Today sees an enormous milestone as Brain Tumour Research opens its fourth Centre of Excellence on the Sutton campus of The Institute of Cancer Research (ICR), London. 

We are enormously grateful to Mary Scott who lost her husband Mike to a glioblastoma (GBM) in June 2020 and in whose name she has donated £1 million, the largest single donation in our history, in the hope of sparing heartache for families in the future. 

Mike’s legacy has enabled the charity to bring forward plans to open its fourth Centre of Excellence with an initial funding agreement of £2.5 million.  

Mary said: “I count myself very fortunate to be able to make this substantial donation. Mike adored children so it’s especially fitting that this new centre will focus on finding a cure for high-grade tumours in children. To think of those poor parents whose children are affected by brain tumours is absolutely dreadful. 

“My hope is that, with this legacy, Mike’s death won’t have been in vain, that his name will live on and that the money will go some way towards finding a cure.” 

Under the leadership of Professor Chris Jones (pictured), the new Centre will focus on identifying new treatments for paediatric-type diffuse high-grade glioma brain tumours in children and young adults, a collection of deadly tumours which include diffuse midline glioma (DMG), such as diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (DIPG). These types of tumours have a devastatingly short average survival of just nine to 12 months.  

The Centre will act as a crucial bridge connecting worldwide research and analysing findings which will help inform and enable the setting up of much-needed clinical trials. 

Dr Karen Noble, our Director of Research, Policy and Innovation, said: “We are delighted to be able to hold this landmark event during September which is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. We are optimistic that this work will lead to trials within the next five years so we can give real hope to families in the future.  

“We are extremely grateful to Mary and to all of our supporters whose commitment and hard work has made this new Centre possible. But we do need the Government to step up and do more and not to rely so much on investment from charities.” 

Read more about the opening of our fourth Research Centre on our blog.

• Mike’s story 
• What are paediatric-type diffuse high-grade gliomas?

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