More than SEK 80 million from the Swedish Childhood Cancer Foundation for KI projects
The Swedish Childhood Cancer Foundation is awarding more than SEK 80 million to Karolinska Institutet for paediatric oncology research in 2024. The allocation includes 29 projects run by researchers at KI.
“Childhood cancer differs so much from adult cancer in many crucial ways, and active research in the field makes both healthcare and academia prepared for the new treatments and discoveries that are to come, that they have the skills in place and can participate in the clinical trials that precede the introduction of new drugs,” says Britt-Marie Frost, head of research at the Swedish Childhood Cancer Foundation, in a press release.
Childhood cancer survival is high in Sweden, as in large parts of the Western world, but several challenges remain. On the one hand, 15 percent still die from their illness or the heavy treatment, and on the other hand, there are still diagnoses where the possibility of treatment is completely lacking.
Complications later in life
Another problem is the complications that the treatment causes later in life, where as many as 7 out of 10 are affected.
The Swedish Childhood Cancer Foundation awards funding for both basic research and more applied clinical research. This year's decision means that the foundation is distributing SEK 166 million to 62 projects, of which 29 are run by researchers at KI.
The number of applications was 182, which gives a success rate of 34 percent. The projects reflect the burden of disease, which means that the most common diagnoses are leukemias and brain tumors.
The five projects that received the most funding at Karolinska Institutet
”Förbättrad precisionsdiagnostik av barncancerpredisposition” (Improved precision diagnostics of childhood cancer predisposition)
Ann Nordgren, researcher at the Department of Molecular Medicine and Surgery, is awarded SEK 6,000,000 over 3 years.
”NK-cellsterapi mot barncancer” (NK cell therapy against childhood cancer)
Karl-Johan Malmberg, senior researcher at the Department of Medicine, Huddinge, is awarded SEK 5,250,000 over 3 years.
”Litium förhindrar tumörtillväxt och skyddar hjärnan mot joniserande strålning” (Lithium prevents tumor growth and protects the brain against ionizing radiation)
Klas Blomgren, professor at the Department of Women's and Children's Health, is awarded SEK 4,800,000 over 3 years.
”Immunterapi med CAR-T celler som ny behandling för barn med högriskneuroblastom” (Immunotherapy with CAR-T cells as a new treatment for children with high-risk neuroblastoma)
Per Kogner, professor at the Department of Women's and Children's Health, is awarded 4,500,000 over 3 years.
”Histiocytoser hos barn - biologi, diagnostik och terapi” (Histiocytosis in children - biology, diagnostics and therapy)
Jan-Inge Henter, professor at the Department of Women's and Children's Health, is awarded SEK 4,000,000 over 2 years.