Having originally contributed to various projects, in 2000, Charlie’s Challenge agreed to fund an entire three year £120,000 project with the University Department of Neurosurgery, Institute of Neurology, University College, National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery. The research team were involved in developing effective new therapies for the treatment of ependymonas, the third most common of the many types of brain tumours in children.

Charlie’s Challenge joined forces with sister charity, The Samantha Dickson Research Trust in 2001, to co-fund a three year research project costing £140,000. It was undertaken by Dr SC Clifford at the University of Newcastle to develop new therapies for an improved success rate in the treatment of paediatric medulloblastomas.

Charlie’s Challenge is also proud to have helped finance a £200,000 time-lapse microscopy facility at the University of Portsmouth in 2003.

In 2004, Charlie’s Challenge joined an alliance with four other brain tumour charities, which created the biggest initiative ever seen in the laboratory based brain tumour research field. Through collective fundraising, ten new research projects will be sponsored throughout the whole country at a cost of £1.5 million.

In March of 2005, the charity agreed to co-fund the purchase of a microwave peptide synthesiser for the brain tumour research unit at the University of Wolverhampton. It will investigate the use of targeted cell penetrating peptides to deliver toxins to medulloblastoma cells in vitro.
It is hoped that this pre-clinical study will lead to the development of new CPP-toxin conjugates that will be clinically effective in delaying or abolishing the need to administer craniospinal irradiation especially in younger children with medulloblastoma.

In September 2005, a successful sponsored bicycle enabled the University of Portsmouth to buy £200,000 worth of vital research equipment for its brain tumour research unit.