Creating a roadmap for better, evidence-based support for children living with brain tumours
Fast facts
- Title: Project THRIVE: The Development of Evidence-Based Actionable Guidelines for Non-Pharmacological Interventions that Improve Quality of Life Among Those Living Beyond a Paediatric Brain Tumour Diagnosis
- Lead researcher: Dr Faye Didymus
- Where: Leeds Beckett University
- When: Jun 2025 – Dec 2026
- Cost: We will fund £102,671 over 18 months
- Research type: CNS tumours, Quality of Life, Paediatric, Clinical
- Award type: Quality of Life
Children and young people who are living with the effects of a brain tumour often face a range of long-term challenges. These challenges can affect their cognitive abilities, emotional well-being, physical health, and social interactions. This can make recovery and adjustment difficult. As a result, these young people require ongoing support to help them navigate their recovery and improve their quality of life.
It’s really important to understand the impact of these challenges from the perspective of the individuals who experience them. This research, led by Dr Faye Didymus, aims to create a clear, evidence-based roadmap for developing support guidelines that will better meet the needs of children living with brain tumours.
What is it?
Project THRIVE aims to create clear guidance for healthcare professionals and researchers. The project will explore approaches, such as emotional support and lifestyle strategies, to improving quality of life. It will also gather insights directly from those affected, ensuring their voices shape future care.
The research will begin with a comprehensive review of existing strategies – identifying what works and what doesn’t. The second part of the study will be using audio diaries to capture the real challenges of young people with lived experience of a brain tumour over time. These findings will help create a roadmap for better, evidence-based support for children living with brain tumours, while also highlighting areas for future research.
Why it’s important
This research is crucial because it will provide valuable insights that can directly inform and improve the care and support available to young people living with the long-term effects of brain tumours, ultimately enhancing their quality of life and guiding future advancements in treatment and care
Research is just one other way your regular gift can make a difference
Research is the only way we will discover kinder, more effective treatments and, ultimately, stamp out brain tumours – for good! However, brain tumours are complex and research in to them takes a great deal of time and money.
Across the UK, over 100,000 families are facing the overwhelming diagnosis of a brain tumour and it is only through the generosity of people like you can we continue to help them.
But, by setting up a regular gift – as little as £2 per month – you can ensure that families no longer face this destructive disease.
Dr Faye Didymus
Dr Faye Didymus is a Reader in sport and performance psychology at the Carnegie School of Sport at Leeds Becket University.