The collaboration between the two hospitals is focused on clinical research, molecular diagnostics and cellular therapy. This relates to characteristics of cancer in children, new therapies or the effects of treatment. Prof. dr. Rob Pieters, medical director and founder of the Princess Máxima Center, says: ‘The collaboration between the Elpida Pediatric Oncology Center and the Princess Máxima Center is a fantastic opportunity to boost molecular diagnostics and the setting up of clinical trials in Athens. In addition, this project reflects that the Máxima Center can also make a difference for patients outside the Netherlands.’
The official signature moment took place during a working visit to the Elpida Pediatric Oncology Unit of the Aghia Sofia Children's Hospital in Athens. This was part of the royal couple's three-day State Visit to Greece. During the tour of the hospital, they visited the stem cell laboratory of the oncology clinic Elpida and spoke with former patients about their experiences.
The Máxima Center and the Aghia Sofia
The Princess Máxima Center for pediatric oncology is a research hospital where all children with cancer in the Netherlands are treated. Healthcare professionals and scientists work closely together to provide the best care, improve treatments and develop new perspectives for the future. The collaboration with the Greek Aghia Sofia Children's Hospital aims to ensure that young patients throughout Europe and worldwide can benefit from modern therapies and diagnostics.
Childhood cancer
Childhood cancer is relatively rare, but still causes more than 6,000 deaths a year in Europe. Through collaboration in Europe, even more patients can gain access to well-matched clinical trials in order to increase the chances of a cure. Every year, 600 children in the Netherlands are diagnosed with cancer. Across Europe, the disease affects 35,000 children and teenagers each year. About a quarter of them cannot be cured with currently available standard therapies and more than 6,000 do not survive the disease. This makes cancer the most common cause of death by disease in children and teens.
Photo credit: Mischa Stubenitsky