Pediatric Oncology

At the 7th SIOP Europe Annual Meeting, the Projects in Spotlight sessions showcased the collaborative initiatives between SIOP Europe and key stakeholders. From innovation, rare malignancies and psychosocial support to survivorship, these projects aim to improve outcomes, coordination between research and clinical care, reduce inequalities, and strengthen patient-centred care across Europe. Scroll down for a snapshot of each project and click on the headings to find out more.

Congress coverage | This May, experts from around the world gathered in Glasgow, Scotland for the the 7th SIOP Europe Annual Meeting. This year celebrated the importance of collaboration,  bringing together the diverse stakeholders involved in facing children and adolescents with cancer, and ensuring all voices were heard. The Annual Meeting was held in partnership with CCI Europe, ensuring the representation and participation of childhood cancer parents and survivors.

At the 7th SIOP Europe Annual Meeting, emerging therapies, biological precision, and workforce development are all under the spotlight. Dr Daniela Di Carlo (Chair, Young SIOPE), reflects on where the field is heading, particularly CAR T-cell therapy and artificial intelligence, and what is needed to ensure that progress translates into real-world benefit for children with cancer.

At the 7th SIOP Europe Annual Meeting, Anita Kienesberger (Chair, Childhood Cancer International Europe [CCI Europe]), discusses the evolving landscape of paediatric oncology advocacy. She shares insights on the critical importance of psychosocial support, the necessity of collaborative research and the ongoing challenge of health inequalities across Europe. As CCI Europe transitions into an independent legal entity, Anita Kienesberger highlights the organisation's strategic shift toward empowering survivors and standardising long-term care.

Professor Pamela Kearns discusses the key points from her Plenary presentation on how the ITCC is expanding access to innovative therapies, harnessing precision data and reshaping Europe’s paediatric oncology clinical trial landscape. “We want to bring innovation directly to ...

At the 7th SIOP Europe Annual Meeting, attention turned toward how children and families experience cancer treatment, not just how they respond clinically. One of the leading voices in this field is Professor Martha Grootenhuis (Princess Máxima Center for Pediatric Oncology, Utrecht, Netherlands). Her work focuses on integrating patient reported outcome measures (PROMS) into both clinical trials and routine care. In this Q&A, she discusses the key take-home messages from her Plenary session 'PROMS and feedback during trials: a new point at the horizon'.

Among the emerging voices at the 7th SIOP Europe Annual Meeting, was Dr Miguel Vieira-Martins, (Princess Máxima Center, Utrecht, Netherlands and member of Young SIOPE Steering Committee). He is deeply engaged in both the scientific and collaborative structures driving the field forward. In this interview, he discusses how opportunities in Young SIOPE are supporting early-career professionals, and reflects on the importance of international networks, the rise of immunotherapy and how meetings like SIOPE are accelerating progress from bench to bedside.

At the 7th SIOP Europe Annual Meeting, Professor Uta Dirksen (President, SIOP Europe) outlines a vision for a more equitable and collaborative future in paediatric oncology, one shaped as much by community engagement as by scientific innovation.

At SIOPE 2026, discussions around early phase clinical development highlighted both the scientific advances and structural challenges shaping modern paediatric oncology. Prof Cornelis Van Tilburg is closely involved in both areas through his leadership of the clinical trials unit and multiple investigator-initiated studies in paediatric neuro-oncology. In this interview, he discusses the barriers affecting European early phase research, evolving paediatric trial methodologies, and the importance of international collaboration in precision oncology.