The SJD Barcelona Children's Hospital and the Josep Carreras Foundation create a childhood leukemia research program

The SJD Research Institute (IRSJD), the Josep Carreras Leukaemia Foundation (FJC) and the Josep Carreras Leukaemia Research Institute (IJC) have reached an agreement to develop a joint research program into childhood leukemia, valued at more than 10 million Euros.

The agreement states that the FJC will fund the renovation of spaces donated by the IRSJD and the purchase of equipment, as well as the creation of four research teams at the IJC who will be based in these spaces.

Through the SJD Pediatric Cancer Center Barcelona, and thanks to the invaluable resources left to the hospital by Carlos Parrera Casanovas to help support childhood cancer research, the SJD Barcelona Children's Hospital will provide resources for a further four research teams, designate 300 square metres of their facilities to laboratory spaces and provide full access to its clinical activity.

The agreement was signed by Josep Carreras, President of the Josep Carreras Leukaemia Foundation and the Josep Carreras Leukaemia Research Institute; Joan Comella, Head of the SJD Research Institute; and Manel del Castillo, Chief Executive Officer of the SJD Barcelona Children's Hospital.

With this agreement, the Josep Carreras Leukaemia Research Institute will launch its sixth campus within the SJD Barcelona Children's Hospital facilities and will become part of the strategic network for research, technology and innovation in pediatrics called the PReTI Partnership (Paediatric Research Technology and Innovation), promoted by the IRSJD.

Joan Comella said that ‘this new research campus, integrated into the SJD Pediatric Cancer Center Barcelona, and connected to our PReTI partnership plan, underscores our strategic support for building a leading network of knowledge, technology and talent in the field of pediatric research. At the SJD Research Institute, we are extremely proud to be part of this partnership between two renowned research institutions, so we can fight leukemia together and create a positive impact on the health of children.’

In a statement, Josep Carreras stated that ‘this partnership will promote the vital scientific research being done at our three institutions. Every day we are making progress in the study of leukemia, and this collaboration will help us to combine our efforts in the development of clinical, translational and basic research projects.’

Childhood leukemia is the most frequent type of pediatric cancer

In the pediatric population, leukemia is the most frequent type of cancer and while 80% of patients are completely cured, there are some who experience lasting side effects. Then there are 20% of patients who do not survive the disease, reinforcing the importance of research, given that treatment for relapses requires more personalised and advanced therapies that still need many resources in order to be effective.

Current research seeks to identify the molecular mechanisms behind resistance to conventional therapy in order to better treat relapsed patients. Moreover, it is necessary to focus efforts on discovering the mechanisms behind the onset of the disease, improving treatment and promoting side-effect free survival.

According to Pablo Menéndez, Scientific Coordinator of the program, ‘this partnership will allow us to develop common strategies, joint institutional programs and shared initiatives to promote the collaboration between basic, translational and clinical researchers. This would allow us to cover all phases of the research process, from in-lab phases right through to patient applications.’

The signed agreement aims to promote collaborative research between medical professionals, as well as to promote their ongoing training. It will also provide researchers with access to scientific platforms, and will facilitate the joint development of new platforms.