International collaboration strengthens childhood cancer care
When children are diagnosed with cancer, it is not only the disease itself that poses a threat. During treatment, the immune system becomes weakened, and infections can become life-threatening. To better understand why some children are more severely affected, researchers at Karolinska Institutet and Astrid Lindgren Children’s Hospital are working together with colleagues at Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital in Uganda.
The collaboration with Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital and the research institute Epicentre Mbarara has been ongoing for more than 20 years, built on joint research and exchange of knowledge. By comparing patients in Sweden and Uganda, the researchers aim to find new ways to predict, prevent, and treat infections more effectively.
In September, researchers from Uganda visited Stockholm to take part in the Better Cure and Care – Childhood Cancer Research Symposium. The event also marked the 30th anniversary of childhood cancer research at Karolinska Institutet, with discussions highlighting both past achievements and future challenges.
The goal is clear: to ensure that more children with cancer survive and receive safe, high-quality care – no matter where in the world they live.