Laying the Groundwork for Better Brain Tumour Data in New Zealand
Brain Tumour Support New Zealand has taken a meaningful step toward improving brain tumour outcomes in New Zealand by contributing to the research case for a dedicated national brain tumour registry. Without reliable, comprehensive data on who is affected, how they are treated, and what their outcomes look like, it is difficult to make the evidence-based arguments that drive funding, improve care, and accelerate research.
Brain Tumour Support New Zealand co-authored Abstract QLTI-19, presented at the Society for Neuro-Oncology (SNO) 2025 Annual Scientific Meeting in Honolulu, Hawaii. Co-authored by Chris Tse, the work examined the case for establishing a national brain tumour registry in New Zealand by drawing on lessons from other national disease registries and existing global brain tumour registries. Presenting at SNO, one of the world’s foremost neuro-oncology conferences, signals that New Zealand’s brain tumour community is actively engaging with the international research community on this issue.
New Zealand currently lacks a dedicated national brain tumour registry. A registry would allow researchers and clinicians to track incidence and survival trends over time, identify inequities in access to treatment, and build the evidence base needed to advocate for better resourcing. By looking at what has worked in other countries rather than starting from scratch, this research puts New Zealand in a stronger position to design something fit for purpose from the outset.
The full abstract can be read here.