Plymouth University has been named as centre of excellence for brain tumour research

Plymouth University has been named as centre of excellence for brain tumour research.

The University will receive five million pounds over five years to revolutionise research into tumours, which kill more people under 40 than any other cancer.

It gives new hope to the 16,000 people diagnosed with brain tumours each year.

Professor Oliver Hanemann, the leader of the Plymouth researchers, said the centre would be "for research but also to raise awareness".

Plymouth is one of three research centres that will be announced at a reception at Speaker’s House today. The others are Queen Mary University, and Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust (London).

The collaboration will create a network of successful brain tumour research centres throughout the UK. The teams will be freed from the limitations and frustrations of applying for one specific project grant after another and instead will be able to pursue the sustainable and continuous research so desperately needed by the scientists and clinicians working in this underfunded field.

Promising scientists will be trained up through the ranks to fulfil their potential, rather than being tempted into other cancer research which currently attracts greater funding.

Brain Tumours - the facts (source: Brain Tumour Research):

· More children and adults under 40 die of a brain tumour than from any other cancer

· Brain tumours receive less than 1% of the national spend on cancer research

· 16,000 people each year are diagnosed with a brain tumour

· Only 18.8% of those diagnosed with a brain tumour survive beyond five years, compared with an average of 50% across all cancer

· Unlike most other cancers, incidences of deaths from brain tumours are becoming more prevalent (and are much more common now than in 1970).