Organisations from across the brain tumour community have come together in calling for the UK Government to make clear the status of European Reference Networks in the UK post-Brexit.
European Reference Networks (ERNs) are a crucial component in connecting existing research centres and clinicians together to promote sustainable collaborative research.
Seventy percent of healthcare providers in the ERNs come from France, Italy, Germany, the Netherlands and the UK. Yet, there is no guarantee that UK centres will be able to continue to participate in the initiative.
Brain Tumour Research has partnered with other charities from around the UK, as well as The International Brain Tumour Alliance (IBTA) (whose aim is to bring together the international brain tumour community as a strong global voice). Together, we have produced position statements in collaboration with ERN-EURACAN - the European Reference Network for rare adult solid cancer.
You can read the statement on behalf of EURACAN here.
Carrie Hume, Head of Public Affairs and Campaigning at Brain Tumour Research, said: “As well as the uncertainty over the relationship of the ERNs with a post-Brexit UK and the impact that will have on patients with rare diseases, we need to be assured that crucial research links between the UK and the European Union will also continue to flourish.”