Research Partnerships

To make best progress in the fight against childhood cancer, we believe it is vital to work in partnership with others working in the same field.

We greatly value our collaborations with the following organisations.

The Aila Coull Foundation

The Aila Coull Foundation was set up in memory of Aila Coull who died in 2012 at the age of 16 months, six months after being diagnosed with acute myeloid leukaemia (AML). Aila’s parents, Sine and Fraser, set up the Foundation to help save other children with AML through research and awareness of the disease. The Aila Coull Foundation is providing the funding to support important research being led by Professor David Grimwade at King’s College London which sets out to characterise the genetic abnormalities in childhood AML, to enable improved treatment strategies. Find out more about Dr Richard Dillion’s research. The Aila Coull Foundation

The Brain Tumour Charity

The Brain Tumour Charity is the UK’s largest dedicated brain tumour charity. They fund scientific and clinical research into brain tumours and offer support and information to those affected, whilst raising awareness and influencing policy. We are partnering with both the Brain Tumour Charity and Great Ormond Street Hospital Children’s Charity to fund the INSTINCT programme, bringing together three of the UK’s leading paediatric neuro-oncology centres to take forward research into paediatric brain tumours. The Brain Tumour Charity INSTINCT programme

Great Ormond Street Hospital Children’s Charity

Great Ormond Street Hospital Children’s Charity (GOSHCC) raises money to enable the hospital to provide world class care and to pioneer new treatments and cures for childhood illnesses. We have worked closely with our friends at GOSHCC for many years, supporting redevelopment of the Hospital as well as working together on research initiatives. In 2011 we launched a joint national call for translational research proposals in childhood cancer. Eight important new projects, across a range of tumour types, were ultimately funded out of this call, at a combined cost of £1.57 million. GOSHCC is also providing funding to underpin the INSTINCT programme, in collaboration with the Brain Tumour Charity. GOSH website

Blood Cancer UK

Blood Cancer UK (formerly Leukaemia & Lymphoma Research) is dedicated to research into improving the lives of patients with all types of blood cancer. Our partnership with Blood Cancer UK goes back many years. We have partnered with them on a variety of research initiatives including support of the national clinical trials for childhood acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) and a programme of work focused on the development of leukaemia in children with Down syndrome, who have a greatly increased risk of developing the disease. Both of these initiatives are ongoing. Blood Cancer UK

Patient Story – Andy

Andy was preparing for his first year of university in summer 2003 when he was diagnosed with Read more

Patient Story – Jacob

For no apparent reason, four-year-old child Jacob started limping and his legs began

Understanding the genetics of paediatric glioblastoma

International collaboration is often the best way to approach difficult research problems, and this is how we’re searching for new