Between 2018-2022 Candlelighters helped establish the first academic neurosurgeon role in Leeds to help advance research into paediatric brain tumours.
Every day in the UK, a child and their family receive the devastating diagnosis of a brain tumour. Brain cancer is the most common type of solid tumour in children and the leading cause of death. Despite advances in radiotherapy and chemotherapy, the outlook for children with the most aggressive types of brain tumours remains very poor, far worse than other types of childhood cancer.
In 2018, Candlelighters and Yorkshire’s Brain Tumour Charity committed to fund Honorary Consultant Neurosurgeon Ryan Mathew in a new role as an Academic Neurosurgeon. This role enabled Ryan to spend half his time conducting brain tumour research alongside treating and operating on people with brain tumours. This type of role is crucial when helping to advance research as the insight gained from treating patients is used directly to inform research and helps build the understanding needed to treat complex cancers.
The Stem Cells and Brain Tumour Laboratory group
Alongside Dr Heiko Wurdak, Ryan runs the Stem Cells and Brain Tumour Laboratory group at St James Hospital which was set up in 2011 with support from Candlelighters. At the lab, a team of researchers work together to deepen the understanding of brain tumours and how they can be treated.
Through work done at the lab, the team have been able to explore a number of different projects. And thanks to Candlelighters' initial investment, Ryan has been able to secure additional funding to ensure the longer-term future of the research.
These combined efforts have made the following research projects possible at Leeds:
- A study of leftover cells in brain tumours and testing delivering drugs in the tumour cavity during surgery. This could reduce the chance of the cancer coming back and the need to use other harsh treatments which can cause serious side effects.
- Using nanoparticles to selectively target and deliver drugs in gliomas with the hope of providing more targeted treatment that's efficient and effective.
- Developing an ultra-precise laser to target leftover cancer cells after surgery. This could ultimately help reduce the chances of the cancer coming back.
- Understanding glioma invasion and migration using assembloids (so-called 'mini-brains'). These help the team understand the vulnerabilities of cancer cells to help develop better ways to treat them.
- Developing a test to predict patient-specific response to chemotherapy and radiotherapy using 'mini-brains' and help develop better treatment plans for each individual.
- Using artificial intelligence to analyse speech and aid early detection of brain tumours, which could lead to quicker diagnoses and higher chances of survival.
- Using augmented reality with patients and Multi-Disciplinary Teams to help aid understanding of brain tumours, giving patients more insight into their illness.
- Using augmented reality in neuro-rehabilitation, helping patients to adjust after intensive treatments like surgery.
- Studies into anti-epileptics in gliomas, seizure prevention in glioma patients and a meningioma study.
If you really want to make progress in things like cancer and brain tumours, you need people who are funded to do that work, who literally have the time paid to be able to run research groups, to bring more funding in, and collaborate with other groups around the world or the country.
Ryan Mathew
The life-changing research we fund is all thanks to support from donations and fundraising. We receive no government funding and only a small proportion of national cancer research funding is spent on researching children's cancers. Your support is vital to continue making progress. If you'd like to support our research, please donate today.
