Alex Bolt research fellowship

Alex Bolt Research Fellowship cheque presentation

The family of a sixteen-year-old boy who died of a brain tumour have donated the funds to sponsor a research fellowship in his name at University College London (UCL). The Alex Bolt Research Fellowship, currently held by Dr Steve Pollard will conduct research into the most common malignant brain tumour and its treatment.

The cheque presentation was attended by Alex’s parents, Jeanette and Peter Bolt and his brother, George who presented a cheque for £85,000 to The Brain Tumour Charity (then, Samantha Dickson Brain Tumour Trust).

Alex Bolt

Alex was diagnosed with a brain tumour in March 2010. Despite a brave fight, he sadly died in May 2011. Since then his parents have tirelessly raised funds for The Brain Tumour Charity and are pleased to be supporting a cause that has so tragically affected them. “Since losing our son, Alex we really wanted to do something that would let his name live on and help fund research into brain tumours to stop other families from suffering the same tragedy we have.”

Former England cricketer, Darren Gough, has been a keen supporter of the Bolt family, having met Alex after his diagnosis. He will be attending a fundraising cricket match in Fleet on 19th August.

Dr Pollard, is at the forefront of research into cancer stem cells in brain tumours at UCL, noting that a great highlight for him has been the progress in looking for new drugs that could be used to treat glioblastoma, the most common and most aggressive malignant primary brain tumor. The very latest cell imaging technologies and analysis tools have been used to identify drugs that can block the proliferation of glioblastoma cells without affecting normal cells. The research has shown that certain drugs which block related proteins called kinases can stop GSCs multiplying in the lab. Such new ‘smart drugs’ may be have a role in combination with current therapies to improve treatment for people with glioma brain tumours.

“This is really exciting progress in research into brain tumours.” said Sarah Lindsell, Chief Executive at The Brain Tumour Charity. “We are advancing daily in our understanding of how brain tumours work and are therefore better able to fight them with appropriate treatment.”

The Samantha Dickson Brain Cancer Unit, at University College London’s (UCL) Cancer Institute is our first dedicated Research Centre of Excellence.

Neil Dickson, Founder and Chair of The Brain Tumour Charity says “We are only too aware of how losing a child to a brain tumour can turn your life upside down and you have the need to then do something so that other families don’t have to go through this. We are so grateful to the Bolt family for their continued support and for this fantastic cheque total today!”