UK: Bone Cancer Research Trust

Organisation Profile

Our Vision: A world where primary bone cancer is cured.

Our Mission: To save lives and improve outcomes for people affected by primary bone cancer through Research, Awareness, Information and Support.

How BCRT began:

In 2004, a group of families who had lost children and young people to primary bone cancer came together. They wanted to tackle head-on the fact that there was virtually no accessible bone cancer information, and practically no funding for research into this disease.

Determined not to accept the status quo, the families pooled funds they had already raised, and together with guidance from Professor Ian Lewis (Consultant Paediatrician and Adolescent Oncologist at St James's University Hospital Leeds) the Bone Cancer Research Trust was registered in 2006.

Today, the Bone Cancer Research trust aims to fund research into all forms of primary bone cancer, and ensure that information and support are available to patients of all ages

What BCRT does:

Research

Since the Bone Cancer Research Trust was formed in 2006, we have awarded over £3.7million to research focused solely on finding a cure for primary bone cancer.

We fund research and encourage national and international collaborative research. We believe there is great value in collaborative research and finding a cure depends on the cooperation of many experts.

We are members of the Association of Medical Research Charities (AMRC), all our applications are peer reviewed and evaluated by BCRT's Independent Scientific Advisory Panel, which make recommendations to the charity's trustees for funding.

We place special emphasis on:

• Nurturing the careers of early-stage research staff with an interest in bone cancer research
• Working with research teams to develop their research ideas through an innovative pilot grant scheme
• Supporting proposals which are likely to win support from larger funding bodies
• Encouraging collaboration between research groups
• Encouraging interdisciplinary team work and partnership
• Facilitating access to primary tissue and clinical data
• The Bone Cancer Research Trust are dedicated to monitoring and communicating the progression and impact of our research funding to our wide audience of supporters. We hope that this will improve our supporters understanding of primary bone cancer research and the difference their donations are making

Raising Awareness

We are the voice of the primary bone cancer community; raising awareness amongst the public, healthcare professionals, researchers and policy makers. Through our UNITED magazine, we share exciting new announcements, updates and inspirational stories with our supporters

Information

Our information documents aim to help patients, their families and friends and the general public to understand more about primary bone cancer and how it is diagnosed and treated.

Support

We provide a dedicated Support & Information Service, which is available to anyone affected by primary bone cancer.

In this context our services include:

• A freephone Support & Information Line
• Confidential and professional support
• Access to reliable, accurate and award-winning bone cancer and bone tumour specific information
• Correct signposting to organisations for assistance
• Access to patient stories and the opportunity to connect with patients had similar experiences.
• An annual conference, bringing together our community in a supportive and safe environment
• Bone cancer & bone tumour support groups across the UK
• Dedicated digital support groups