Why the programme exists
In the UK, brain cancer is the biggest cancer killer of children and adults under 40 (Brain Tumour Research). Nearly 13,000 people are diagnosed with a brain tumour in the UK each year, and more than 100,000 people are living with its impact (Cancer Research UK, Brain Tumour Research). Investing in the UK’s neuro-oncology workforce is imperative for progress.
Whilst the complex management of brain cancer demands highly specialised teams, there is no dedicated neuro-oncology training pathway in the UK. Because brain cancer is comparatively rare, trainees across oncology specialisms seldom accumulate enough hands-on exposure to build deep expertise. Research in the field is equally demanding: small, dispersed patient populations, the blood-brain barrier, heterogeneous tumour biology and short survival make trials slower to recruit and harder to design and deliver than in more common cancers. Without a dedicated pathway or sufficient exposure, we risk an under-prepared workforce, unable to deliver high-quality, patient-centred care or lead the practice-changing research the field needs.
These are also the conditions that make neuro-oncology a compelling field to enter now. Molecular classification, novel therapeutics and imaging are all moving quickly, much of the practice is still being written, and clinicians early in their careers can take on questions that would be long settled in more established specialties. Progress in the treatment, care and research of brain cancer therefore relies on a training route that brings new talent into the field: clinicians who bring fresh thinking to long-standing problems and identify the challenges ahead.
Developing the UK neuro-oncology workforce
The Tessa Jowell Medical Fellowship Programme is designed to strengthen the specialist clinical and research workforce needed to improve outcomes for people with brain tumours. Through two parallel workforce-development streams for the adult and paediatric neuro-oncology communities, it provides dedicated training opportunities for clinicians committed to building their careers in neuro-oncology. The programme spans the medical specialties that underpin high-quality neuro-oncology, including oncology, neurology, neuropathology, neuroradiology and drug development.
What makes the Tessa Jowell Fellowships distinctive is that development extends beyond the Fellow’s host institution. Through TJBCM, Fellows become part of a UK-wide network connecting neuro-oncology centres, healthcare professionals, the third sector and government. A dedicated national engagement component enables Fellows to tackle shared challenges, contribute to national policy and practice, and build the connections and leadership experience to drive change across UK neuro-oncology.
Adult Neuro-Oncology Fellowships
There is no dedicated training pathway for building a specialist career in adult neuro-oncology in the UK, with clinicians receiving limited dedicated exposure to brain tumours through existing specialty training. At the same time, adult brain tumour management is becoming increasingly complex, requiring specialist expertise across treatment modalities, molecular diagnostics and clinical trials, as well as a deep understanding of multidisciplinary care. The Tessa Jowell Adult Neuro-Oncology Fellowships address this gap by providing dedicated, protected training within leading neuro-oncology centres, combining in-depth experience within the Fellow’s own specialty with cross-specialty learning and research. The Fellowships aim to build a highly skilled clinical and research workforce capable of delivering excellent care and advancing research across the UK adult neuro-oncology community.
Paediatric Neuro-Oncology Fellowships
There is no dedicated training pathway for paediatric neuro-oncology in the UK, making it difficult for clinicians with an interest in the field to develop the specialist expertise needed to pursue it as a career. This challenge is compounded by the rarity of childhood brain tumours, which limits trainees’ exposure to sufficient case volumes during standard training. At the same time, advances in genomics, increasingly complex treatments and clinical trials demand greater specialist clinical and research capacity. The newly launched Tessa Jowell Paediatric Neuro-Oncology Fellowships address this gap by providing dedicated, protected training that brings together concentrated clinical experience, cross-specialty learning and research, building a pipeline of highly skilled, research-active clinicians for the UK paediatric neuro-oncology community.
To learn more about the programme curriculum – click here
From training to impact
See what the Fellowship impact has looked like in two of our impact reports.
The Tessa Jowell Fellowship Impact Report showcases the breadth of activities undertaken by inaugural Fellows Dr Sean Main and Dr Morag Brothwell, and their experience of the Fellowship’s various strands.
Scotland’s first Tessa Jowell Neuro-oncology Fellowship shows what is possible when talented trainees are given the time, training and networks to make a difference, both for patients and for their own development as future clinical academic leaders.
Interested in getting involved?
Whether you are interested in becoming a Tessa Jowell Fellow, hosting a future Fellowship at your institution, or supporting the programme as a funder, we would be delighted to hear from you. Please get in touch with the TJBCM team to discuss current and future opportunities, ask questions, or explore how you could get involved.
- Future Fellows — explore current opportunities or find out more about becoming a Fellow.
- Centres — find out how to host a Fellow.
- Funders and partners — every Fellowship is co-funded. Contact lauren.lankhuijzen@tessajowellbcm.org to discuss funding a Fellowship, in full or in part.
