Scientists at the forefront of research to find a cure for brain tumours are meeting in Scotland this week.

They are in Edinburgh for the annual conference of the British Neuro-Oncology Society (BNOS) where Professor Silvia Marino, of Queen Mary University of London (QMUL), was named as the society’s first female President.

Prof. Marino is Professor of Neuropathology at Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry at QMUL    and also Honorary Consultant Neuropathologist at Barts Health NHS Trust. Her team of researchers, focusing on aggressive glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) brain tumours, has been supported by the charity Brain Tumour Research since 2014. As there is no known cure or effective treatment for GBM, research in this area is a priority.

The conference, taking place at the University of Edinburgh from 21st to 23rd June, will mark the beginning of Prof. Marino’s term of office after her nomination was unanimously supported by BNOS council.  

After studying medicine at the University of Turin in Italy, the professor trained in neuropathology and histopathology at the University of Zurich in Switzerland, then molecular genetics at The Netherlands Cancer Institute in Amsterdam. She established her own laboratory research group in 2002, firstly at the Institute of Pathology, University of Zurich and then at QMUL’s Blizard Institute. 

Prof. Marino, said: “The British Neuro-oncology Society exists to promote research and education in all aspects of neuro-oncology, aiming to improve treatment and management of patients. I am proud to represent the dedicated and highly-skilled members of this multi-disciplinary organisation.

“Brain tumours kill more children and adults under the age of 40 than any other cancer, so this area of research has very real potential impact for patients. Working together with charities and the Government, we are leading the way in enhancing both research and clinical practice.”

For further information, please contact:

Susan Castle-Smith at Brain Tumour Research on 01908 867206 or 07887 241639 or Susan@braintumourresearch.org

Notes to Editors

Brain Tumour Research is the only national charity in the UK focused on funding sustainable research to find a cure for brain tumours. We are building a game-changing network of world-class Research Centres of Excellence in the UK. Embracing passionate member charities nationwide, £5.5 million was raised towards research and support during 2016.

We are campaigning to see the national spend on research into brain tumours increased to £30 - £35 million a year, in line with breast cancer and leukaemia. The charity is celebrating a year of high-profile campaigning on this issue following the unprecedented success of its petition in 2016. Following that, Brain Tumour Research is now taking a leading role in the Government’s Task and Finish Working Group convened to tackle the historic underfunding for research.

Key statistics on brain tumours:

• Brain tumours kill more children and adults under the age of 40 than any other cancer
• They kill more children than leukaemia
• They kill more men under 45 than prostate cancer
• They kill more women under 35 than breast cancer
• Just 1% of the national spend on cancer research has been allocated to this devastating disease
• In the UK 16,000 people each year are diagnosed with a brain tumour
• Less than 20% of those diagnosed with a brain tumour survive beyond five years compared with an average of 50% across all cancers
• Incidences of, and deaths from, brain tumours are increasing.

Please quote Brain Tumour Research as the source when using this information. Additional facts and statistics are available from our website including our latest Report on National Research Funding. We can also provide case-studies and research expertise for media.