Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the number of research clinicians supporting levels of brain tumour research.

The Department invests approximately £1.8 billion each year on research through the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR).

The NIHR is the United Kingdom’s largest funder of clinical academic training, delivering comprehensive research career pathways for the full range of clinicians, covering all career stages from undergraduate level to chair. A core component of many NIHR career development awards is protected time for research and research training, allowing award holders to develop and utilise research skills alongside clinical practice.

The Government is invested in developing ways to boost brain cancer research activity. The NIHR is working closely with research partners, including the Tessa Jowell Brain Cancer Mission, to attract new researchers, develop the community, and support researchers to submit high-quality research funding proposals, which should result in more effective treatments. In March 2026, two Tessa Jowell Allied Health Professional (AHP) Fellowships were awarded which will equip AHPs with the skills, confidence, and protected time to lead high-quality applied research in neuro-oncology.

In addition, in January 2026 the NIHR announced increased investment of over £25 million in the NIHR Brain Tumour Research Consortium. The world-leading consortium aims to transform outcomes for adults and children, and their families, who are living with brain tumours, ultimately reducing lives lost to cancer. The consortium will develop new training programmes for those working in brain cancer research to build capacity and increase skills among the next generation of researchers.

Whilst no assessment has been made of the adequacy of the number of research clinicians for brain cancer research, the NIHR continues to welcome high quality applications for clinical research careers through the NIHR Academy. These applications are subject to peer review and judged in open competition, with awards being made on the basis of the importance of the topic to the public and health and care services, value for money, and scientific quality.