Raising Awareness of GBM
What is a GBM?
- Glioblastoma multiforme or GBM is the most common type of primary high-grade brain tumour in adults. This fast-growing tumour is very challenging to treat due to its complex nature.
- The average survival time is devastatingly short – just 12-18 months.
- Surgery is the first option for treatment, usually followed by radiotherapy and chemotherapy.
- The diffuse nature of this type of the disease means tumour cells invade healthy areas of the brain.
- Although surgery can be successful in removing some of the tumour, some cells are almost always left behind and continue to grow.
- Treatment options are extremely limited and there is no cure.

How are we working to find a cure?
Research we are funding at our Brain Tumour Research Centres of Excellence is at the cutting edge of finding a cure.
Pioneering research at our Centre of Excellence at Queen Mary University of London is focused on using GBM stem cells to help develop unique, patient-specific treatments. This project is set to be of global significance in the race to find a cure. Find out more.
The team at our Research Centre at Imperial College are part of a global collaboration looking at how the ketogenic diet can influence GBM metabolism and help in the effective treatment and management of this brain tumour. Find out more.
At our Plymouth Centre, researchers have identified a range of mutations in brain tumour cells that initiate tumour progression, potentially transforming low-grade gliomas into more immediately life-threatening high-grade gliomas, which include GBM. Find out more.
We also fund BRAIN UK at Southampton University, the country’s only national tissue bank registry providing crucial access to brain tumour samples for researchers and an essential component in the fight to find a cure for Glioblastoma.
Help us fund the fight
Your donations enable us to build a network of experts in sustainable research at dedicated Centres of Excellence, as well as campaigning to increase the national investment to £35 million a year.
Please donate and help us get closer to a cure, not just for GBM, but for all brain tumour types.
