A new ultra-rapid genetic test can diagnose brain tumors in under two hours, drastically shortening wait times and transforming treatment options for patients facing one of the most frightening diagnoses in medicine.
Key Points at a Glance
- New DNA sequencing method reduces brain tumor diagnosis time from weeks to hours
- Test has 100% success rate in surgeries and can guide decisions during operations
- Technology developed at University of Nottingham and used in NHS Trust pilot
- Faster results may improve patient outcomes and expand clinical trial access
For brain tumor patients, time is everything. In a condition where delays can shrink already short survival odds, every hour counts. Until now, patients in the UK have waited up to two months for a definitive diagnosis—an agonizing stretch filled with uncertainty, delayed treatments, and emotional strain. But this could be about to change.
Scientists and clinicians from the University of Nottingham and Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust have developed a groundbreaking new method that slashes diagnostic time to as little as two hours using real-time genetic analysis. The study, published in *Neuro-Oncology*, details how the method was successfully deployed during 50 live surgeries, yielding a full genetic profile in record time with 100% accuracy.
Unlike conventional pathology, which requires tissue to be sent away for slow, multi-step genetic analysis, this new platform uses a system called ROBIN—powered by Oxford Nanopore’s PromethION nanopore sequencer—to analyze DNA methylation and key mutations right in the operating theatre. The approach is fast enough to influence decisions mid-surgery, potentially changing how much tissue is removed and accelerating postoperative care.
“We can now do more for patients because we can get answers so much more quickly,” said neurosurgeon Dr. Stuart Smith. “This gives us the chance to influence clinical decisions in real time—something we could only dream of before.”
Traditionally, tumor classification relied on visual inspection of biopsy samples. But in recent years, precise treatment increasingly depends on identifying the tumor’s genetic makeup. That genetic process has been slow—until now. Professor Matt Loose, who developed the rapid sequencing protocol, explained that the key was learning to extract only the most relevant regions of DNA rather than sequencing the entire genome. By narrowing the focus and combining it with high-efficiency tools, the diagnostic window shrank from months to hours.
The system doesn’t just improve speed—it’s also cheaper and more comprehensive. “We estimate a cost of around £450 per person,” said Loose. “That’s a fraction of the cost of performing multiple separate tests, and we get more accurate results in a single pass.”
Patients and advocacy groups are calling the innovation transformative. Charles Trigg, 45, who was diagnosed with an aggressive glioblastoma earlier this year, said: “Having certainty makes life a lot easier—even if the news is difficult. The speed and clarity of this test allowed my care team to plan quickly and gave me peace of mind.”
Faster results mean faster access to clinical trials as well. Dr. Karen Noble of Brain Tumour Research noted that the tool could be a key to increasing equity of access to personalized medicine. “It could allow more patients to be matched to trials at the right time, improving outcomes for more people.”
Moreover, the test opens the door to potentially decentralizing advanced diagnostics. Instead of relying on national labs with long queues, hospitals around the UK could perform rapid, on-site tumor analysis—driving faster, more personalized care at a local level.
With plans underway to roll out the test across NHS Trusts and integrate it into national trials like the BRAIN MATRIX project, its impact could soon be felt far beyond Nottingham. As diagnosis timelines shrink, the focus can shift to what matters most: saving lives and maximizing precious time for patients and their families.
Source: University of Nottingham
