Pivotal announcements for the brain tumour community

14 October 2026 | Campaigning and research, Collaborations, News

People living with brain cancer will get a faster route from research to treatment, under four steps set out by the Prime Minister today.

The announcement follows the Prime Minister and Health Secretary’s meeting today in Downing Street with Archie Goodburn, the 25-year-old swimmer with inoperable brain cancer who made an emotional plea to Andy Burnham on BBC Breakfast.

Archie has acted as an incredible advocate for the brain tumour community after his interview in August, putting a sharp focus on the urgent need for progress in research, treatment options and care.

At today’s meeting, four key steps were announced:

1. An immediate expert review, led by Professor Anthony Chalmers, Chair of the Brain Tumour Group within the UK Collaborative for Cancer Clinical Research, reporting within three months. Leading brain cancer experts will assess what has changed for patients since a 2018 government review, and what is still holding progress back.
2. A national action plan to follow. The review’s findings will shape a plan to get new treatments out of the lab and to patients faster.
3. A new national brain cancer clinical lead to drive this work forward, appointed by the Department of Health and Social Care.
4. The Prime Minister has asked the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) to complete its review of the rules for medicines that treat rare conditions – known as orphan drugs – in two years rather than three. Bringing forward any changes to these rules could help patients get promising new treatments sooner.

Alongside this, patients, families and charities will help design a drive to get more people onto clinical trials. This will be led by the Health and Social Care Secretary, Yvette Cooper, who will host a roundtable with researchers, clinicians and charities to find new ways to boost participation.

Ministers will work with researchers and industry to make the UK a better place to run clinical trials in the UK, giving patients more opportunities to access promising new treatments. And next year, the Department of Health and Social Care will partner with Cancer Research UK to bring together global experts and promote Britain as a world leader in cutting-edge brain cancer study.

Prime Minister Andy Burnham said:

Archie is an inspiration to us all, and I am determined to deliver the change patients and their families deserve.

“He has spoken passionately about the need for change on brain cancer, and he’s right: progress hasn’t been good enough, here or anywhere else. Families facing this disease can’t afford to wait. That is why today we’re committing to appoint a dedicated national lead and setting out how we’ll get new treatments to patients faster. I strongly support this work and was delighted to welcome Archie to Downing Street to discuss it with him in person.”

Health and Social Care Secretary Yvette Cooper highlighted the importance of access to trials and working together to make progress:

We owe it to every family facing this devastating disease to do better. We’re acting to get more trials under way, new treatments to patients faster and make the UK a leader in tackling brain cancer.

“The National Institute for Health and Care Research is supporting 59 brain tumour studies across the country, including 35 clinical trials testing new treatments. These studies need people with different types of brain tumours to take part and could help improve therapies for patients now and in the future.

“The brain cancer community – including charities and campaigners like Archie – play a huge role in recruiting patients to these trials, working at local and national level to raise awareness, point people towards opportunities to take part, and helping researchers find the right people for their studies.”

Brain Tumour Support Chief Executive, Emma McKeown, was delighted by the news:

This is a momentous announcement to be celebrated, a recognition of years of collective work between patients, families, charities, campaigning groups and department bodies to progress change for those affected by brain tumour.

We are truly grateful to Archie for raising this need so passionately on behalf of the whole brain tumour community, to Prime Minister Andy Burnham and his teams for their comprehensive response and for all of the positive next steps that have been outlined today.

Brain Tumour Support joined Brainstrust, Brain Tumour Research, The Brain Tumour Charity and The Tessa Jowell Foundation, along with The Tessa Jowell Brain Cancer Mission in saying:

“On behalf of brain tumour patients and their families, both today and in the future, we would like to thank Archie for his determination and the Government for listening to the voices of the community and recognising the urgent need for change. We applaud the commitment from the Prime Minister today, which will give a platform for significant improvements in the months and years ahead.

“We collectively remain committed to building on the momentum that has grown over the last year and to working with Government to ensure these welcome initiatives deliver meaningful change for patients and their families.”