The beginning of a unique European alliance
Three of the leading pediatric oncology centers in Europe have joined forces in the EU CAN KIDS program: the Hopp Children's Cancer Center Heidelberg (DE), the Princess Máxima Centrum (NL), and the Institut Curie (FR) to jointly tackle the major challenges of pediatric oncology.
In contrast to cancers in adults, where certain tumor types such as breast or lung cancer predominate, cancers in children under the age of 18 are highly heterogeneous with over 100 different tumor types. This means that every childhood cancer is a rare disease.
However, the improvement of health care and the success of research efforts depend heavily on the number of cases researched or treated at a single center: clinical experience, the capacity to conduct studies, and the transfer of knowledge through education all require a sufficient number of cases.
Given these challenges, collaboration between institutions and across borders is crucial.
EU CAN KIDS means a strategic pooling of expertise and innovative strength. By sharing resources, expertise and patient data, the exchange of clinical expertise is facilitated, research is accelerated and access to new therapies for patients is improved. Cross-national research projects, jointly established and used infrastructure and databases, multidisciplinary multi-center studies, as well as a joint training program for top professionals drive the development of more precise diagnostic possibilities and life-saving therapy options.
The research fund
Ambitious projects within the Alliance are financed by a joint research fund in which companies, foundations and private individuals invest. Each children's cancer center contributes one million euros annually. This investment is used to initiate new cross-center research projects on the most pressing issues in pediatric oncology. The projects selected on the basis of this excellence strategy can qualify for further national and international application opportunities in a second step, for example for funding pots from the Federal Ministry of Education and Research or the EU funding program for research and innovation “Horizon Europe”.
Thanks to the tremendous commitment of private supporters, the fund has been able to launch a total of 28 research and infrastructure projects since 2021, with a total funding amount of 5 million euros.
Donation account “EU CAN KIDS”:
Recipient: KiTZ
Bank institute: Sparkasse Heidelberg
IBAN: DE39 6725 0020 0009 3471 00
BIC: SOLADES1HDB
Purpose: EU CAN KIDS
If we are allowed to issue you with a donation receipt, please include your full address in the reference field of your bank transfer. Donation receipts are issued in accordance with the German model.