Ants aren’t smart – but their colonies are

So what have ants got to do with brain tumours? Quite a bit. The study of swarm intelligence is providing insights that can help humans manage complex systems, from truck routing to military robots. And brainstrust is using the theory of collective intelligence to help it develop collaborations with key partners. We are already working with the National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery in London. And now we are pleased to announce formally our collaboration with the University of Portsmouth and our shared plans for the UK’s first dedicated laboratory-based brain tumour research centre. Together we will create a centre of excellence for brain tumour research on the South Coast. The new centre will focus entirely on dedicated laboratory-based brain tumour research in both adults and children.

Geoffrey Pilkington, Professor of Cellular & Molecular Neuro-oncology, Director of Research, School of Pharmacy & Biomedical Sciences, at Portsmouth University, states: “The aim of the collaboration between brainstrust and Portsmouth University is to fund new specialist staff in neuro-oncology to further our research and to raise funds to buy equipment and provide essential running costs.”

It is anticipated that several leading clinical neuro-oncology centres will provide vital tissues and clinical experience while the University will provide medical research programmes, training courses and a state of the art laboratory. Those already on-board include Hurstwood Park Neurological Centre, Hayward’s Heath, Maidstone NHS Hospitals, King’s College Hospital, London & Charing Cross Hospital and the Institute of Neurology in London.

brainstrust is delighted to be working with Geoff to provide a coherent and compelling framework so that together we can understand the complex issues that surround the treatment of brain cancer and what we can do about it now and in the future.