MPs hear evidence on childhood cancer research

Today, five years on from the publication of a Parliamentary Committee’s report in 2016, MPs will again hear evidence on brain tumour and childhood cancer research, prompted by petitions signed by the public. 

The cross-party group of MPs on the Petitions Committee will assess progress against previous recommendations, on how to encourage more high-quality research into this disease plus look at the research environment for childhood cancers. This will include brain tumours in children, some types of which – such as diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (DIPG) – remain almost universally fatal. 

Kidscan’s Scientific Director, Dr David Pye, welcomes today’s session but calls for specific funding of research into children’s cancers as they are predominantly different to adult’s:

“Kidscan welcomes today’s Parliamentary petition committee’s evidence session on brain tumour and childhood cancer research. It shows the power of petitions in instigating awareness of this most important, and often neglected, area of cancer treatment/research.  

Kidscan hope the evidence session will shine a light on the lack of basic research funding and translational medicine that could result in cures for childhood cancers that are often, even today, still fatal upon diagnosis, such as diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (DIPG).   

We also hope that UK policy makers will support the establishment of funding schemes that are solely directed at childhood cancer research, rather than as an add-on to funding that primarily benefits research into adults with particular cancers.  

We would also welcome a review into UK regulatory policies that govern clinical trials of new cancer treatments to incentivise organisations to prioritise clinical trials of new childhood cancer therapeutics.” Dr David Pye, Kidscan 

The Committee will hear from a range of experts and petitioners about their experiences of brain tumour and childhood cancer research. It will also hear from Lord Bethell, the Minister with responsibility for health research, together with officials from the Department of Heath and Social Care.