Cancer Grand Challenges PROTECT project
A £20 million international project to develop novel cancer treatments for children.
Overview
We are committing up to £4.9 million as part of a collaborative international effort to develop new cancer therapies specifically for children. The project, named PROTECT, is also supported by Cancer Research UK and the National Cancer Institute (USA), alongside 9 of the world’s leading cancer research centres from Spain, France, the USA, the Netherlands, the UK and Germany.
About PROTECT
Children with cancer often rely on treatments developed for adults, which are ineffective and come with higher risks of adverse effects. PROTECT aims to address this gap by developing child-specific therapies.
The focus is on developing and validating new therapies that target and degrade cancer-specific proteins in tumour cells using innovative techniques like proteolysis-targeting chimeras (PROTACs) and molecular glues; approaches that are yet to be applied in paediatric oncology.
In the next 5 years, the research team will focus on childhood tumours, for which the chances of recovery are comparatively poor. These include, among others, brain tumours, neuroblastomas and bone and soft tissue tumours in children. The scientists have already identified 12 cancer proteins as particularly promising weak points in these tumours and, in some cases, the first chemical substances have already been developed.
Partners
Project PROTECT, led by the Hopp Children’s Cancer Center (KiTZ), Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, and Stanford University, has received £20 million from Cancer Research UK, the National Cancer Institute, and the Spanish Association Against Cancer and KiKa (Children Cancer Free Foundation). We are investing an additional £4.9 million. The funding is part of the Cancer Grand Challenges initiative, co-founded by Cancer Research UK and the National Cancer Institute.
About Cancer Grand Challenges
Cancer Grand Challenges aims to unite the global research community to collaboratively tackle the most difficult problems in cancer research. Recognising that no single researcher, institution, or country can solve these challenges alone, the initiative promotes cross-disciplinary and cross-border collaboration to drive radical progress and improve outcomes for those affected by cancer.
