Research Update - December 2020

We are delighted to have announced the first International Neuroblastoma Research Initiative award to be funded under our AMRC-
accredited research funding process, which will see a targeted drug introduced to 
frontline treatment for children with the hope of dramatically increasing survival rates.  

The study, known as TITAN - Transatlantic Integration Targeting ALK in Neuroblastoma – is the first time the Children’s Oncology Group (COG) in North America and the SIOPEN research network in Europe have worked together to design and run a clinical trial. This transatlantic collaboration has been described as a landmark in paediatric oncology research and will see children with neuroblastoma in Europe and North America treated together for the first time. It is hoped the study, investigating the ALK-inhibitor Lorlatinib in front-line treatment, will open early next year. 

The challenge grant award was driven by collaborative funding from seven parent-led research charities calling for more targeted therapies for newly diagnosed children: Joining Against Cancer in Kids (J-A-C-K),  Solving Kids’ Cancer UK, and Zoé4life in Europe alongside Band of Parents, Ronan Thompson Foundation, Solving Kids’ Cancer (New York), Wade’s Army in the United States.  

Following an extensive and stringent scientific review of the applications received, an award of $1.3M has now been made to Dr Yael Mossé of Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and Dr Dominique Valteau-Couanet of Institute Gustave Roussy in France.