A Midland charity is to boost research into brain tumours by funding ten “world-class” projects to the tune of £1.5 million.

It’s hoped one of the studies, carried out by scientists at the University of Birmingham, will lead to the discovery of a new drug to treat the condition.

The Shirley-based Brain Tumour Charity is funding the research over three years.

Charity chairman Andy Foote, 49, lost his nine-year-old son Joseph to a brain tumour in 2007.

“The record number of grants awarded, as well as the level of investment, is in large part due to the recent successful merger of The Brain Tumour Charity and fellow charity Brain Tumour UK,” said the former footballer.

“The merger has created the second largest brain tumour charity in the world and the largest in Europe, which will enable us to have a much greater impact in the future for everyone who is living with a brain tumour and the thousands more who are diagnosed every year.”

The projects will cover both adult and childhood tumours, from low grade through to high grade cancers that currently have a very poor prognosis. Scientists at the University of Birmingham aim to search for more effective treatment of brain tumours by looking for weaknesses in cells.

Dr Daniel Tennant, who is leading the project said: “I am very excited about receiving this funding which will help us drive forward our research into the fundamental causes of malignant brain tumours.

“With this funding we will be using our close collaboration with the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham to investigate whether the energy-generating components of the cancer cells represent a new drug target to treat this devastating disease.”