The Expanding Theories grant aims to support pilot studies that are exploring novel concepts with the potential to improve clinical outcomes, such as quality of life, for people with brain tumours.
We created this award to empower researchers to delve into pioneering ideas and gather essential data vital for larger-scale project applications.
Our latest awardees for this grant are Dr Lucy Stead and Professor Khuloud Al-Jamal, who have both been awarded £150,000 over two years to support their research and take it to the next level!
Using Mini-Brain Models to Study Glioblastoma Treatment Responses
Dr Lucy Stead and her team will use glioma organoid models to further understand how glioblastoma can resist treatment and recur.
Dr Lucy Stead
Dr Lucy Stead is an Associate Professor of Brain Cancer Biology at the University of Leeds School of Medicine. Her novel nanotechnology research looks at the differences in genes and gene activity found in brain tumours, as well as how these change at different stages of brain cancer development and progression.
Finding New Targets for Glioblastoma Immunotherapy Treatments
Professor Khuloud Al-Jamal and her team will use tiny particles, known as lipid nanoparticles (LNPs), to activate the immune system to fight glioblastoma.
Professor Khuloud Al-Jamal
Professor Khuloud Al-Jamal is a Global STEM Professor at the Department of Pharmacology & Pharmacy at the University of Hong Kong and a Chair of Drug Delivery & Nanomedicine at The Institute of Pharmaceutical Science at King’s College London. Her current work involves pre-clinical translation of novel nanomaterials designed specifically for drug, protein, nucleic acids and radionuclide delivery for therapeutic or diagnostic applications.
The Expanding Theories grants offer researchers a chance to investigate innovative concepts that could result in ground-breaking advancements in brain tumour treatment. This initiative aligns with The Brain Tumour Charity's mission to enhance the longevity and quality of life for people diagnosed with a brain tumour. We look forward to watching the development of these projects and celebrating their successes in the future.
Dr Simon Newman, Chief Scientific Officer at The Brain Tumour Charity