New! Department of Health page: Direct access to diagnostic tests for cancer: Referral pathways best practice for GPs. Read about BNOS' collaboration with the National Cancer Action Team.

New! HeadSmart paediatric brain tumour e-learning module for health professionals. Visit our Links page for further details.

New! Patient Support Group Map. Visit our Links page for contact details of UK groups.

Cancer Research UK: Phase 1 trial of olaparib with temozolomide in relapsed glioblastoma (OPARATIC): The OPARATIC study has opened in Glasgow, with centres at the Manchester and the Royal Marsden to open for recruitment soon. OPARATIC is a phase I clinical trial that is sponsored and managed by CRUK and has two main objectives. See Research page for more details.

Winner of BNOS 2010 Young Investigator Award: Dr Sara Piccirillo (University of Cambridge) writes about how receiving this award has enhanced her stem cell research applied to glioblastoma multiforme.

Launch of BNOS Rare Brain and CNS Tumours Guidelines: We are delighted to announce the publication of a set of four new guidelines on rare tumours. This has been a joint collaboration with the National Cancer Action Team and has involved input from over 30 experts throughout the UK, to whom we owe much gratitude.

Launch of South of England Brain Tumour Alliance (SEBTA): An alliance which brings together a number of brain tumour research centres in the south of England was launched on Friday 17 July 2011 at the University of Portsmouth. See full article at ecancermedicalscience online journal.

The HeadSmart: Be brain tumour aware: Campaign launch 8 June 2011. This project aims to raise awareness of the symptoms of brain tumours that occur in children and young people among parents, carers, health professionals and young people themselves.

Jimmyteens.tv: 'The Debate: Brain Tumour and Beyond': Another fantastic live debate originally broadcast on 19th April 2011. Presented by ex-brain tumour patient Peter Wilkinson discusses the key points of the Brain Tumour manifesto which highlights a need for early diagnosis, better quality of treatment and need for more research. In the audience discussing these issues are professionals, charity workers, ex-patients and their families.

Jimmyteens.tv: 'The Developing Brain in Neuro-Oncology': A highly informative and insightful film covering all there is to know about The Developing Brain in Neuro-Oncology conference, which took place back in April 2008 at St. John's College, Cambridge. Looking closely at the needs of teenagers and young adults with brain tumours, Professor David Walker, a leading paediatric oncologist, talks about the main aims of the conference and how ultimately this will help aid future patients and give them the best chance of survival and recovery.