Samantha Dickson Brain Tumour Trust exists to find a cure for childhood and adult Brain Tumours through funding research and to offer support, hope and information to patients and their carers. The Charity has become the largest brain tumour support charity and single funder of laboratory based brain tumour research in the United Kingdom.
You can find out more about Samantha by clicking here.
Latest News & Events
Research announcement: Brain cancer breakthrough now benefiting patients
The National Hospital of Neurology and Neurosurgery (NHNN), London, is implementing a molecular brain tumour test to improve diagnosis and treatment of malignant astrocytomas thanks to funding from the Samantha Dickson Brain Tumour Trust.
For more information see our Media page here.
Low Grade Patient Information Day
This will be taking place on Friday 21st November 2008 at The Royal Free Hospital, London. Contact 0845 130 9733 for more details.
For more information see Patient Support.
Umbrella Group Day
26 Umbrella Groups attended the Umbrella Group Information Day at University College London on Friday 19th September 2008.
Paul Carbury, Chief Executive of Samantha Dickson Brain Tumour Trust, welcomed everyone and thanked them for coming. He introduced Neil and Angela Dickson, founding Trustees, and Angela gave a brief history of Sam's story. She went on to explain the reason for setting up the charity, the success of the research and patient support programme, and her conversation with Katie Sheen which led to the first Umbrella Group, The SDBTT Astro Fund. There are now 52 Umbrella Groups, all with their own bank accounts, working hard at raising the profile of brain cancer and funds for research or patient support.
Neil followed with a detailed account of the research programme. Due to the first-class peer review process of all grant applications, many sponsored projects have made significant progress. He outlined five projects which have made a breakthrough in the last few months, and how we are making a significant impact on research. The UK is now internationally recognised as being second to America in paediatric research. At an International Conference in Chicago, 14 of the charity's projects were chosen for presentation.
Paddy Hughes gave an emotional talk about his own experience at having lost his beloved grandchild, Alfie, and why he set up the umbrella group and hints on fund-raising for the SDBTT Alfie Morland Fund. Gary Clark also talked about his much loved son Kieron, and why he became one of the early founders of the Umbrella Groups and how he has become successful at fund-raising. His support for research into Medulloblastoma is now beginning to reap rewards, and more details will shortly be announced on our Research pages.
Paul Carbury, Chief Executive of Samantha Dickson Brain Tumour Trust, gave an overview of the Business Plan for the future of the charity.
After lunch, Angela presented each Umbrella Group with a engraved paperweight in gratitude of their fund-raising achievements.
Roz Osborne, Head of Patient Support, outlined her plans for the future development of patient support, with the help of Heather Waterton (now based in Southampton), Sylvia Woods (York); and Katie Sheen (Cheshire). Umbrella Groups were encouraged to pass patient enquiries to Roz, so that she could identify their individual needs and direct them to the appropriate specialist.
Paul Carbury then introduced Professor Brandner and Professor Hochhauster, who both gave very interesting talks on research:
Professor Sebastian Brandner, Chair of Neuropathology, Institute of Neurology, London, talked about his exciting new testing to improve diagnosis for patients.
Professor Daniel Hochhauser, Consultant Medical Oncologist at UCL, London, gave an overview of drug development reasearch in the UK.
The floor was then open for questions and general discussion before everyone was invited to a reception at the new Samantha Dickson Brain Cancer Unit at UCL, Huntley Street, London.
The day was a huge success, and all participants left "buzzing with ideas!"
Trust has International Status:
International Society for Paediatric Neuro-oncology Meeting, Chicago.
Nearly one thousand delegates from all over the world attended this major conference in Chicago in July, where 14 of the charity's projects were presented.
UK brain tumour experts are being helped to remain at the forefront of their field by Samantha Dickson Brain Tumour Trust. Only experts from the USA were chosen to give more presentations on their work than those from this country, and the SDBTT has funded much of the UK research.
Neil and Angela Dickson attended the ISPNO Conference in Chicago, where 14 of the charity's projects were presented. Neil reports "Thanks to the first class research undertaken by our teams at Nottingham, Liverpool, Newcastle, London and other leading institutions, the UK is now the second most active research centre in the world for childhoodbrain tumours, after the United States. Due to our funding, major breakthroughs have been made in several areas, leading to significant improvements in clinical outcomes."
Action not words!!!
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On Wednesday, 25th June, the brand new Samantha Dickson Brain Cancer Unit dedicated to research into brain tumours was opened by Earl Spencer, Patron of the Charity. It will be the first Centre of Excellence in the UK.
The Unit, based at the Paul O'Gorman Building, is part of University College London and linked to the National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery. It will bring together top academics from across the international field of neuroscience. This new partnership with UCL represents a big step forward in encouraging more high quality research into this neglected area, and hopefully will take new findings in research directly into the patient clinic. It is anticipated the unit will be able to attract significant funding and academic talent. We plan to open two or three more Centres of Excellence in other parts of the country within the next ten years.
With Jonny Wilkinson's help we have launched a campaign to raise £1 million for the new Unit by December. If you would like to make a donation and help us reach our target, please click on the link below:
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Please visit our media centre for press enquiries.
Funding Inequality in Research
We are campaigning to increase funding for brain tumour research. The BBC South Today programme has hightlighted the inequalities in research spending which is currently far less than for many other cancers. It is hoped the opening of the Samantha Dickson Brain Cancer Unit at UCL will establish a centre of excellence and attract highly qualified scientists in order to help address this current inequality.
Other coverage includes:
BBC London featuring a little girl called Gemma
BBC East Midlands featuring Julian (starts at 15 mins)
On Saturday 17th May 'The Crystal Ball', organised by Andy and Sharon Bygate was held in Shipston-on-Stour, Warwickshire. Guests enjoyed a champagne reception, dinner, dancing and an auction. Thanks to the generosity of sponsors, donors and guests a cheque for £65,000 has been presented to us. Thank you to everyone concerned.
Andy and Sharon Bygate with auctioneer Quentin Willson and Neil and Angela Dickson
Action Events for 2008 and 2009
All our 10K places have now been taken. If you would like to put your name forward for next year's event please contact Paul at the office.
For a list of other events taking place this year click here.
