Duncan Campbell is a maxillofacial consultant whose son was diagnosed with a brain tumour in 2021. He worked with clinicians across Scotland and internationally to get access to whole genome sequencing for his son, and wants other patients to more easily have this choice.

“In February 2021 my 27 year old youngest son was diagnosed with diffuse hemispheric glioma, the malignancy was 7cm, bilateral and in the centre of his brain. On 14th August 2024 the disease won. That his mother and I would sacrifice anything to reverse the "theft of his future" did not make us different. What did, was as a maxillofacial consultant who regularly operated with his neurosurgeon, I had an extensive network within the hospital to call in favours, I had taken time out in earlier training to follow the oddly non-surgical topic of customisation and novel delivery of chemotherapy and patient attitudes to risk, I had founded biotech companies and knew that investment and regulatory space, we had media contacts, we had money, we had time, I could leverage some goodwill and I’d break any rules that blocked us. His mother previously an ITU nurse had an interest in nutrition and rehab, we were both fit. Our son left it to us, “my role is the suffering” he would say with a smile, he got on with living and in time signed himself over to us. His journey is too long for the time you have, it was harrowing, we took risks, it was the war of my life.

We learned for ourselves that genomics was essential if you wish to explore options with experts and we spoke to experts all over the world.

We will never know how much we gained for all our extras as we defended him against fate and I am now pleased to identify and justify for you 3 fundamental changes that must happen for care which we have learned the hard way.”