BRIAN (the Brain tumouR Information and Analysis Network) is a genuine differentiator for everyone in our community and offers the opportunity to move us to the next level in achieving our goals – halving the average years of life lost to a brain tumour from 20 to 10 years by 2025 and halving the harm that brain tumours have on quality of life in the UK.
It allows anyone living with a brain tumour, or caring for someone with a brain tumour to track, share and compare their brain tumour experience with others, as well as share their quality of life information with their healthcare team.
To date, over nearly 2,000 people have signed up for the web app and we are working with health trusts and running key information and support events such as our recent live Q&A with Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust.
BRIAN not only provides support to those living in the UK but it has the potential to extend our reach beyond just the UK by tapping into the data from brain tumour communities all over the world.
BRIAN will help revolutionise the research landscape, providing researchers access to much-needed patient data to advance treatments, improve care and, ultimately, drive progress towards a cure.
Fiachra Woodman, our Chief Technology Officer, said: “Innovative collaboration is fundamental to The Brain Tumour Charity’s strategy of accelerating research to find a cure.
“In building BRIAN, we have had the support of some truly brilliant people like Professor Ash Keyoumars of Kings College Hospital, Dr Matt William of Imperial College London and Paul Brennan at Edinburgh University.
“We still have so much we want to do but if we keep collaborating courageously. I know we will get there.”
Find out more about BRIAN here
Click here for a full list of nominees, including our three other nominations
Winners will be announced across two virtual ceremonies on Wed 7 and Thur 8 October.