Asked by: Baroness Randerson (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask His Majesty's Government, in the light of the newly established Children and Young People Cancer Task Force, how they will ensure that there is an integrated and coherent strategy between that and the Tessa Jowell Centre of Excellence for Children in child neuro-oncology; how they will ensure that resources are not unnecessarily duplicated; and how their work will be monitored and reported.
Answered by Lord Markham - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Department is taking steps to ensure that there is strategic integration and alignment between the newly established Children and Young People Cancer Taskforce and other important cancer initiatives, including the Tessa Jowell Centre of Excellence for Children.
The Children and Young People Cancer Taskforce is intended to be a unifying force, driving progress in the research, detection, diagnosis, and treatment of cancers affecting children and young people. The taskforce will be embedded in the landscape of cancer reform, mapping work already underway, identifying opportunities to go further, and ensuring that commitments are delivered, including those from the NHS Long Term Plan.
A vital part of the taskforce’s work will be to engage with initiatives such as the Tessa Jowell Brain Cancer Mission. The initiative for the Tessa Jowell Centre of Excellence for Children aims to recognise and award paediatric neuro-oncology centres that provide excellent treatment, care and research activities for children with brain tumours, and their families. The programme aims to uncover gaps and best practice through comprehensive data collection and is the first of its kind to understand and assess paediatric brain cancer care across the United Kingdom.
Both the taskforce and the centre will benefit from strategic coordination, senior official engagement and ongoing collaboration to ensure integration, best use of resources, and effective outcomes. While they have different timeframes and scopes, both will be subject to ongoing monitoring and reporting, with ministers being kept informed of progress at every stage.
Asked by: Baroness Randerson (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the recommendations of the APPG Report Brain Tumours–Pathway to a Cure, and in particular recommendation 6 with reference to paediatric cancer diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma.
Answered by Lord Markham - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Department welcomed the All-Party Parliamentary Group report and will continue to work through its recommendations with the Department of Science, Innovation and Technology, UK Research and Innovation, the Medical Research Council, and the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR).
With regards to recommendation six, the NIHR welcomes funding applications for research into any aspect of human health, including childhood brain tumours and paediatric diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma. The usual practice of the NIHR is not to ring-fence funds for specific disease areas, as research proposals in all areas compete for the funding available. Applications are subject to peer review and judged in open competition, with awards being made on the basis of the importance of the topic to patients and health and care services, value for money, and scientific quality. In all disease areas, the amount of NIHR funding depends on the volume and quality of scientific activity.
We rely on researchers to submit high-quality research proposals. Given the relatively small brain tumour clinical research community, we have been taking action to grow the field. The NIHR is working closely with the Tessa Jowell Brain Cancer Mission in hosting customised workshops for researchers, and training for clinicians, to grow capacity for brain cancer research, attract new researchers, develop the community, and support researchers to submit high-quality research funding proposals.
The NIHR is committed to the involvement, engagement and participation of children and young people in research, supporting researchers and funders, as well as empowering children and young people to lead their own journey with research.
The NIHR, together with the United Kingdom health departments, the Little Princess Trust and Cancer Research UK, jointly fund Experimental Cancer Medicine Centres (ECMCs) to support the most promising innovations into the cancer medicines of tomorrow. For 2023 to 2028, the NIHR is providing £21.6 million in funding for the ECMCs in England, the ECMC Paediatric Network, and the Network Programme Office. Additionally, the NIHR Clinical Research Network cancer portfolio has a dedicated children and young people’s cancer subspecialty, which has a subspecialty lead who promotes and supports research within their local National Health Service trusts.
The Department has also now set up the Children and Young People Cancer Taskforce to progress our mission to deliver world-leading cancer services. This dedicated work focusing on cancers affecting children and young people will explore research and innovation, which may include targeting research funding, reviewing children’s access to clinical trials, gaining greater access to data, and informing future therapies and treatments.
Asked by: Baroness Randerson (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Markham on 28 March (HL6760), what steps they have taken in support of preparation for the maintenance phase of hepatitis elimination.
Answered by Lord Markham - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) supports and monitors progress towards the World Health Organisation goal of eliminating hepatitis C virus (HCV) as a major public health threat by 2030. As part of disease surveillance, UKHSA monitors HCV prevention, testing, diagnoses and treatment in England.
Work to support the elimination maintenance phase is currently being developed with multiple stakeholders including NHS England Specialised Commissioning, integrated care boards, the Department, and UKHSA.
Asked by: Baroness Randerson (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Markham on 28 March (HL6761), what assessment they have made of the opportunities of utilising peer-to-peer support workers and volunteers with lived experience in the delivery of inclusion health initiatives.
Answered by Lord Markham - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
No assessment has been made.
Asked by: Baroness Randerson (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Brain Tumours report Brain Tumours: Pathway to a Cure — breaking down the barriers, published on 28 February, whether they have accepted recommendation six contained in that report that specific funding should be ring-fenced for research into childhood brain tumours; and if so, what is the timescale for implementation.
Answered by Lord Markham - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
It is not usual practice to ring-fence research funds for particular topics or conditions. As with other Government funders of health research, the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) does not allocate funding for specific disease areas. Applications are subject to peer review and judged in open competition, with awards being made on the basis of the importance of the topic to patients and health and care services, value for money and scientific quality.
The Department welcomes the APPG report, recommendations of which continue to be worked through with the Department of Science, Innovation and Technology, and UK Research and Innovation and the Medical Research Council (MRC), and with the NIHR.
Asked by: Baroness Randerson (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask His Majesty's Government what collaborative research they are currently funding in partnership with other countries into childhood brain tumours, including Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma; and whether this includes funding for access to clinical trials.
Answered by Lord Markham - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
The following table shows eight research studies around Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma, funded by research funding partners in the charity and public sectors since 2013 which have been supported by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR):
Study Title | Opening Date | Closure Date | Funders | Status |
Phase I trial of afatinib in paediatric patients with neuroectodermal tumours and rhabdomyosarcoma | 13/07/2015 | 05/05/2020 | Boehringer Ingelheim Ltd | Closed to Recruitment, Follow Up Complete |
A Phase I/II, Multicenter, Open-Label, Dose-Escalation Study of the Safety and Pharmacokinetics of Cobimetinib in Pediatric and Young Adult Patients with Previously Treated Solid Tumors | 25/08/2016 | 31/12/2018 | F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd | Closed to Recruitment, In Follow Up |
Biological Medicine for Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma Eradication (Biomede) | 14/04/2017 | 29/09/2019 | Cancer Research UK | Closed to Recruitment, In Follow Up |
Phase Ib /II Clinical Trial of Nivolumab Monotherapy and Nivolumab in Combination with Ipilimumab in Pediatric Subjects with High Grade Primary CNS Malignancies | 14/08/2017 | 22/02/2019 | Bristol-Myers Squibb International Corporation | Closed to Recruitment, In Follow Up |
A PHASE 2 CLINICAL STUDY OF POMALIDOMIDE (CC-4047) MONOTHERAPY FOR CHILDREN AND YOUNG ADULTS WITH RECURRENT OR PROGRESSIVE PRIMARY BRAIN TUMORS | 17/10/2017 | 27/09/2018 | CELGENE CORPORATION | Closed to Recruitment, In Follow Up |
A Phase 1/2, Single-arm Study to Evaluate the Safety, Pharmacokinetics, and Antitumor Activity of Avapritinib in Pediatric Patients with Solid Tumors Dependent on KIT or PDGFRA Signaling | 15/02/2023 | 31/01/2025 | Blueprint Medicines Corporation | Suspended |
*** |
|
|
|
|
*** |
|
|
|
|
*** Please note that the 2 commercial studies, due to the commercial sensitivity, cannot be shared more widely or made public.
NIHR provides infrastructure support to studies taking place in the National Health Service. For example, staff, research nurses, local networks and NHS trusts will work across many studies, to varying degrees. As a result, NIHR cannot provide precise information on expenditure.
The NIHR Clinical Research Network supports the delivery of high-quality research across the NHS, community and social care and public health organisations. It does this by meeting the costs of additional staff, facilities, equipment and support services.
In May 2018 the Government announced £40 million for brain tumour research as part of the Tessa Jowell Brain Cancer Mission. The Government is committed to funding high-quality brain cancer research. The £40 million funding remains available.
Asked by: Baroness Randerson (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask His Majesty's Government how much funding they have allocated for research into the treatment of Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma brain tumours in children in each of the last 10 years; and to which organisations were those funds allocated.
Answered by Lord Markham - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
The following table shows eight research studies around Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma, funded by research funding partners in the charity and public sectors since 2013 which have been supported by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR):
Study Title | Opening Date | Closure Date | Funders | Status |
Phase I trial of afatinib in paediatric patients with neuroectodermal tumours and rhabdomyosarcoma | 13/07/2015 | 05/05/2020 | Boehringer Ingelheim Ltd | Closed to Recruitment, Follow Up Complete |
A Phase I/II, Multicenter, Open-Label, Dose-Escalation Study of the Safety and Pharmacokinetics of Cobimetinib in Pediatric and Young Adult Patients with Previously Treated Solid Tumors | 25/08/2016 | 31/12/2018 | F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd | Closed to Recruitment, In Follow Up |
Biological Medicine for Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma Eradication (Biomede) | 14/04/2017 | 29/09/2019 | Cancer Research UK | Closed to Recruitment, In Follow Up |
Phase Ib /II Clinical Trial of Nivolumab Monotherapy and Nivolumab in Combination with Ipilimumab in Pediatric Subjects with High Grade Primary CNS Malignancies | 14/08/2017 | 22/02/2019 | Bristol-Myers Squibb International Corporation | Closed to Recruitment, In Follow Up |
A PHASE 2 CLINICAL STUDY OF POMALIDOMIDE (CC-4047) MONOTHERAPY FOR CHILDREN AND YOUNG ADULTS WITH RECURRENT OR PROGRESSIVE PRIMARY BRAIN TUMORS | 17/10/2017 | 27/09/2018 | CELGENE CORPORATION | Closed to Recruitment, In Follow Up |
A Phase 1/2, Single-arm Study to Evaluate the Safety, Pharmacokinetics, and Antitumor Activity of Avapritinib in Pediatric Patients with Solid Tumors Dependent on KIT or PDGFRA Signaling | 15/02/2023 | 31/01/2025 | Blueprint Medicines Corporation | Suspended |
*** |
|
|
|
|
*** |
|
|
|
|
*** Please note that the 2 commercial studies, due to the commercial sensitivity, cannot be shared more widely or made public.
NIHR provides infrastructure support to studies taking place in the National Health Service. For example, staff, research nurses, local networks and NHS trusts will work across many studies, to varying degrees. As a result, NIHR cannot provide precise information on expenditure.
The NIHR Clinical Research Network supports the delivery of high-quality research across the NHS, community and social care and public health organisations. It does this by meeting the costs of additional staff, facilities, equipment and support services.
In May 2018 the Government announced £40 million for brain tumour research as part of the Tessa Jowell Brain Cancer Mission. The Government is committed to funding high-quality brain cancer research. The £40 million funding remains available.
Asked by: Baroness Randerson (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they have any plans to develop a bespoke research strategy for childhood cancers with the worst survival rates, including Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma; and what steps they are taking to encourage drug development to treat those cancers.
Answered by Lord Markham - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Department invests over £1 billion per year in health research through the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR). The NIHR funds and supports health, public health and social care research that leads to improved outcomes for patients and the public and makes the health and social care system more efficient, effective, and safe. Research evidence is vital for improving treatments and outcomes for people, including childhood cancers.
The Department does not directly commission research; rather, we invite funding applications for research into any aspect of human health. As with other Government funders of health research, the NIHR does not allocate funding for specific disease areas. The level of research spend in a particular area, is driven by factors including scientific potential and the number and scale of successful funding applications. It is also worth noting that all applications that were fundable in open competition have been funded.
Asked by: Baroness Randerson (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask His Majesty's Government what advice or instructions have been issued to GP surgeries that patients should use the NHS App to re-order regular medication; and what account is taken of the needs of patients who are not able to use the NHS App.
Answered by Lord Markham - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
No advice has been issued to GPs, but Patients are already able to order repeat prescriptions via the App, with 2.4 million prescriptions ordered in April 2023 alone. Patients unable to use the NHS App can continue to access services via telephone and through traditional face to face services.
Asked by: Baroness Randerson (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they (1) have developed, or (2) intend to put in place, for the maintenance phase of Hepatitis C elimination once England has reached the World Health Organisation elimination metrics.
Answered by Lord Markham - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
Significant progress has been made in the effort to eliminate Hepatitis C (HCV) in England and NHS England has publicly committed to the elimination of HCV in England by financial year 2025/26.
Work to support the elimination maintenance phase is currently being developed. It will involve multiple stakeholders including NHS England Specialised Commissioning, integrated care boards (ICBs), the Department, and the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA). In addition, commissioning arrangements for HCV elimination are expected to be devolved to local levels, with ICBs managing funding for issues such as testing. UKHSA will continue to monitor maintenance of elimination through routine surveillance data.