Brain Tumour Support NZ Features at NANOS 2026
BTSNZ chair, Sarah Gibb, delivers her opening remarks to the 2026 Patient and Caregiver Meeting in Hamilton on 17th May.
The 3rd Brain Tumour Support NZ Patient and Caregiver Meeting was held on the second morning of the NZ Aotearoa Neuro-Oncology Society annual conference (NANOS 2026) in Hamilton on 17 May.
A total of 64 people registered for the meeting, making it the largest ever BTSNZ Patient and Caregiver Meeting, surpassing the attendances in Wellington (2024) and Christchurch (2025).
BTSNZ chief executive Sarah Verran
Following the opening remarks from Brain Tumour Support NZ chair Sarah Gibb, chief executive Sarah Verran provided an update on the charity’s activities from the past year. MC and BTSNZ founding trustee Chris Tse then introduced the international keynote speaker, Dr Rakesh Jalali, Medical Director of the Apollo Proton Cancer Centre in Chennai, India, and a world renowned radiation oncologist and key opinion leader.
Dr Jalali’s talk was “Emerging paradigms in neuro-oncology in the coming decade” in which he introduced the advances being made in brain tumour research overseas. His address provided a sense of hope for those currently on their brain tumour journey but there was perhaps a hint of frustration also that these advancements may take a long time to reach New Zealand hospitals.
Dr Rakesh Jalali (L) and Chris Tse
Waikato neurologist Dr Matthew Phillips provided an encouraging update on his clinical trial of Metabolic Therapy (involving fasting and the ketogenic diet) in newly diagnosed glioblastoma. Dr Phillips introduced the first of the patient speakers, Meralyn Te-Hira Lunjevic, who gave a moving account of her experience as a participant in the clinical trial. She was joined by her husband Wayne who provided a caregiver’s perspective.
Two more patient speakers followed: Keith Brady (Whangarei) and Fiona Missen (Tauranga) who both enlightened the audience with their frank and insightful stories of their glioblastoma journeys. Both speeches were heartfelt and sincere, and clearly resonated with the engaged audience.
From L to R: Meralyn Te Hira-Lunjevich, Sam Saunt-Lord, Fiona Missen, Keith Brady
The meeting closed with a brief presentation from Auckland university student, Sam Saunt-Lord, who is embarking on a run down the North Island to raise money for the NZ Brain Tumour Registry. Sam’s ambitious fundraiser will see him run 25 consecutive ultra-marathons during January and February 2027.
Brainy Beanies added a splash of colour to the occasion with the BTSNZ pop-up stall outside the auditorium proving popular with conference delegates and guests alike. The signature fundraising and awareness-raising campaign launched at the beginning of May with the highlight being a second appearance at the Mystery Creek Fieldays on 10-13 June 2026.
Chris Tse at the Brainy Beanies pop-up stall
The BTSNZ Patient and Caregiver Meeting could not have been held without the generous support of our sponsors: Servier Australia (GOLD sponsor) and Bristol Myers Squibb and Merck, Sharpe and Dohme (SILVER sponsors).
