland Cancer Centre in Glasgow and the Edinburgh Centre for Neuro-oncology. The Glasgow and Edinburgh centres are highly complementary in their clinical and research strengths and have a strong track record of collaboration, with joint initiatives including the Cancer Research UK Scotland Centre and the recently announced Scottish Brain Tumour Research Centre of Excellence.
The first Neuro-oncology Fellowship has been awarded to Dr Sarah Kingdon, a clinical oncology trainee currently based in University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust and is co-funded with the Beatson Cancer Charity and NHS Lothian Charity.
Brain tumours are the biggest cancer killer of children and adults under the age of 40. The cure rates for brain tumours have remained low for many decades due to multiple complex issues. To improve treatment and outcomes, it is important that a new generation of highly motivated and skilled scientist clinicians are trained, who can bring new ideas to solve existing and future challenges. The 12-month funded Fellowships aim to provide the Fellows with experience in the breadth of comprehensive brain tumour management and to develop the necessary research skills to, in time, lead high-impact, practice-changing neuro-oncology clinical trials.
The Tessa Jowell Fellowship programme to date has been delivered with the National Institute of Health and Care Research (NIHR) in England. To cultivate the next generation of leaders in neuro-oncology in Scotland, and ensure parity of access for trainees motivated to change the landscape of brain tumours, the CSO has partnered with TJBCM to co-fund fellowships.
In addition to the groundbreaking Neuro-oncology Fellowship, the CSO has committed to funding a second fellowship in tumour Neurology together with the Beatson Cancer Charity. This expansion aims to further ensure that Scottish patients with a brain tumour have sufficient access to specialised neurological care, reinforcing the ongoing effort of the Scottish Government to improve patient outcomes.
Dr Nicky Huskens, TJBCM Chief Executive Officer, said: “We are thrilled to partner with the Chief Scientist Office to launch this inaugural fellowship. This collaboration will foster the development of neuro-oncology specialists in Scotland and ensure that all patients with a brain tumour, wherever they live in the UK, have access to the best possible care and treatment.”
Professor Dame Anna Dominiczak, Chief Scientist (Health) at Scottish Government said: “It is through research and innovation that effective new treatments for brain tumours will be developed, therefore I’m delighted the Chief Scientist Office is partnering with the Tessa Jowell Brain Cancer Mission. This joint fellowship will help build our future research capacity in neuro-oncology, and is part of our continued efforts to build strong, collaborative partnerships with the third sector to advance innovative treatments and improve quality of life for patients.”
Professor Anthony Chalmers, Chair of Clinical Oncology at he University of Glasgow, said: “We are extremely excited to welcome our first Tessa Jowell Clinical Fellow to Glasgow and have already had a number of stimulating meetings with Sarah that have helped us to map out a varied and innovative programme for her fellowship. She has some very interesting ideas for research projects and we will work closely with the Edinburgh team to make sure the Fellowship is an enjoyable and rewarding experience.”
Dr Faye Robertson, Edinburgh Cancer Centre: “Dr Sarah Kingdon will be the first Tessa Jowell Clinical Fellow in Scotland and we are confident that she will take full advantage of the many opportunities the fellowship affords. We hope that our close links with Glasgow are further strengthened by this joint fellowship and that the combined expertise of both centres leads to a great experience for Sarah.”