In what many are calling a medical breakthrough, researchers at the University of Nottingham have developed a genetic test that can diagnose brain tumours in just two hours—dramatically reducing the typical wait time of six to eight weeks. Known as ROBIN (short for Rapid On-site Biopsy and Instant Nucleic acid sequencing), the test is based on DNA sequencing using a portable, real-time device, and has already shown extraordinary success in early clinical trials.
Published in the journal Neuro-Oncology, the research involved 50 brain surgery patients whose tumour samples were tested during the operation using a compact DNA sequencer. Instead of waiting weeks for full lab results, doctors were able to identify the tumour type on the same day—sometimes within just two hours. In several cases, the data even helped shape surgical decisions while the patient was still on the table.
Lead researcher Professor Richard Grundy called the results “incredibly exciting” and said they represent a major shift in how we approach brain cancer diagnosis. “[This technology] gives clinicians access to the information they need far earlier than is currently possible,” he told BBC News. “That opens the door to faster, more personalised treatment at a time when every day counts.”
Speed isn’t just convenient—it changes outcomes
Anyone who has faced the possibility of cancer knows how agonising the waiting game can be. In current NHS practice, a brain tumour diagnosis usually begins with an MRI scan followed by a biopsy. The tissue then goes through several layers of analysis—pathology, genetic testing, sometimes outside referrals. This process often takes several weeks. For patients, that means precious time lost before treatment can even begin.
With ROBIN, the process is not only faster but significantly more targeted. Instead of sequencing the entire genome, the test focuses on key methylation markers—tiny chemical tags on DNA that can help distinguish between tumour types. These markers can reveal whether a tumour is aggressive, slow-growing, or somewhere in between, and whether it’s the kind that might respond better to chemotherapy, radiotherapy, or surgical resection. According to the trial results published in Neuro-Oncology, the new approach correctly identified the tumour type within 24 hours in every single case—and got it right within just two hours in the majority of them.
In an interview with The Guardian, neurosurgeon Dr Stuart Smith said the test allowed surgeons to be more confident mid-procedure. “For example, if a tumour is found to be particularly aggressive, you might take a wider margin or call in a different specialist,” he said. “Having that molecular insight during surgery is a massive advantage.”
But the impact of this test isn’t just clinical—it’s deeply emotional. For patients and their families, waiting weeks to find out whether a tumour is benign or life-threatening can be traumatic. The BBC spoke to a mother, Gemma, whose daughter previously waited two weeks for her results. She described the wait as “pure hell.” With the new method, that period of uncertainty could be cut to just a few hours.
A practical, cost-effective shift for the NHS
Crucially, ROBIN isn’t some theoretical lab innovation—it’s designed to work in real-world hospital settings. The portable sequencing device used in the study, developed by Oxford Nanopore Technologies, is no bigger than a mobile phone. The cost of running the test is estimated at around £450 per patient, which is comparable to—if not lower than—the current system that requires multiple lab analyses and sometimes repeated sampling.
The simplicity and affordability are part of what makes this such a promising shift. Dr Simon Newman, director of research at The Brain Tumour Charity, pointed out in an interview with Brain Tumour Research that the new test consolidates what would normally be several different assessments into a single, streamlined result. “The power of this test is that it provides fast, accurate information at the point of care,” he said. “That can lead to better treatment decisions and faster access to therapies or clinical trials.”
The test has already shown enough promise that it’s being lined up for wider trials across the UK. Research teams in Birmingham, London and Glasgow are expected to start using the method later this year. If those results mirror what’s been seen in Nottingham, there’s a strong case for rolling it out across the NHS within the next 12 months.
Of course, there are still questions to be answered. While the test performed exceptionally well in the Nottingham trial, larger-scale studies will be needed to confirm its accuracy across a wider range of tumour types and in different clinical settings. The process of training staff, updating diagnostic protocols, and integrating the technology into routine care will also take time.
Still, the potential is huge—and not just for brain cancer. The same underlying method—real-time methylation analysis—could eventually be adapted to other cancers or neurological conditions where rapid diagnosis makes a difference. The hope is that, as sequencing technology becomes cheaper and more widespread, point-of-care molecular diagnostics like this could become the norm.
For the estimated 12,000 people diagnosed with a brain tumour in the UK each year, the stakes couldn’t be higher. These are some of the most aggressive cancers we face, and any delay in diagnosis or treatment can have serious consequences. The new ROBIN test doesn’t just promise quicker answers—it offers something more powerful: time. Time for doctors to act sooner, time for patients to prepare, and time for families to understand what lies ahead.