Since 2020, KickCancer has proudly supported the BSPHO by funding clinical projects conducted in Belgium and part of its operational costs. This helps ensure that Belgian children and adolescents with cancer access the best quality of care close to home and family.
In Belgium, most young patients are treated within the framework of a clinical trial and this as from the diagnosis. These are in most instances late-phase clinical trials.
The clinical trials' protocols are defined at the European level, but the financing of the projects often has to be sought by each participating country or site.
The BSPHO plays a crucial role in coordinating and initiating the participation of Belgian paediatric oncology centres in these international academic trials.
Thanks to this coordination, Belgian children, adolescents and young adults (AYA) can now benefit from access to the best care.
In Europe, the significant improvement in childhood cancer cure rates between 1980 and 2000 is largely attributed to the systematic inclusion of children in late-phase clinical trials. By funding these trials, KickCancer contributes to the ongoing enhancement of survival rates and quality of life for children with cancer.
KickCancer finances the clinical projects coordinated by the BSPHO on an annual basis. Given that these projects often span multiple years, we have agreed to fund them on a "bucket basis." This means we commit to a fixed annual amount, which can be allocated across several projects listed in our agreement. Additionally, in order to support the BSPHO where funding is most challenging to secure, we also agree to finance smaller components of larger projects that have not received funding from other sources.
To support this coordination, KickCancer has been funding, since 2021, the BSPHO unit responsible for clinical trials — ensuring that Belgian patients have timely access to the right clinical trials.
