Episode 68 - Clinical Trials

This Trustees Week Andy and Jo talk to The Brain Tumour Charity's Chair of Trustees, Fraser Longden. Find out what really goes on in board meetings, how trustees support and scrutinise management decisions, about Fraser's proudest moments as Chair, how grateful he is to our "unstoppable" supporters and about his bold choice of salty, sweet snack!You can find out more about all our volunteer trustees on the charity's website here.Need a listening ear, you can contact our Support Team by calling 0808 800 0004, by using the web chat on our website or by emailing [email protected] you have any questions about this episode of the podcast, or would like to share your story or some helpful information, email [email protected]

Beth got in touch with us after listening to Clare's episode of the podcast on mental health. Here, she chats with Anna about the things that have helped her cope with scanxiety, going back to work as a teacher, and communicating with her loved ones since her diagnosis 11 years ago. Need a listening ear, you can contact our Support Team by calling 0808 800 0004, by using the web chat on our website or by emailing [email protected] you have any questions about this episode of the podcast, or would like to share your story or some helpful information, email [email protected]

In this episode, Andy and Jo interview our youngest guest on the pod so far: nine-year-old Oliver Smith.Oliver, a keen triathlete, set out to raise funds for The Brain Tumour Charity in January 2026 by running the equivalent of nine marathons in four months. Little did he know then that this would lead to him running with his local MPs, meeting Joe Wicks, completing London's Mini Marathon, being interviewed on TV, going to a film premiere AND meeting his film idols. On 30 July he was treated to The One Show's 'One Big Thank You'. This episode is his backstory. You can read his story on our website here and visit his fundraising page here.Need a listening ear, you can contact our Support Team by calling 0808 800 0004, by using the web chat on our website or by emailing [email protected] you have any questions about this episode of the podcast, or would like to share your story or some helpful information, email [email protected]

Coping with a brain tumour diagnosis brings huge challenges - from the shock of diagnosis to the anxiety of waiting for scan or test results, to relationships issues, physical changes and financial pressures. These can be especially overwhelming for teenagers and young adults who are already navigating their education and growing independence. That’s where people today's guest comes in. Dr Clare Jacobson is a Specialist Clinical Psychologist in a Teenage and Young Adult Cancer Service. Using imagery and analogies, she shares some practical tips that she uses, and that has learned from those in therapy, that we can all put into practice to support our mental health. You can follow Clare on Instagram hereAnd see some of her video tips on our website here. Need a listening ear, you can contact our Support Team by calling 0808 800 0004, by using the web chat on our website or by emailing [email protected] you have any questions about this episode of the podcast, or would like to share your story or some helpful information, email [email protected]

A marathon episode for marathon reasons! 136 people are taking part in the TCS London Marathon 2026 to raise funds for The Brain Tumour Charity. We are hugely grateful to every single one of them - but couldn't possibly interview them all. So, some of our Involvement Champions chatted to some of our runners to find out their reasons for running - and we've edited excerpts from those conversations to create this inspiring listen. TW: Bereavement and loss discussed.We hope it does them justice - and maybe some runners will listen to this very episode as they run round.You can read a feature about some of this year's runners on our website by clicking here and find out about how to register for the 2027 event here. Good luck to everyone taking part and to all their supporters cheering them on too!Need a listening ear, you can contact our Support Team by calling 0808 800 0004, by using the web chat on our website or by emailing [email protected] you have any questions about this episode of the podcast, or would like to share your story or some helpful information, email [email protected]

If you or a loved one have spent - or are planning to spend - hours searching online for treatment options or clinical studies into potential new brain tumour therapies, this episode is for you. If you're a scientist aiming to recruit people to a study, it's also for you.Professor Susan Short explains how her brainchild Access to Clinical Trials for Brain Tumours (ACT-BT) aims to lift the burden off the individual and speed up access to clinical trials for adult brain tumour patients. ACT-BT is a pilot project funded by The Brain Tumour Charity with patient involvement overseen by brainstrust. It also aims to collect valuable data to inform and ensure progress for this community. Find out more here: https://www.thebraintumourcharity.org/news/research-news/access-to-brain-tumour-clinical-trials/Need a listening ear, you can contact our Support Team by calling 0808 800 0004, by using the web chat on our website or by emailing [email protected] you have any questions about this episode of the podcast, or would like to share your story or some helpful information, email [email protected]

Serious illness is a serious business. That’s why so many of us are determined to raise awareness of the urgent need to fund research to find more effective treatments, and for every patient – no matter where they live – to have access to the best possible care.  But people have told us that, in some circumstances, trying to find something to laugh about in a situation – usually dark humour – can have its place as a coping mechanism.The podcasts The Dead Sibling Society and The GlioBabes, and books like 'Pear-Shaped' by Adam Blain, and 'A Heart That Works' by actor Rob Delaney all feature a sprinkling of funniness amid the rage and despair. There's even a  Comedy Cures Foundation.  We discuss this with our supporter, the actor and comedian Miles Jupp. He explains how putting his meningioma diagnosis in the spotlight during his stand up tour helped both him and others. And podcast co-host Andy says he wishes he'd heard an episode like this when he was first navigating the same diagnosis. Need a listening ear, you can contact our Support Team by calling 0808 800 0004, by using the web chat on our website or by emailing [email protected] you have any questions about this episode of the podcast, or would like to share your story or some helpful information, email [email protected]

We're delighted to be joined by Dr Scott Arthur MP for this special episode. Dr Arthur put forward a Private Members' Bill for rare cancers and on Thursday 5th March 2026, it went onto the statute books - becoming the Rare Cancers Act. Listen in to find out more about what motivated a very new MP to get behind this particular cause; how 40 different organisations collaborated to make it a reality - though fate played a part; what happens next and how weekly runs and volunteering aide Scott's wellbeing.You can read more about the background to the Rare Cancers Bill here. Need a listening ear, you can contact our Support Team by calling 0808 800 0004, by using the web chat on our website or by emailing [email protected] you have any questions about this episode of the podcast, or would like to share your story or some helpful information, email [email protected]

Dr Tyler Miller was one of our Future Leaders. Now a Junior Fellow, he manages a team of 12 at his own lab. Here he explains how this team is trying to figure out how to prevent our own immune cells from suppressing our immune system. Instead, he aims to turn part of a brain tumour's immune system - myeloid cells - into an effective army of immune agents that can both kill tumour cells and attract new recruits, like the T-cells Mat mentioned, to target the tumour.You can read more about this hereNeed a listening ear, you can contact our Support Team by calling 0808 800 0004, by using the web chat on our website or by emailing [email protected] you have any questions about this episode of the podcast, or would like to share your story or some helpful information, email [email protected]

Welcome to a new series of very short episodes of The Brain Tumour Charity podcast in which you’ll get to know key people in the brain tumour community.  The first part of the series is called Meet The Researcher and it's based on a webinar we hosted in 2025 that was all about immunology.  We’re kicking it off by introducing you to someone who’s trying to figure out how our body’s natural defence mechanisms can help fight the aggressive brain tumour glioblastoma.  You can find out more about our Future Leaders programme and Dr Mat Clement's work here. We wish him the best of luck with the incredible work he's doing. Need a listening ear, you can contact our Support Team by calling 0808 800 0004, by using the web chat on our website or by emailing [email protected] you have any questions about this episode of the podcast, or would like to share your story or some helpful information, email [email protected]