‘Gamechanging’ brain tumour test reduces diagnosis from eight weeks to two hours

A rapid genomic test for brain tumours, developed by the University of Nottingham’s Brain Tumour Research Centre of Excellence, can now deliver a diagnosis while a patient is still on the operating table, cutting the typical waiting period from up to eight weeks to just two hours. The test analyses the DNA of a small tumour sample using a portable Oxford Nanopore sequencer, identifying the tumour’s genetic profile and therefore its type. NHS England has begun piloting the technology in five specialist centres—Nottingham University Hospitals, University Hospitals Birmingham, Great Ormond Street Hospital, King’s College Hospital and Newcastle Hospitals—with plans to extend it to sites in Bristol, Oxford, Leeds and Manchester. Prof Frankie Swords, NHS medical director, hailed the development as a “huge leap forward for patients,” while consultant neurosurgeon Stuart Smith, co‑lead of the research centre, called the ability to obtain detailed tumour information intra‑operatively “gamechanging.”

The new test promises significant clinical benefits by enabling immediate, accurate tumour classification, which can guide surgical decisions and expedite the start of appropriate therapies. Because primary brain tumours are the leading cause of death among children and adults under 40 in the UK, faster diagnosis could improve survival rates and reduce the psychological burden of prolonged uncertainty. Moreover, the rapid turnaround may allow more patients to be enrolled in clinical trials promptly, potentially expanding access to experimental treatments that require precise molecular profiling.

Implementation of the test involves sending tiny tissue samples from the operating theatre to a pathology lab, where the shoebox‑sized sequencer reads DNA molecules as they pass through nanopores, revealing the tumour’s unique genome. Early feedback from the pilot sites suggests the approach is both faster and more accurate than traditional microscopy. If the broader rollout proceeds as planned, the technology could reshape the diagnostic pathway for brain tumours across the NHS, setting a new standard for timely, genomics‑driven care.

⚡ Effects Interpreter