PARLIAMENTARY WRITTEN QUESTION
Brain: Tumours (26 March 2026)

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the performance of the National Institute for Health and Care Research Brain Tumour Research Consortium on improving the treatment of glioblastoma brain tumours.

Asked by:
Dame Siobhain McDonagh (Labour)

The Department invests over £1.7 billion per year in research through the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR).

We are committed to furthering our investment in brain cancer research and have already taken steps to stimulate scientific progress and build scientific capacity to do research on brain cancer.

In January 2026, the NIHR announced increased investment of over £25 million in the NIHR Brain Tumour Research Consortium. The world-leading consortium aims to transform outcomes for adults and children and their families who are living with brain tumours - ultimately reducing lives lost to cancer.

Activity is still in the early stages of delivery however, we will ensure that the impact of these investments reaches patients as quickly as possible.

Information on all awards will be made available on NIHR Funding and Awards pages in due course. NIHR is working to ensure that new investments can get up and running as soon as possible.

In addition, the NIHR continues to strongly encourage brain cancer research applications through its regular funding opportunities.

Answered by:
Dr Zubir Ahmed (Labour)
14 April 2026