A CHARITY launched by the Beaconsfield Mayor after the death of his daughter is poised and ready to fund a new Centre of Excellence dedicated to research into brain tumours.

Brain Tumour Research, launched by Sandy Saunders in 2009, has shortlisted eight British universities and hospitals currently bidding to enter into a funding partnership with the charity.

Cancer and neuro-oncology research experts are reviewing the applications, which includes London’s Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust.

The charity already supports the UK's largest brain tumour laboratory at the University of Portsmouth, and hopes that continuing research will improve survival times for patients and potentially, one day, lead to a cure.

Cllr Saunders, who lost his daughter, Diana Ford, at age 42 to a brain tumour less than three weeks after diagnosis, said: “When Diana was diagnosed I tried everything.

"I rang scientists, neuro-surgeons, charities, to try and discover drugs or treatments which might help. But there was nothing, and Diana passed away, leaving three very young sons without their mother.

"It would be marvellous to make a breakthrough. It's no consolation for my daughter's death, but it can help other families."

Currently, brain tumours receive less than 1 per cent of the national spend on cancer research, despite more children and adults under 40 dying of a brain tumour than any other cancer.

Cllr Saunders described this as “disgracefully low and out of proportion”.

However, this has only fuelled the charity’s vision to establish a network of seven brain tumour centres, placing the UK at the forefront of research.

Bucks fundraisers currently provide 10 per cent of the charity's £2.5m fund it jointly raised in 2012 with other member charities.

Cllr Saunders added: “The charity has a Bucks label on it. All four girls were educated locally at Beaconsfield High so it's great news.

"All our hopes are pinned on the amazing work carried out at places like the Portsmouth Centre of Excellence, and knowing that there is a chance of a second centre opening is very welcome news. These centres will focus the public's attention.”

The full list of institutions whose applications are currently under review is as follows:

  • The Blizard Institute at Barts and the London School of Medicine,
  • Queen Mary University of London, in collaboration with UCL Institute of Neurology
  • Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust (London)
  • Centre for Cancer Research and Cell Biology at Queen's University Belfast
  • Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham and the University of Birmingham
  • The Walton Centre NHS Foundation Trust (Liverpool)
  • The University of Central Lancashire
  • Plymouth Univesity Peninusula Schools of Medicine and Dentristry
  • Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham, School of Cancer Sciences