Yorkshire's Brain Tumour Charity (YBTC)
Yorkshire's Brain Tumour Charity (YBTC) was founded in 2003 and was originally named Andrea's Gift, and later Brain Tumour Research and Support across Yorkshire (BTRS); YBTC leads the way across the region for funding world class research and offering support to those living with, and affected by, a brain tumour.
Brain tumours are the biggest cancer killer in children and people aged under 40. In the last 35 years treatments have remained relatively unchanged. We fund innovative research to find treatments, and ultimately a cure, for this devastating disease that affects so many people. Whilst we are working to find a cure, we aim to provide the best patient and family support network we can.
Every week around 15 people are diagnosed with a primary brain tumour in Yorkshire, with over 9000 new cases every year across the UK. We want to make this number smaller and make life easier for those who are affected. We do this by:
- Supporting dedicated research projects into treating and curing child and adult brain tumours and sharing our findings across the world
- Giving grants and financial assistance to brain tumour patients, for example those who are experiencing financial difficulties, to reduce social isolation or where a child is terminal and may have a special wish we can grant.
- Offer patients and their loved ones support through practical advice (benefits clinic), support groups, counselling, holistic therapies and our telephone clinic.
- We arrange for hospital wards, patients and research centres to be provided with equipment they need.
As well as continuing to develop the support we offer from our hub at No 31 Otley Road, Headingley, Leeds; we are working hard to grow the reach of our support into local communities, ensuring we are there for people when they need us the most. This includes delivering counselling in communities, as well as developing new support groups and events where people can access these easily.
We previously established a brain tumour research lab at the University of Leeds in 2011 and this continues to investigate different aspects of research, providing hope and information for brain tumour fighters everywhere.
In 2020 we have committed to fund £125,000 directly to research (over £400,000 over the next 3 years). This includes:
- Re-establishing a brain tumour tissue collection bank and paediatric cell line resource in Leeds to facilitate world class research across the region.
- A study looking at improving steroid safety in glioblastoma.
- Research into developing tissue-on-chip technology to measure the response of brain tumours to established therapy and novel drugs at the University of Hull.
- Part funding the Associate Professorship for Mr Ryan Matthew, Associate Professor at the University of Leeds and Honorary Consultant Neurosurgeon at Leeds General Infirmary.
Lab Launch
The day we launched the brain tumour research lab at the Leeds Institute of Molecular Medicine, February 2011
Our charity shop, cafe & support
based in Headingley, Leeds we opened No 31 in 2016
Total Warrior 2019
Motive8 team still smiling after completing the gruelling challenge
Leeds Lab
visit to see the progress being made at the YBTC funded lab
You can find out more information here
