UHNM named brain cancer centre of excellence

University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Trust (UHNM) has been designated as a regional centre of excellence for neuro-oncology by the Tessa Jowell Brain Cancer Mission (TJBCM).
 
UHNM was named as part of the newly awarded West Midlands Centre of Excellence for Neuro-Oncology, recognising the Trust’s leading role in the treatment, care and research of brain tumours in partnership with University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust and the University of Birmingham.  
 
The West Midlands Centre of Excellence for Neuro-Oncology was announced as one of 14 new national centres of excellence at an event at the Francis Crick Institute in London last night (15 MAY 2025).
 
The Centre of Excellence initiative aims to ensure all UK patients with a brain tumour can access the best standard of treatment, care and research.
 
The award follows a joint application from UHNM and its West Midlands partners as well as an extensive peer-led review of services and patient feedback.  
 
The West Midlands application met and in several areas, exceeded the rigorous, expert-led criteria to ensure the highest standards of patient treatment, innovation, and research.
 
As part of the review, psychological support for brain tumour patients at UHNM was cited as “exemplary”. 
 
Miss Erminia Albanese, consultant neurosurgeon at UHNM, said: “We are incredibly proud that UHNM is playing a leading role in transforming brain cancer care for people in our region. This recognition is a testament to the incredible work being carried out here at UHNM. 
 
“Our teams are committed not only to providing high-quality clinical care but also to supporting patients and families through every stage of their journey. Our work on psychological support for brain tumour patients has been especially praised, and we’re excited to share our clinical expertise more widely as part of this regional partnership.”
 
Brain tumours affect over 12,000 adults in the UK every year and kill more people under the age of 40 than any other cancer.
 
The Centre of Excellence initiative was developed in memory of Dame Tessa Jowell, and aims to improve care for brain tumour patients by setting national benchmarks for innovation, equity and compassionate service delivery.
 
Professor Richard Gilbertson, chair of the TJBCM, said “The Centre of Excellence programme continues to give us an unprecedented view of the treatment, care and research of brain tumours in the UK; we now know better than ever where the NHS is excelling, but also where we need to come together to collectively address national challenges.” 
 
Centre of Excellence status has been awarded to the partnership for three years.