Translational Challenge
Childhood Cancer
Our vision is to create a paradigm shift in how we diagnose and treat childhood cancers.
We want to drive the development of life-changing innovations for children with cancer, through translational expertise, funding and collaboration.
Cancer remains a leading cause of death by disease in children around the world. Although survival rates have improved for some cancers in recent decades, rates have plateaued, and those who survive face an increased risk of developing a second cancer or other major health challenges and of premature death.
We urgently need tailored treatments that address the unique biology of childhood cancers, along with more effective diagnostics and less-invasive monitoring methods.
400,000
children (up to age 19) are diagnosed with cancer each year, globally
World Health Organization
9x
increased chance of premature death in childhood cancer survivors
Fidler et al. BMJ (2016) 354:i4351
What do we want to achieve?
We are focused on 3 strategic priorities
Better treatments
- Develop childhood cancer specific targeted therapeutics
- Address funding and infrastructure gaps in the development pathway
- Explore how we could target ‘undruggable’ drivers of childhood cancers
- Rescue stalled drugs and explore their potential in combination with other treatments
Better trials
- Reduce trial fragmentation and develop a pathway for ATMP approval in rare indications
- Improve trial design and access to treatments
- Develop technologies to aid individualised dosing
Better decisions
- Provide primary care practitioners with tools for quicker diagnosis
- Develop accurate, less-invasive tests to replace scans and biopsies
- Guide treatment decisions by predicting risks of life-limiting side effects, both now and in the future
Addressing the greatest unmet needs
We wanted our strategy to be guided by the expertise of the childhood cancer community.
We ran a consultation process to understand what the community feels are the greatest
unmet needs in the field. We’ve shared the consultation outcomes in a report.
Some of our partnerships and initiatives
A global partnership to combat childhood brain cancer
We have partnered with the MD Anderson Cancer Center and the medical research charity, CureSearch for Children’s Cancer Cure, to explore a novel treatment for brain cancer in children.
C-Further: Going further for childhood cancer
We’re setting our sights on creating more effective, targeted medicines for children and young people with cancer, bridging the gap between the lab and patients.
Cancer Grand Challenges PROTECT project
A £20 million international project to develop novel cancer treatments for children.
Related stories
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News releasesCharities join forces to transform treatment for children with cancer
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News releasesHope for children with cancer: LifeArc and CureSearch fund research into whether a modified cold sore virus, combined with a vaccine, could cure brain cancer
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News releasesLifeArc joins £20m international project to develop novel cancer treatment for children
Who to contact
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David Jenkinson
Read bio: David Jenkinson
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Siwan Oldham
Read bio: Siwan Oldham
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Andy Pearson
Read bio: Andy Pearson
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Wendy Jacquemet-Ross
Read bio: Wendy Jacquemet-Ross
See our other Translational Challenges
Motor Neuron Disease
Our vision is a world where motor neuron disease is preventable and treatable.
Global Health
Our vision is a world with affordable and accessible solutions to better understand, treat, and prevent infectious diseases.
Chronic Respiratory Infection
Our vision is improved quality of life for those living with cystic fibrosis and bronchiectasis.
Rare Disease
Our vision is an ecosystem working together to get discoveries and treatments to rare disease patients faster.
Contact us
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