A new brain tumour test could give doctors crucial answers while a patient is still on the operating table.
It could potentially cut diagnosis times from as long as eight weeks to just two hours.
Developed by researchers at the University of Nottingham’s Brain Tumour Research Centre of Excellence, the genomic test analyses a tumour’s genetic code.
It identifies its type far faster than traditional methods.
Why does that matter? Earlier answers can mean earlier treatment, less uncertainty and, for some patients, faster access to clinical trials.
Prof Frankie Swords, NHS medical director, described the technology as “a huge leap forward for patients”.
It has the potential to “completely transform how we diagnose brain tumours”.
Rapid Tumour Testing
The process uses a small tissue sample placed in a shoebox-sized sequencing machine.
Made by Oxford Nanopore, it reads DNA molecules through tiny pores, revealing the tumour’s genetic signature.
Stuart Smith, a Nottingham neurosurgeon and research centre co-lead, called the ability to get detailed tumour information during surgery “gamechanging”.
The NHS will initially pilot the test at five specialist centres, including Nottingham, Birmingham and Great Ormond Street, before expanding to more hospitals.
For patients facing a frightening diagnosis, two hours instead of eight weeks is more than a technical improvement.
It could change what happens next when every moment matters.
