KickCancer funds innovative research in childhood cancer

At KickCancer, we fund research that gives children with cancer a better chance of life. 

For us, funding research is also an opportunity to help shape the research landscape — ensuring its long-term sustainability and its relevance to the needs of children and young patients with cancer.

We closely collaborate with:

FIGHT KIDS CANCER

Through FIGHT KIDS CANCER, a European initiative dedicated to paediatric oncology, we support innovative projects and true European collaboration in research.

We aim to improve treatments and develop new therapies to increase survival rates and improve quality of life for survivors. Each year, international experts help us select the most promising studies.

Learn more on our collaboration

Belgian Society for Paediatric Haematology Oncology

In Belgium, we work closely with the Belgian Society for Paediatric Haematology Oncology (BSPHO) to support the participation of the Belgian paediatric oncology centres in international academic clinical trials.

This partnership guarantees that all projects meet the highest scientific and clinical standards. Ensuring that Belgian children with cancer can join innovative clinical trials in Belgium, close to home and family.

Learn more on our collaboration

Our research projects

56

iNFORM

Offer access to targeted treatments of clinical trials thanks to genomic sequencing of the patients' tumour Show more

iNFORM is an international precision-oncology programme offering molecular profiling to children with relapsed or refractory cancers of any type. Tumour samples undergo extensive genomic analysis to identify targetable mutations, helping clinicians match patients to the most promising personalised treatments. The project accelerates access to innovative therapies and contributes to a growing molecular database that advances paediatric cancer research worldwide. Show less

PROGRAMME:

BSPHO

TYPE:

Diagnostic Trial

DISEASE:

All tumours

LOCATION:

AMOUNT:

€36,500

STATUS:

Ongoing

Script AML Transplant

Improve survival and reduce complications for patients with acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) Show more

Script-AML is a clinical study designed for children undergoing stem-cell transplantation for acute myeloid leukaemia. It compares different transplant-related strategies—such as conditioning regimens or graft-versus-host disease prevention—to optimise survival while reducing complications. The aim is to refine transplant practices and generate evidence that supports safer, more effective treatment pathways for high-risk paediatric AML patients. Show less

PROGRAMME:

BSPHO

TYPE:

Clinical trial

DISEASE:

Acute myelobastic leukaemia (AML)

LOCATION:

AMOUNT:

€54,000

STATUS:

Ongoing

Biomede II

Improve survival for patients with midline glioma, thanks to targeted therapies Show more

Biomede 2 is a clinical trial for children with diffuse midline gliomas, an aggressive brain tumour with limited treatment options. The study evaluates targeted therapies based on the tumour’s molecular profile, aiming to identify which treatments benefit specific genetic subgroups. By integrating biology-driven strategies into clinical care, Biomede 2 hopes to improve outcomes in a cancer where progress is urgently needed. Show less

PROGRAMME:

BSPHO

TYPE:

Clinical trial

DISEASE:

Diffuse Mid-line Glioma

LOCATION:

AMOUNT:

€9,500

STATUS:

Ongoing

Metanephrine

Improve our understanding of neuroblastoma Show more

This registry study focuses on high-risk neuroblastoma and collects detailed information on metanephrine measurements, biomarkers produced by the tumour. By analysing these biological markers alongside clinical outcomes, the project aims to improve diagnosis, risk stratification and early detection of relapse. The data will help refine how metanephrines are used to guide treatment and follow-up for children with neuroblastoma. Show less

PROGRAMME:

BSPHO

TYPE:

Registry

DISEASE:

Neuroblastoma

LOCATION:

AMOUNT:

€20,000

STATUS:

Ongoing

Beacon 2

Improve survival for patients with relapsing or refractory neuroblastoma Show more

Beacon 2 is a clinical trial for children with relapsed or refractory neuroblastoma, one of the most difficult childhood cancers to treat. The study tests new treatment combinations and innovative drug schedules to overcome resistance and improve survival. By evaluating therapies in a structured, multi-arm design, Beacon 2 aims to accelerate access to promising options for children who urgently need better treatments. Show less

PROGRAMME:

BSPHO

TYPE:

Clinical trial

DISEASE:

Neuroblastoma

LOCATION:

AMOUNT:

€150,000

STATUS:

Ongoing

ALL-SCTped Forum

Improve survival and reduce toxicity for children with high-risk acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) Show more

This international clinical trial aims to improve outcomes for children with high-risk or relapsed acute lymphoblastic leukaemia who need a stem cell transplant. It compares conditioning treatments to identify the safest and most effective approach, with the goal of reducing toxicity and improving survival after transplant. The study supports long-term follow-up and harmonised transplant protocols across Europe. Show less

PROGRAMME:

BPSHO

TYPE:

Clinical trial

DISEASE:

Acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL)

LOCATION:

AMOUNT:

€30,000

STATUS:

Ongoing

ML-DS 2018

Improve survival for children with Down Syndrom affected by acute myeloblastic leukaemia Show more

Children with Down syndrome have a dramatically higher risk of developing myeloid leukemia (ML-DS) in early childhood, yet they also show exceptional sensitivity to certain chemotherapy drugs. Previous studies have achieved excellent cure rates with reduced-intensity chemotherapy, but treatment-related toxicity remains a major cause of death. The ML-DS-2018 trial is an international phase III study designed to make ML-DS treatment safer while preserving its high effectiveness. The goal is to maintain event-free survival at least comparable to the historical treatment (87%) while significantly reducing toxicity and identifying biological markers that may refine risk stratification of the patients. Show less

PROGRAMME:

BSPHO

TYPE:

Clinical trial

DISEASE:

Acute myelobastic leukaemia (AML)

LOCATION:

AMOUNT:

€65,000

STATUS:

Ongoing

HR-NBL2

Improve survival for patients with high-risk neuroblastoma Show more

High-risk neuroblastoma is one of the most aggressive childhood cancers, requiring intensive treatment and still carrying a poor prognosis. Despite heavy treatments, significant risks remain. The HR-NBL2 study is an international, multicentre phase III clinical trial designed to further improve outcomes by rigorously comparing treatment strategies across the three key therapeutic phases: induction, high-dose chemotherapy, and radiotherapy. The trial will evaluate different treatment strategies, long-term toxicities, the impact of surgical quality, the effect of radiotherapy dose, and biological markers that may predict treatment response. Ultimately, HR-NBL2 aims to refine and personalise therapy for children with high-risk neuroblastoma, with the goal of increasing survival while reducing long-term side effects. Show less

PROGRAMME:

BSPHO

TYPE:

Clinical trial

DISEASE:

Neuroblastoma

LOCATION:

AMOUNT:

€161,000

STATUS:

Ongoing

FaR-RMS

Improve survival for patients with rhabdomyosarcoma Show more

Rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) is a rare and aggressive soft-tissue cancer, most often affecting children. Prognosis remains particularly poor for those with high-risk or relapsed disease. The FaR-RMS study is an ambitious international clinical trial designed to transform the treatment of RMS by answering key therapeutic questions across multiple disease stages. FaR-RMS uses a multi-arm, multi-stage structure to evaluate new therapies for very high-risk, high-risk, and relapsed patients, optimise radiotherapy approaches, and assess the best duration and combination of maintenance treatments. It also explores more precise diagnostic tools, such as fusion gene–based risk stratification and PET-CT response as a prognostic marker. The project aims to improve overall and event-free survival by integrating cutting-edge biological insights with innovative therapeutic strategies. Ultimately, FaR-RMS seeks to deliver more effective, personalised, and less toxic treatment options for children and adults facing this challenging cancer. Show less

PROGRAMME:

BSPHO

TYPE:

Clinical trial

DISEASE:

Rhabdomyosarcoma

LOCATION:

AMOUNT:

€400,000

STATUS:

Ongoing

LCH IV

Improve survival for patients with Langerhans Cell Histiocystosis Show more

Langerhans Cell Histiocytosis (LCH) is a rare immune-related disease that can affect one or multiple organs. Children with multi-system LCH (MS-LCH) face significant risks, unpredictable outcomes, and potentially fatal complications. The international LCH IV study is the largest academic clinical trial ever conducted for LCH, aiming to improve survival, reduce relapse, and minimise long-term side effects. The study includes around 1,400 patients worldwide, with approximately 110 Belgian participants. Children are stratified into seven treatment groups based on disease characteristics or response to previous therapy. The study’s objectives include intensifying treatment for high-risk patients, refining second-line therapies, understanding persistent side effects, assessing immunoglobulin therapy for neurological symptoms, and tracking the natural course of the disease. Ultimately, LCH IV seeks to deliver safer, more effective, and more personalised treatment pathways for children affected by this complex condition. Show less

PROGRAMME:

BSPHO

TYPE:

Clinical trial

DISEASE:

Langerhans Cell Histiocytosis

LOCATION:

AMOUNT:

€58,000

STATUS:

Ongoing

PLE

Keep track of the long term side effects caused by cancer treatments Show more

Survival after childhood cancer has improved dramatically in Belgium, with an 87% five-year survival rate. Yet up to 90% of survivors develop late effects—cardiac problems, secondary cancers, fertility issues and more—which can appear years or decades after treatment. Many former patients lack a treatment summary, personalised follow-up plan, or awareness of their long-term risks. The Late Effects project aims to change that by building the first nationwide Belgian database dedicated to late effects after childhood cancer. Using data from more than 7,000 children and adolescents diagnosed between 2004 and today, the project will document treatments, radiotherapy details, toxicities, relapse, and long-term outcomes. This will enable robust research, evidence-based guidelines, and better prevention, screening and care for survivors. The project also provides each patient with a “survivorship passport” summarising their treatment and recommended follow-up, and includes awareness initiatives for families and advocacy efforts to integrate long-term follow-up into Belgium’s national cancer programme. Show less

PROGRAMME:

BSPHO

TYPE:

Registry

DISEASE:

All tumours

LOCATION:

AMOUNT:

€395,000

STATUS:

Ongoing

EurATRT

Improve our understanding of Atypical Teratoid Rhabdoid Tumour (ATRT) in children Show more

Children diagnosed with ATRT (Atypical Teratoid Rhabdoid Tumours) at a very young age have a poor prognosis: only 40% respond to current treatment. Today, we still don’t understand why some children respond and others don’t. EURATRT is a translational project linked to the largest clinical trial for ATRT to date, giving researchers access to 300 tumour samples. The goal is to better understand the biology of these tumours and adapt treatments to each child. The team combines expertise in paediatric oncology, neuropathology, molecular biology, genomics, and data science. These experts will be working together to: predict treatment response, detect relapse earlier, and explore new therapeutic options. The aim is to personalise treatments and reduce side effects. Show less

PROGRAMME:

Fight Kids Cancer

TYPE:

Translational Research Project

DISEASE:

Rhabdoid Tumour

LOCATION:

DE, FR, NL, UK

AMOUNT:

€1,300,000

STATUS:

Ongoing

SIGBMRRI

Discover new therapies for gliomas and ependymomas (brain tumours) Show more

SIGBMRRI is a translational research project aiming to improve treatment for gliomas and ependymomas, two types of very aggressive brain tumours in children. By studying the micro-environment that surrounds the tumour, researchers hope to better understand how these cancers resist current therapies. This knowledge will help pave the way for the development of new treatments and boost survival for these young patients. Show less

PROGRAMME:

Fight Kids Cancer

TYPE:

Translational Research Project

DISEASE:

Glioma

LOCATION:

UK, IT

AMOUNT:

€1,132,000

STATUS:

Ongoing

CRYSTAL-Immune

Make immunotherapy more efficient to treat leukaemia that spread to the brain Show more

Crystal-Immune is a translational project aimed at improving immunotherapy for children with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) that has spread to the cerebrospinal fluid — the protective fluid surrounding the brain. Immunotherapy and CAR-T cells (our white blood cells and our immune defence) have shown strong results against leukaemia, but they struggle to reach the cerebrospinal fluid effectively, which prevents patients from being cured. Crystal-Immune seeks to understand why, and to develop ways to help immunotherapy break through this barrier, so harsh chemotherapy can be replaced with a gentler, more effective treatment. Show less

PROGRAMME:

Fight Kids Cancer

TYPE:

Translational Research Project

DISEASE:

Acute myelobastic leukaemia (AML)

LOCATION:

UK, DK, FR, IL, NL, SP, UK

AMOUNT:

€1,500,000

STATUS:

Ongoing

INTER-B-NHL 2025

A clinical trial to test a less toxic treatment for children with B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma Show more

INTER-B-NHL 2025 is a clinical trial aimed at reducing the treatment toxicity for children with B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma. The study will test whether some patients can safely receive a lower dose of chemotherapy, which is very aggressive, by replacing it with immunotherapy (rituximab), in order to lessen both short- and long-term side effects while maintaining therapeutic effectiveness. B-cell lymphomas already have high survival rates — but the price is a harsh and toxic treatment. The focus is now on improving quality of life. Using genomic sequencing, across 300 participants, patients will be “stratified” into risk groups to personalise their treatment. The study will also evaluate how treatment impacts the patients’ well-being, using a digital quality-of-life tool. Show less

PROGRAMME:

Fight Kids Cancer

TYPE:

Clinical trial

DISEASE:

B-cell Non-Hodgkin lymphoma

LOCATION:

FR, BE, CY, HU, IE, IL, NL, PT, UK

AMOUNT:

€1,200,000

STATUS:

Ongoing

ACHILLES/HR-NBL2

A clinical trial to test two new treatments for children with neuroblastoma Show more

The ACHILLES/HR-NBL 2 project is a clinical trial testing two new treatments for children with high-risk neuroblastoma: a combination of chemo- and immunotherapy (with Dinutuximab) and a targeted treatment (Lorlatinib) for patients with an “ALK” mutation. The trial aims to improve survival, personalise treatment, and evaluate the cognitive side effects (such as memory and attention issues) in young patients. Show less

PROGRAMME:

Fight Kids Cancer

TYPE:

Clinical trial

DISEASE:

Neuroblastoma

LOCATION:

FR, AU, DE, EL, IL, IT, NO, PO, SI, SP, SW, CH, UK

AMOUNT:

€1,656,895

STATUS:

Ongoing

GD2-CART01_EU

A clinical trial with CAR-T cells for children with high-risk neuroblastoma in relapse Show more

GD2-CART01_EU is a phase II clinical trial that aims to develop a new CAR-T cell therapy for children and teenagers with high-risk neuroblastoma. The study builds on a promising phase I trial. It will be rolled out in several centres across Europe with three key goals: improve survival, reduce the toxicity of existing treatments (such as stem cell transplant), and test early use of GD2-CART01 to pave the way for European approval and wider — and thus easier — access for children in Europe. Show less

PROGRAMME:

Fight Kids Cancer

TYPE:

Clinical trial

DISEASE:

Neuroblastoma

LOCATION:

IT, FR, DE, IL, NL, SP, SW, CH, UK

AMOUNT:

€1,500,000

STATUS:

Ongoing

INTER-EWING-1

A clinical trial to improve treatments for children with Ewing Sarcoma and improve our understanding of the disease Show more

INTER-EWING 1 is a clinical trial aimed at improving the survival chances of children and teens with metastatic Ewing sarcoma. It tests a new strategy: adding a new treatment called regorafenib (a form of targeted therapy) right from the moment of diagnosis, without waiting for relapse. The study will also collect biological data to better understand the disease and why some patients respond to treatment and others don’t. And it includes a quality-of-life evaluation to assess how well young patients tolerate this treatment. Show less

PROGRAMME:

Fight Kids Cancer

TYPE:

Clinical trial

DISEASE:

Ewing Sarcoma

LOCATION:

UK, DK, FR, IE, IT, PO, SP, CH

AMOUNT:

€1,463,999

STATUS:

Ongoing

CARINA

Develop a CAR-T therapy for acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) Show more

The CARINA project is the first step toward a clinical trial designed to improve outcomes for children with relapsed Acute Myeloid Leukaemia (AML). Initially, the project will focus on developing a new CAR-T cell treatment that clears the cancer, making a stem cell transplant possible. Unlike traditional CAR-T cells (made from the patient’s own white blood cells), this new therapy will be produced “off the shelf” — a single batch for multiple patients — to save precious time. If this new method works, it can lead to quicker access to treatment, and this could be lifesaving for such an aggressive disease. If the project leads to the development of CAR-T cells approved by the authorities, the team will be able to open a clinical trial for young patients with relapsed AML. Show less

PROGRAMME:

Fight Kids Cancer

TYPE:

Clinical trial

DISEASE:

Acute myelobastic leukaemia (AML)

LOCATION:

UK, IT, SP

AMOUNT:

€2,300,000

STATUS:

Ongoing

Joshua Waterfall

Support a researcher studying rare tumours in children to develop his lab and research team and projects Show more

Show less

PROGRAMME:

Fight Kids Cancer

TYPE:

Innovation Award

DISEASE:

All sarcomas

LOCATION:

FR

AMOUNT:

€1,000,000

STATUS:

Ongoing

FIGHT4MB

Create the first preclinical genetic mouse models of group 4 Medulloblastoma Show more

The subtype "Group 4 medulloblastoma" (G4MB) represents the majority (40%) of all medulloblastoma cases. Despite its prevalence, G4MB is not yet well understood, and effective treatments have not been developed. This project aims to establish the first preclinical models of G4MB and use them as platforms to study the disease and test new treatments. Show less

PROGRAMME:

Fight Kids Cancer

TYPE:

Translational Research Project

DISEASE:

Medulloblastoma

LOCATION:

FR, DE, PT, SP

AMOUNT:

€1,678,000

STATUS:

Ongoing

EUROPE

Explore the unknown relapse origins in paediatric Ependymoma Show more

Ependymoma is the third most common brain tumour in children. Currently, treatment for ependymoma primarily involves brain surgery and radiation therapy. This project aims to compare the genetic information of cells from primary tumours (at diagnosis) and recurrent tumours (at relapse) in the same patient. The goal is to develop effective therapies for treating children with recurrent ependymoma, as no suitable treatments exist to date. Show less

PROGRAMME:

Fight Kids Cancer

TYPE:

Translational Research Project

DISEASE:

Ependymoma

LOCATION:

DE, NL

AMOUNT:

€878,000

STATUS:

Ongoing

SOUP

Scan the liquids of paediatric brain tumour patients to personalise treatment Show more

Central nervous system (CNS) tumours, occurring in the brain or spinal cord, remain the leading cause of cancer-related deaths in children. The SOUP project aims to enhance diagnosis, improve the surgical phase, monitor treatment response, stratify treatments, and follow up on these patients by establishing the best possible methodology for liquid biopsies in children with brain tumours. Show less

PROGRAMME:

Fight Kids Cancer

TYPE:

Translational Research Project

DISEASE:

All brain tumours

LOCATION:

AT, CZ, FR, DE, NL, SW, UK

AMOUNT:

€1,998,000

STATUS:

Ongoing

ITCC BrainTAP

Set up a platform to prioritise the most promising treatments for children with a brain tumour Show more

The expanded knowledge of childhood cancer biology has led to significant advances in disease understanding, diagnostics, and subclassification. However, this has largely failed to result in new treatments. This project aims to bridge this gap by prioritising promising treatment targets, conducting high-quality preclinical experiments, and facilitating clinical trials. Show less

PROGRAMME:

Fight Kids Cancer

TYPE:

Translational Research Project

DISEASE:

All brain tumours

LOCATION:

DE, AU, NL, UK

AMOUNT:

€ 2,000,000

STATUS:

Ongoing

RADIO-MEDSCREEN

Improve the screening to increase the efficacy of radiotherapy on children with medulloblastoma Show more

Medulloblastomas are the most common malignant brain tumours affecting children. Radiotherapy is commonly used to treat this disease, but some patients do not respond or relapse. Additionally, most survivors suffer from lifelong toxic side effects. This project aims to improve current radiotherapy protocols to increase efficacy and decrease toxicity. Show less

PROGRAMME:

Fight Kids Cancer

TYPE:

Translational Research Project

DISEASE:

Medulloblastoma

LOCATION:

FR

AMOUNT:

€365,000

STATUS:

Ongoing

MiMiC-Kids

Mirror microglia-cancer cell interactions to improve immunotherapy Show more

This research project aims to develop preclinical 3D models to study and treat Diffuse Midline Glioma (DMG) in children, one of the brain tumours with the poorest prognosis. These 3D "avatars" will be used to test and understand the complex interactions between macrophages/microglia and glioma cells, enabling researchers to select the most promising immunotherapies for these patients. Show less

PROGRAMME:

Fight Kids Cancer

TYPE:

Translational Research Project

DISEASE:

Diffuse Mid-line Glioma

LOCATION:

FR

AMOUNT:

€1,806,000

STATUS:

Ongoing

REVIIH-BT

Offer audiovisual telerehabilitation programme to restore visual field loss caused by brain tumours Show more

This study explores an innovative audiovisual telerehabilitation programme aimed at improving visual perception in young patients who suffer from visual field loss (hemianopia) due to brain tumours and their treatments. By using immersive virtual reality stimulation, the research aims to restore visual fields and enhance the quality of life for these patients. Show less

PROGRAMME:

Fight Kids Cancer

TYPE:

Clinical trial

DISEASE:

Low-grade Glioma

LOCATION:

FR, AU, DK, IT, NL, UK

AMOUNT:

€1,226,000

STATUS:

Ongoing

ELICIT

Set up a new platform for immuno-oncology clinical trials on Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma (DIPG) Show more

The ELICIT project will establish a platform for early-phase immuno-oncology clinical trials specifically targeting Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma (DIPG). This project aims to standardise as much available data as possible to make it comparable, thereby advancing the development and testing of promising immunotherapies. Show less

PROGRAMME:

Fight Kids Cancer

TYPE:

Clinical trial

DISEASE:

Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma

LOCATION:

FR, IL, NL, SP, SW, CH, UK

AMOUNT:

€738,000

STATUS:

Ongoing

Sophie Postel-Vinay

Support a researcher studying sarcoma in children to develop her lab and research team and projects. Show more

Show less

PROGRAMME:

Fight Kids Cancer

TYPE:

Innovation Award

DISEASE:

All sarcomas

LOCATION:

UK, FR

AMOUNT:

€1,000,000

STATUS:

Ongoing

BioESMART

Confirm the potential effectiveness of a treatment for children with Ewing's sarcoma Show more

This project will study samples from patients included in a closed clinical trial where an IGF-1R inhibitor was tested to identify a biomarker that could tell apart patients who responded from those who did not. This project will also use a large panel of new technologies to improve our understanding of the role of IGF-1R in the carcinogenesis of Ewing sarcoma. Show less

PROGRAMME:

Fight Kids Cancer

TYPE:

Translational Research Project

DISEASE:

Ewing Sarcoma

LOCATION:

FR, SW

AMOUNT:

€372,500

STATUS:

Ongoing

Remodeling

Make immunotherapy effective for brain tumours Show more

So far, brain tumour patients have not benefited from the same advances in immunotherapy because of the “blood-brain barrier”, which prevents large molecules from reaching tumours located in the brain. This project will try to bring immunotherapy agents into the brain tumour, using non-invasive ultrasound waves to open the blood-brain barrier. Show less

PROGRAMME:

Fight Kids Cancer

TYPE:

Translational Research Project

DISEASE:

Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma

LOCATION:

NL

AMOUNT:

€424,500

STATUS:

Ongoing

Skeletal late effects

Understanding and prevent the side effects of radiation therapy Show more

This project will focus on skeletal late effects caused by radiotherapy, which can be painful and debilitating when they are severe. For this project, researchers will develop state-of-the-art models to understand the underlying causes of radiation damage to the growing skeleton and test strategies to prevent the development of skeletal late effects. Show less

PROGRAMME:

Fight Kids Cancer

TYPE:

Translational Research Project

DISEASE:

All tumours

LOCATION:

SW, CH

AMOUNT:

€499,000

STATUS:

Ongoing

Encourage

Reduce drug resistante to cure more children with a glioma (brain tumour) Show more

This study aims to understand the development of drug resistance during treatment and optimise the current standard tumour profiling approaches to increase detection of drug-resistant cells. Researchers will sequence the tumour at a single-cell level. This will help understand how, within a tumour, different cell populations reprogram their survival strategies to escape targeted therapies. Show less

PROGRAMME:

Fight Kids Cancer

TYPE:

Translational Research Project

DISEASE:

Glioma

LOCATION:

CH, FR

AMOUNT:

€500,000

STATUS:

Ongoing

ATG4TALL

Set up a preclinical testing platform to reduce resistance to treatment of T-Type acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) Show more

This project brings together 200 patients with T-ALL per year, which creates a critical number of patients’ samples to improve our understanding of T-ALL resistance mechanisms. It will analyse changes in genes and proteins in resistant T-ALL cells and develop a test platform to determine which combinations of existing drugs will be effective to treat patients with T-cell leukaemia. Show less

PROGRAMME:

Fight Kids Cancer

TYPE:

Translational Research Project

DISEASE:

Acute myelobastic leukaemia (AML)

LOCATION:

NL, BE, FR, DE, IE, NL, NO, SW, UK

AMOUNT:

€499,000

STATUS:

Ongoing

EpiTarget-kids

Reveal the vulnerabilities of diffuse intrinsic pontic gliomas Show more

This project aims to overcome the lack of appropriate in-vitro models recapitulating with accuracy the characteristics of DIPGs thanks to the use of organoids, miniature replications of organs. It will specifically attempt to identify epigenetic dependencies and vulnerabilities in DIPGs. Show less

PROGRAMME:

Fight Kids Cancer

TYPE:

Translational Research Project

DISEASE:

Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma

LOCATION:

FR, AU

AMOUNT:

€500,000

STATUS:

Ongoing

MedulloDrugs

Find new treatments for children with medulloblastoma Show more

MedulloDrugs is a project that will accelerate the way we identify new interesting drugs for patients with medulloblastoma. It overcomes the shortcomings of pre-clinical testing in petri dishes, which do not capture the complexity of a disease, and the slowness of mouse models, by using a new technique called “organoids”. Organoids are miniature replications of human organs and they enable researchers to test more drugs in a more reliable fashion. Show less

PROGRAMME:

Fight Kids Cancer

TYPE:

Translational Research Project

DISEASE:

Medulloblastoma

LOCATION:

IT, FR

AMOUNT:

€478,300

STATUS:

Ongoing

EurHoly

Improve patients' selection to cure more children with Hodgkin Lymphoma Show more

Patients with Hodgkin’s lymphoma benefit from high cure rates, yet at the cost of very toxic treatments. The EurHoly project aims to improve the risk stratification of patients thanks to biomarkers found in the blood. Ultimately, this will enable doctors to tailor the treatments to the actual needs of each patient. Show less

PROGRAMME:

Fight Kids Cancer

TYPE:

Translational Research Project

DISEASE:

Hodgkin lymphoma

LOCATION:

FR, DE

AMOUNT:

€500,000

STATUS:

Ongoing

Patoi

A clinical trial to test a promising drug for children with a brain tumour Show more

The PATOI project is a clinical trial that aims to define the best tolerated dose for the treatment of brain tumours in which a new type of drugs, called “PARPi”, which lead to cancer-cell death, will be combined with chemotherapy. Show less

PROGRAMME:

Fight Kids Cancer

TYPE:

Clinical trial

DISEASE:

All brain tumours

LOCATION:

FR, AU, DK, DE, IT, NL, UK

AMOUNT:

€513,500

STATUS:

Ongoing

PG-AML

Test a new genomic methodology to treat children with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) Show more

This project is looking for better therapies to help young patients with AML, who receive more toxic treatments, yet with lower cure rates, than patients with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL). In the field of ALL, treatments were improved thanks to the development of highly sensitive genomic technologies to monitor the response of leukaemia to therapy. This project proposes a novel genomic-based methodology to overcome the challenge of the lack of a sensitive monitoring method in AML. This project will utilise a novel approach to not only identify response to therapy but also to characterise the leukaemic cells that remain resistant to therapy. This could also lead to the identification of novel drugs that may beat this resistance. Show less

PROGRAMME:

Fight Kids Cancer

TYPE:

Translational Research Project

DISEASE:

Acute myelobastic leukaemia (AML)

LOCATION:

IL

AMOUNT:

€500,000

STATUS:

Ongoing

Relapse Prevention

Find a way to prevent relapses in neuroblastoma Show more

It was recently demonstrated that neuroblastoma tumour cells in relapsed patients responding to treatment and those in patients not responding to treatment were different: the refractory cells are an immature cell type. This project aims to test a new generation of that class of drug, called GEN1029, on a mouse xenograft relapse model for neuroblastoma to see if this drug is capable of inhibiting the development of relapses. Show less

PROGRAMME:

Fight Kids Cancer

TYPE:

Translational Research Project

DISEASE:

Neuroblastoma

LOCATION:

NL

AMOUNT:

€400,000

STATUS:

Ongoing

Cure2MML

Find a cure for MLL-mutated childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) Show more

ALL can almost be considered as a curable disease. Unfortunately, this is not true for all patients diagnosed with ALL, especially not for infants, i.e., children under 1 year of age. This project pursues two objectives. First of all, it aims to understand the mechanisms that make infant ALL so aggressive. Second, it will attempt to identify new treatment options by targeting the infant-specific mechanisms (MLL mutation) and providing evidence to show that these newly identified treatments could be effective when applied to patients in the clinic. Show less

PROGRAMME:

Fight Kids Cancer

TYPE:

Translational Research Project

DISEASE:

Acute myelobastic leukaemia (AML)

LOCATION:

NL, BE, DE, IT, SP, UK

AMOUNT:

€492,000

STATUS:

Ongoing

DigiTwins

Improve therapies administered to neuroblastoma patients thanks to computer twins Show more

For this project, an international team of computer scientists, biologists, and clinicians will collaborate to build computer models of patients (Digital Twins), which will allow the design of personalised therapies that are more effective and less toxic than the current therapies. The team will start by building “DigiTwins” of mouse models with neuroblastoma. The team will then use advanced computational methods to combine the generated molecular data and construct the Digital Twin models. Once the accuracy of the DigiTwin models in mice is ascertained, it will be translated to humans. The final objective of the DigiTwins project is to pave the way for future clinical studies, where DigiTwins can provide better and more personalised treatments for neuroblastoma patients. Show less

PROGRAMME:

Fight Kids Cancer

TYPE:

Translational Research Project

DISEASE:

Neuroblastoma

LOCATION:

IE, UK

AMOUNT:

€500,000

STATUS:

Ongoing

Sacha International

A study to register data on innovative therapies administered outside of clinical trials Show more

The SACHA international registry will collect real-life data about innovative therapies administered outside clinical trials to children, adolescents and young adults with paediatric malignancies. These real-life data will help to:

1. Recommend the halt of the prescription of drugs that prove ineffective or have an unacceptable toxicity,

2. Support the development of paediatric clinical trials when new anti-tumour activity is observed.

This project is a pragmatic response to the insufficiency of clinical trials available for young patients with cancer and meets the need to collect reliable clinical data as if the new therapies were administered in the framework of a clinical trial. Show less

PROGRAMME:

Fight Kids Cancer

TYPE:

Clinical trial

DISEASE:

All tumours

LOCATION:

FR, AU, BE, DK, IE, IT, NL, SP, UK

AMOUNT:

€846,000

STATUS:

Ongoing

HEM-iSMART

A personalised medicine trial on leukemia and lymphoma Show more

The HEM-iSMART is a personalised medicine trial in which children with relapsed leukaemia or lymphoma will receive treatment matching the specific genetic alteration(s) present in their tumour. The HEM-iSMART trial aims to test four new therapies, each one matching a specific genetic alteration present in the patients’ tumours. This new approach, the first to tackle this issue at a European level, will be carried out in collaboration with the International Leukaemia Target Board (ILTB). Show less

PROGRAMME:

Fight Kids Cancer

TYPE:

Clinical trial

DISEASE:

Leukaemia & Lymphoma

LOCATION:

NL, BE, DE, IL

AMOUNT:

€1,500,000

STATUS:

Ongoing

BEACON 2

A clinical trial for children with neuroblastoma in relapse Show more

The BEACON 2 trial will test two new promising anti-cancer medicines that will be combined with chemotherapy. The first drug specifically targets the blood vessels that help tumours grow to slow or impede tumour growth and eventually lead to tumour-cell death. The second drug is an immunotherapy drug that enables our immune system to recognise the cancer cells as strangers in a patient’s body. BEACON 2 aims to confirm which of these two treatments is superior in a large group of patients. Show less

PROGRAMME:

Fight Kids Cancer

TYPE:

Clinical trial

DISEASE:

Neuroblastoma

LOCATION:

ES, BE, CZ, DK, FR, IE, IL, IT, NL, NO, CH, UK

AMOUNT:

€1,500,000

STATUS:

Ongoing

BEACON-BIO

Improve our understanding of the mechanisms of resistance in neuroblastoma Show more

The BEACON-BIO project aims to allocate patients with neuroblastoma to risk groups defined based on their molecular specificities (or biomarkers) and treatment resistance. In particular, this project will study the impact of genetic and epigenetic factors in relapse and resistance. Epigenetics is the science that explains why cells with the same genetic code have different functions inside someone’s body. Finally, this project will seek to identify new combinations of molecules in the hope that they will be more effective. These combinations will then be evaluated in the upcoming European trial in relapsed and refractory neuroblastoma. Show less

PROGRAMME:

Fight Kids Cancer

TYPE:

Translational Research Project

DISEASE:

Neuroblastoma

LOCATION:

ES, SP, UK

AMOUNT:

€500,000

STATUS:

Ongoing

COMBALK

Understand ALK-mutated neuroblastoma, to cure them better Show more

The research project "COMBALK" is aimed at children with high-risk neuroblastoma whose tumour has an alteration in the "ALK" gene and in whom first-line treatment does not work. This represents between 12 to 15% of patients. The researchers found that the ALK protein plays an important role in the growth of cancer cells in patients with a mutation in the "ALK" gene. ALK inhibitors are now used for patients with an ALK mutation; yet some patients resist the treatment. The project will study this resistance and aim to identify possible new treatments and combinations to overcome those forms of resistance. Show less

PROGRAMME:

Fight Kids Cancer

TYPE:

Translational Research Project

DISEASE:

Neuroblastoma

LOCATION:

UK, FR

AMOUNT:

€500,000

STATUS:

Ongoing

CARBEMED

Improve treatments for patients with medulloblastoma Show more

The research project "CARBEMED" aims to identify a highly innovative treatment strategy for medulloblastoma that would combine two immunotherapy techniques. The effect of this treatment will initially be tested on mice. It will combine a new drug from the class of “checkpoint inhibitors”, a technique that prevents cancer cells from going unnoticed by white blood cells, and a CAR-T cell therapy treatment that reinforces the natural ability of the immune system to fight cancer. Show less

PROGRAMME:

Fight Kids Cancer

TYPE:

Translational Research Project

DISEASE:

Medulloblastoma

LOCATION:

UK

AMOUNT:

€499,000

STATUS:

Ongoing

REGO-INTER-EWING

Making innovative drugs available at diagnosis for children with Ewing Sarcoma Show more

The "INTER-EWING-1" clinical trial is open to patients with metastatic Ewing's sarcoma. In most cases, innovative treatment is only offered when standard treatment fails. Here, as standard treatment offers only limited efficacy, the clinical trial will be offered to patients immediately upon diagnosis. This trial will study whether adding a new agent, regorafenib, improves the effectiveness of standard chemotherapy, and will evaluate two other questions aimed at improving standard treatments: the adaptation of radiotherapy doses and the addition of a so-called "maintenance" treatment. Show less

PROGRAMME:

Fight Kids Cancer

TYPE:

Clinical trial

DISEASE:

Ewing Sarcoma

LOCATION:

FR, DE, IT, NL, SP, UK

AMOUNT:

€784,000

STATUS:

Ongoing

Glo-BNHL

A world-wide clinical trial for patients with Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma Show more

The “Glo-BNHL” clinical trial is a global study that aims at evaluating — alone or in combination with existing therapies — the toxicity and efficacy of the most promising new drugs for children to increase the cure rate in patients with recurrent B-cell Non-Hodgkin lymphoma (B-NHL). As, on the one hand, there are many new molecules that could be tested in young patients and, on the other hand, there are very few patients eligible for an experimental clinical trial, only a stepwise approach ensures the swift evaluation of the most promising treatments. To this end, this programme will create a unique global platform for early clinical trials in relapsed and refractory B-NHL. Show less

PROGRAMME:

Fight Kids Cancer

TYPE:

Clinical trial

DISEASE:

B-cell Non-Hodgkin lymphoma

LOCATION:

BE, UK

AMOUNT:

€1,161,000

STATUS:

Ongoing

RESTRAIN

Slow down the development of neurobastoma thanks to the study of a protein Show more

In this project “RESTRAIN”, researchers will create mouse and zebrafish models to cause the degradation of the RRM2 protein with the objective of improving our understanding of the role of RRM2 during neuroblastoma tumour formation. Researchers recently identified that it is this key protein on which neuroblastoma cells rely to sustain their growth. In addition, the objective is to discover as many other proteins as possible that, together with RRM2, play a crucial role in neuroblastoma cells and thus serve as novel targets for future therapy. Show less

PROGRAMME:

Fight Kids Cancer

TYPE:

Translational Research Project

DISEASE:

Neuroblastoma

LOCATION:

BE, UK

AMOUNT:

€500,000

STATUS:

Ongoing

IMAGINE

Improve the efficacy of immunotherapy for osteosarcoma patients Show more

The “IMAGINE” project aims to overcoming the tumour’s microenvironment’s barrier in paediatric osteosarcoma by using an innovative, inexpensive, non-invasive, and easy-to-implement approach to finally give access to these patients to immunotherapy. Immunotherapy is a type of treatment that attempts to strengthen the natural ability of the immune system to fight cancer. White blood cells will be loaded with magnetic nanoparticles that can be guided to the tumour through a magnetic field to significantly enhance their efficacy. Show less

PROGRAMME:

Fight Kids Cancer

TYPE:

Translational Research Project

DISEASE:

Osteosarcoma

LOCATION:

ES, FR, NO

AMOUNT:

€500,000

STATUS:

Ongoing

EpiRT

Study the epigenitics of ATRT (Atypical Teratoid Rhabdoid Tumour) Show more

This project will focus on the role of one epigenetic drug in rhabdoid tumours, inhibiting the epigenetic protein “EZH2”, whose inhibition has shown some preliminary effects in the clinic. Rhabdoid tumours are indeed characterised by the loss of one unique gene, called SMARCB1, which is gifted with a very much “epi-genetic” character. Therefore, one major field of research for further therapeutic development concerns drugs that also target epigenetic actors. The impact of this drug on rhabdoid tumours will be analysed at the cell level when grafted in mice. Show less

PROGRAMME:

Fight Kids Cancer

TYPE:

Translational Research Project

DISEASE:

Rhabdoid Tumour

LOCATION:

FR, DE

AMOUNT:

€500,000

STATUS:

Ongoing

ALARM 3

Improve our understanding of AML (Acute Myeloid Leukaemia) Show more

This project “ALARM3” will focus on AML cells at relapse and the understanding of their interactions with the bone marrow microenvironment in order to develop new treatments. It is based on a multi-approach research to (i) improve the characterisation of the relapse and resistance mechanisms, (ii) discover new targeted drugs, and (iii) understand the evolution of the treatment sensitivity, with the ultimate goal of improving the patients’ outcome through the personalisation of therapeutic strategies. Show less

PROGRAMME:

Fight Kids Cancer

TYPE:

Translational Research Project

DISEASE:

Acute myelobastic leukaemia (AML)

LOCATION:

FR

AMOUNT:

€499,000

STATUS:

Ongoing

POBCORN

Understand complex brain tumours Show more

The collaborative project POBCORN aims to in-depth investigation of the high-grade neuroepithelial tumour with a BCOR alteration (CNS HGNET-BCOR) biology with cutting-edge molecular technologies. The CNS HGNET-BCOR is a newly identified type of brain tumour. This project will allow us to understand the underlying biological processes that drive this tumour type and for which no effective treatments exist today. The project has two aims: first, the stratification of patients by risk groups, and second, the identification of novel treatment approaches (based on this novel stratification). Show less

PROGRAMME:

Fight Kids Cancer

TYPE:

Translational Research Project

DISEASE:

Neuroepithelial tumours

LOCATION:

AT, DE

AMOUNT:

€498,000

STATUS:

Ongoing

AsiDNA

Improve the efficiency of radiations for children with a brain tumour Show more

The clinical study “AsiDNA Children” tested a new drug: AsiDNA on children with a recurrent high-grade glioma (HGG). Standard treatment for HGG consists of surgery when possible and radiotherapy in all cases. The aim of the “AsiDNA Children” study was to prolong survival and improve patients’ quality of life in children and adolescents with recurrent, previously irradiated HGG. Show less

PROGRAMME:

Fight Kids Cancer

TYPE:

Clinical trial

DISEASE:

High-Grade Glioma

LOCATION:

FR, DE, IT, NL

AMOUNT:

€580,000

STATUS:

Ongoing

Our latest achievements

Curious to find out everything about KickCancer’s impact, achievements and events?

View all achievements

January 2024

Off Label Drugs Reimbursement

Advocacy

May 2024

Innovation Award 2024

Research

April 2024

Pharmaceutical package

Advocacy