The University of Portsmouth is joining forces with brain tumour charity Brainstrust and other partners to create a centre of excellence for brain tumour research on the south coast.
The new centre will focus entirely on dedicated laboratory-based brain tumour research in both adults and children. Professor of cellular and molecular neuro-oncology, Geoff Pilkington, who is leading the research team at Portsmouth, chaired an open day at the university to showcase the current facilities and to introduce major collaborators to the university.
Attendees included cricketer Alan Igglesden, the former Kent and England fast bowler, who was first diagnosed with a brain tumour several years ago. He is currently receiving treatment by Prof. Pilkington and has long been a supporter of his work.
Prof. Pilkington said: “The aim of the collaboration between Brainstrust and Portsmouth University is to fund new specialist staff in neuro-oncology to further our research and to raise funds to buy equipment and provide essential running costs.”
It is anticipated that several clinical leading neuro-oncology centres will provide vital tissues and clinical experience while the university will provide medical research programmes, training courses and a state-ofthe- art laboratory. Those already on-board include Hurstwood Park Neurological Centre, Hayward’s Heath, Maidstone NHS Hospitals, King’s College Hospital, London and Charing Cross Hospital, and the Institute of Neurology in London.
Prof. Pilkington said that the centre would encourage institutions to collaborate in order for patients to benefit from a research informed environment.
