Professor Katie Bushby MD FRCP

Emerita Professor in Neuromuscular Genetics, Newcastle University

Vice Chair, Tessa Jowell Brain Cancer Mission

Glioblastoma remains one of the “hard to treat” tumours, with survival more than two years following diagnosis rare. My husband, Professor Jimmy Steele CBE died with a glioblastoma in 2017 aged 55 shortly before Tessa Jowell’s untimely death with the same condition in early 2018. Confronted with the facts of the diagnosis, Tessa set out a challenge that improving brain tumour care should not belong in the “too difficult” pile, thereby prompting the establishment of the Tessa Jowell Brain Cancer Mission shortly after her death.

Having spent a lifetime looking after patients with muscular dystrophy and heading up UK and European policy efforts for improving the life of people with rare diseases, I have since early retirement worked as a volunteer as Vice Chair of the Tessa Jowell Brain Cancer Mission. Our approach to improving the situation for people with brain tumours is multipronged- addressing gaps in care for today’s patients, training of professionals, lack of research and trial infrastructure and systematic underfunding of the sector. We have implemented a thorough system to recognise good care through the designation of Tessa Jowell Centres of Excellence and established a network of over 600 professionals working with brain tumour patients who are learning from each other through the Tessa Jowell Academy. We are promoting the development of new drugs and therapeutic trials so that innovative treatments for brain tumours will reach the clinic faster. No patient should hear any more “there is nothing we can do” and I look forward to sharing this story with you.

This meeting will be face to face in the York Medical Society rooms and also shared via Zoom.
Please confirm your preference for in person or virtual attendance and if you want to join us for supper afterwards.

Event open to York Medical Society Members and their guests only

After the meeting – two course dinner with wines £22 per head.

Contact yorkmedicalsociety@gmail.com to book your places or click the link below