OncoThon 2024
On February 15th, Oncodaily is presenting its first-ever global Oncothon, a 24-hour worldwide telethon aimed at raising funds for cancer. For its first edition, Oncodaily has decided to focus on childhood cancer, as it coincides with International Childhood Cancer Day.
Childhood cancer is still one of the leading causes of death by disease in children aged 1 to 19. Unfortunately, there are several times less drugs approved for pediatric cancer compared to over 200 in adults.
Although close to half a million children are diagnosed with cancer and hundreds of thousands of lives are lost to it globally each year, childhood cancer is still categorized as a rare disease. Regrettably, the pharmaceutical industry and venture capitalists show limited interest in backing essential initiatives beyond academic research, given the comparatively small market size of pediatric cancer in contrast to adults.
Without leadership from the industry, it is almost impossible to approve new drugs.
UNPRECENDENTED OPPORTUNITY
Two parents, Ricardo García and Cesare Spadoni, an entrepreneur and a scientist touched by childhood cancer, lead Oncoheroes Biosciences, the first company dedicated to developing new drugs for pediatric oncology.
Oncoheroes’ lead compound, volasertib, is ready to be evaluated in an international clinical trial with the hope of finding signs of efficacy in several types of pediatric cancers (Ewing sarcoma, medulloblastoma, neuroblastoma, rhabdomyosarcoma, diffuse midline glioma (DMG), including diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (DIPG)).
Oncoheroes is partnering with Hopp Children’s Cancer Center Heidelberg (KiTZ), the leading academic institution of this study, and will provide the drug and industry support. Volasertib will be evaluated in combination with vinorelbine in approximately 20 sites globally, targeting +100 patients who have exhausted available treatments.
This clinical trial would be the first comprehensive pediatric evaluation of this promising compound and would serve as the basis for a later global registration trial in the most suitable pediatric indication.
The trial is largely supported by the German Foundation, BILD hilft e.V. “Ein Herz für Kinder“, however, funding is still the only obstacle preventing its launch.
UNITED AGAINST CHILDHOOD CANCER
Oncodaily invites you to contribute to this collective effort by making a donation—whether big or small, every contribution counts.
During the Oncothon, donations worldwide will be channeled through Ally Anderson Alveolar Rhabdomyosarcoma Research Fund supported by Arms Wide Open Childhood Cancer Foundation.
Five years ago, Ally Anderson started her brave fight against alveolar RMS and relapsed six times, emphasizing the critical need for advancements in pediatric cancer research. Tragically, Ally passed away last November at the age of 16. To learn more about Ally’s story and her commitment to Oncoheroes’ lead compound volasertib, WATCH THIS VIDEO.
Join the OncoThon and stream us following this link.
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CONFIRMED SPEAKERS
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AGENDA
| 10:00 – 10:25 AM JST | Gevorg Tamamyan, Armenia – Editor-in-chief of OncoDaily, Head of Pediatric Cancer and Blood Disorders Center of Armenia, Professor and Chairman of the Department of Hematology and Pediatric Oncology at Yerevan State Medical University, CEO of Immune Oncology Research Institute, President-Elect of Pediatric Oncology East and Mediterranean (POEM) Group
Ricardo Garcia, USA – Richi’s dad, brain tumor survivor, CEO and Co-Founder at Oncoheroes Biosciences President and Founder at Richi Childhood Cancer Foundation Fernando Goldsztein, Brazil – MBA at MIT Sloan School of Management. Cancer survivor and the father of Frederico, a fighter against a relapse Medulloblastoma. Founder of The National Foundation in Washington D.C. |
| 10:30 – 10:55 AM JST | Albert Ananyan, USA – Survivor
Richi, USA – Survivor |
| 11:00 – 11:25 AM JST | Akira Nakagawara, Japan – APHOG chair
Paul Schlegel, Germany – Chief of the Pediatric Hematology, Oncology, and Stem Cell Transplant Program of the University Children’s Hospital of Würzburg, Germany |
| 11:30 – 11:55 AM JST |
Ching-Tien Peng, China – Pediatric Oncologist, Past-President of the Taiwan Society of Thrombosis and Haemostasis, Former Superintendent of Children’s Hospital of China Medical University, Taiwan
Hiroki Hori, Japan – SIOP Asia President Feng-ming Spring KONG, China – Clinical Professor, Director, Imaging and Blood biomarker Group, Department of clinical oncology, The University oh Hong Kong |
| 12:00 – 12:25 PM JST | Jemma Arakelyan, Hong Kong – CEO of Institute of Cancer and Crisis, Adjunct Assistant Professor at the Hematology and Pediatric Oncology Department, PhD at the City University of Hong Kong
Maria V Babak – Assistant Professor of Chemistry, City University of HK, Board Member of the Institute of Cancer and Crisis |
| 12:30 – 12:55 PM JST | Nita Radhakrishnan, India – Head of the Department of Pediatric Hematology-Oncology at the Post-Graduate Institute of Child Health Noida, India, Honorary Secretary of the Pediatric Hematology Oncology Chapter, Chairperson of the Childhood Cancer Program Area Working Group, International Pediatric Association
Dinesh Pendharkar, India – Director of Oncology, Sarvodaya Hospital Faridabad, Chairman of the National Cancer Society, Past-President of the Indian Society of Oncology, Past-President of the Indian Society of Medical and Pediatric Oncology Godfrey Chan – Chair of the Chan Soon-Shiong Family Foundation |
| 01:00 – 01:25 PM JST | AKT Rau – Dean of the M. S. Ramaiah Medical College, India
Leo Mascarenhas, USA – Division Chief of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology and Director of the Sarcoma Program at Cedars-Sinai Tsetsegsaikhan Batmunkh, Mongolia – CEO of the National Cancer Council of Mongolia |
| 01:30 – 01:55 PM JST | Shushan Hovsepyan, Pediatric Oncologist, Clinical Research Coordinator at Yeolyan Hematology and Oncology Center, Research Fellow at the Immune Oncology Research Institute
Ricardo Garcia, USA – Richi’s dad, brain tumor survivor CEO and Co-Founder at Oncoheroes Biosciences President and Founder at Richi Childhood Cancer Foundation |
| 9:00 – 9:25 AM AMT | Cesare Spadoni, Italy – Laura’s dad, childhood cancer warrior, COO and Co-Founder of Oncoheroes Biosciences, Co-founder and the Chairman of the Board of aPODDD (accelerating Paediatric Oncology Drug Development) |
| 9:30 – 9:55 AM AMT | Anna Avagyan, Armenia – Pediatric Oncologist/Hematologist, Pediatric Cancer and Blood Disorders Center of Armenia (PCBDCA), Head of Karina Cacner Predisposition Clinic of PCBDCA, Yeolyan Hematology and Oncology Center
Syuzan Hobosyan – Projects Director at Health Fund for Children of Armenia Julieta Hoveyan, Armenia – Pediatric Oncologist, PCBDCA, Research Fellow at the Immune Oncology Research Institute |
| 10:00 – 10:25 AM AMT |
Mariko Kakazu, Cambodia – Director of pediatrics, Pediatric Oncologist, Japan Heart children’s Medical Center
Yongmin Tang, China – Director of Pediatric Hematology-Oncology Center |
| 10:30 – 10:55 AM AMT | Lilit Sargsyan, Armenia – Chief of Pediatric Oncology unit at Pediatric Cancer and Blood Disorders Center of Armenia (PCBDCA)
Ruzanna Papyan, Armenia – Assistant Professor at the Department of Hematology and Pediatric Oncology of Yerevan State Medical University, Head of the Musculoskeletal Tumors Working Group at the PCBDCA, Lead of Pediatric Oncology Research and CRP at the Immune Oncology Research Institute Arsene Mekinian, Professor of Immunology, Rheumatology, Internal Medicine at Sorbonne University in Paris, Founder and President of Sante Armenie |
| 11:00 – 11:25 AM AMT | Penilla Gunther, Sweden – Former Member of Swedish Parliament and Founder of the initiative FOKUS Patient
CS Pramesh, India – Director of Tata Memorial Hospital, Mumbai, India |
| 11:30 – 11:55 AM AMT | Karen Bedirian, Armenia – Projects Director at the Immune Oncology Research Institute (IMMONC)
Joshua Omale, Nigeria – Cancer Advocate, Coalition Against Childhood Cancer (CAC2) Convener, Campus Cancer Awareness, Nigeria Yakup GOZDERESI, Turkey – Research Assistant and Resident Doctor Child Health and Diseases Department of Cerrahpasa School of Medicine, Istanbul University |
| 12:00 – 12:25 PM AMT | Christian Girard – Co-Founder of The PRV Fund Project |
| 12:00 – 12:25 PM AMT |
Cesare Spadoni, Italy – Laura’s dad, childhood cancer warrior COO and Co-Founder at Oncoheroes Biosciences, Co-founder and Chairman of the Board at aPODD (accelerating Paediatric Oncology Drug Development) |
| 10:00 – 10:25 AM CET | Neil Ranasinghe, UK – Parent of a cancer survivor; SIOP GHN Education and Training Working Group Co-Chair
Pan Pantiziarka, UK – Director of Drug Repurposing, Anticancer Fund. Co-Founder and Chairman of the George Pantziarka TP53 Trust Menia Koukougianni, Greece – NGO KARKINAKI AWARENESS FOR CHILDHOOD AND ADOLESCENT CANCER |
| 10:30 – 10:55 AM CET | Julia Valentina Ojeda, Spain/Venezuela – Two-time childhood cancer survivor (AML) and Wellness Coach supporting Cancer Survivors |
| 11:00 – 11:25 AM CET | Jaume Mora, Spain – Scientific Director of the Oncology and hematology Area and Director of the Developmental Tumours Laboratory at Sant Joan De Deu Barcelona Hospital
Khaled Ghanem, Syria – Medical Director of BASMA Pediatrics Oncology Unit, Damascus Leo Kager, Austria – Head of the Outpatient Department of Hematology and Oncology at the St. Anna Children’s Hospital, Vienna |
| 11:30 – 11:55 AM CET | Maura Massimino, Italy – Chief of Pediatric Oncology Unit, Instituto Naziolnale dei Tumori
Girish Chinnaswamy, India – Pediatric oncologist from Tata Memorial Center Mazin Alkadiry, Iraq – Pediatric oncologist, Children Welfare Teaching Hospital, Assistant Professor at the University of Baghdad |
| 12:00 – 12:25 PM CET | Zainab Shinkafi-Bagudu, Nigeria – Chair of the First Ladies Against Cancer, Founder/CEO if the Medicaid Cancer Foundation, UICC Board Member
Rashmi Dalvi, India – Past President of the Asian Society for Pediatric Oncology (SIOP Asia) Ester Demirtshyan, Armenia – CEO of the City of Smile Charitable Foundation |
| 12:30 – 12:55 PM CET |
Scott Howard, USA – Former General Secretary of SIOP, Deputy Director of the Yeolyan Hematology and Oncology Center, Chief Development Officer of the San Joan de Deu Hospital Barcelona, CEO of Resonance
Rawad Rihani, USA – Chair of Pediatrics Department, Pediatric Blood and Marrow Transplantation and Cellular Therapy Program at King Hussein Cancer Center, Jordan |
| 01:00 – 01:25 PM CET | Marc Ramis, Spain – Castelltort Investing & Building Ventures to Impact Children’s Health, Managing Partner at Montana Impact Fund
Sam Daems, Belgium – Principal at Waterland Private Equity and Researcher at I3h-ULB |
| 01:30 – 01:55 PM CET | Ricardo Garcia, USA – Richi’s dad, brain tumor survivor CEO and Co-Founder at Oncoheroes Biosciences President and Founder at Richi Childhood Cancer Foundation
Cesare Spadoni, Italy – Laura’s dad, childhood cancer warrior COO and Co-Founder at Oncoheroes Biosciences, Co-founder and Chairman of the Board at aPODD (accelerating Paediatric Oncology Drug Development) Dr. Cornelis van Tilburg – Head Clinical Trial Unit, Consultant Pediatric Oncologist | Hopp Children’s Cancer Center Heidelberg (KiTZ) Nickhill Bhakta, USA – Associate Member of St. Jude Faculty, Director of Sub-Saharan Africa Region at St. Jude Global, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital |
| 2:00 – 2:25 PM CET | Christy and Matt Brown, USA – Their son Alexander is battling Medulloblastoma Group 3
Verena Donner, Germany – Mother of Anna (7 years old), Ph+ ALL-survivor Melanie Heron, Canada – Mother of Troy, who had various forms of cancer for 20 years before passing at the age of 23 |
| 2:30 – 2:55 PM CET | Susanne Wolaert, Switzerland – CEO of International Society for Pediatric Oncology (SIOP)
Rejin Kebudi, Turkey – General Secretary of International Society for Pediatric Oncology (SIOP) Venkatraman Radhakrishnan – Head of the Pediatric Oncology Division at Cancer Institute in Chennai |
| 3:00 – 3:25 PM CET | Clifford Hudis, USA – CEO of American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO)
Lars Hjorth, Sweden – Pediatric Oncologist & Hematologist, Skane University Hospital, Lund University, Past-Chairman of the Pan- European Network for care of survivors after Childhood and Adolescent Cancer (PanCare) |
| 3:30 – 3:55 PM CET | Korede Araire, Nigeria – Childhood Cancer Advocate, Head of Programs at The Docras Cancer Foundation, Young SIOP Chair
Farina Arreguin, Mexico – Head of Pediatric Pediatric Oncology Department, National Medical Center “20 noviembre” ISSSTE Mahmoud Hammad, Egypt – Professor Pediatric Oncology & Stem Cell transplant National Cancer Institute; Cairo University Director Nasser Institute Oncology & Nuclear Center |
| 4:00 – 4:25 PM CET |
Gertjan Kaspers, Netherlands – Director Academy and Outreach of the Princess Maxima Center
Federico Antillon-Klusman, Guatemala – SIOP Global Health Network Co-Chair, Medical Director of the Unidad Nacional de Oncologia Pediatrica Ishtar Espejo, Spain – CEO, Aladina Foundation Paco Arragano, Spain – Movie Producer and Founder of Aladina Foundation |
| 4:30 – 4:55 PM CET | Sujuan BA, USA – AIM-Hi Accelerator Fund
Jeri Wilson, USA – Executive Director of the Pediatric Cancer Research Foundation |
| 5:00 – 5:30 PM CET | Justin Stebbing, UK – Editor-in-Chief of Oncogene, Professor of Oncology at ARU and Imperial College London
Diana Romero, UK – Editor-in-Chief of Nature Reviews Clinical Oncology Shant Shekherdimian, USA – Associate Professor and Interim Chief of the Division of Pediatric Surgery at UCLA |
| 5:30 – 5:55 PM CET | Ricardo Garcia – Richi’s dad, brain tumor survivor CEO and Co-Founder at Oncoheroes Biosciences President and Founder at Richi Childhood Cancer Foundation
Cesare Spadoni, Italy – Laura’s dad, childhood cancer warrior COO and Co-Founder at Oncoheroes Biosciences, Co-founder and Chairman of the Board at aPODD (accelerating Paediatric Oncology Drug Development) |
| 12:00 – 12:25 PM EDT | Patty Anderson Mom to Ally Anderson – Alveolar Rhabdomyosarcoma Fighter Ally’s Alveolar Rhabdomyosarcoma Research Fund
Dena Sherwood, USA – Mom to Sydney (21) and Billy Jr. (16) – 2X Stage IV Neuroblastoma Survivor Founder and President of Arms Wide Open Childhood Cancer Foundation, The Truth 365, Helping Hands & CureFest |
| 12:30 – 12:55 PM EDT | Juanita Prada (USA) – Two-time childhood cancer survivor
Ellie Waters (UK) – RMS Survivor Dan Bastian (USA) – CP Owner of Progressive Orthotics and Prosthetics, Survivor |
| 01:00 – 01:55 PM EDT |
Gabriela Villanueva (Argentina) – Young SIOP Steering Committee member
Muhammad Saghir Khan (Pakistan) – co-chair of SIOP Global Health Network Maite Gorostegui, Spain – Chair of the SIOP Global Mapping Programme, Co-lead for the Group of Hereditary and Rare tumors (Cure4kids platform) in Latin America, Pediatric Oncologist at the Hospital Sant Joan de Deu, Barcelona |
| 02:00 – 02:25 PM EDT | Susan Weiner – Children’s Cancer Cause
Vickie Buenger – President Emeritus CAC2 |
| 02:30 – 02:55 PM EDT | Laura Sobiech, USA – Zach’s mom
Justin Baldoni, USA – Director of the Clouds, a movie about a childhood cancer patient, Zach Sobiech |
| 03:00 – 03:25 PM EDT | Molly Oldham, USA – Survivor – Ally’s friend
Ava Blaser, USA – 2x Survivor. Stage 5 Bilateral Wilms tumors – Ally’s friend |
| 03:30 – 03:55 PM EDT | Ricardo Garcia – Richi’s dad, brain tumor survivor CEO and Co-Founder at Oncoheroes Biosciences President and Founder at Richi Childhood Cancer Foundation Cesare Spadoni, Italy – Laura’s dad, childhood cancer warrior COO and Co-Founder at Oncoheroes Biosciences, Co-founder and Chairman of the Board at aPODD (accelerating Paediatric Oncology Drug Development) |
| 4:00 – 4:25 PM EDT | Michael Gossling – Grant’s dad, High-risk neuroblastoma warrior
June Gossling – Grant’s mom, High-risk neuroblastoma warrior Lisa Ward, USA – Mom of Jace, DIP warrior Alisha Jacobs, USA – Mom of Kaden, 2x acute myeloid leukemia |
| 4:30 – 4:55 PM EDT | Emily Hovhannisyan – Google
Asya Agulnik – Associate Member of St. Jude Faculty, director of Global Critical Care Program, Director of Euro Regional Program, USA |
| 5:00 – 5:25 PM EDT | Ethan Daniels, USA – Lymphoma survivor
Turner Dodd, USA – ALL survivor, Member of the Rally Foundation’s Young Professionals Leadership Team |
| 5:30 – 5:55 PM EDT | Justin Baker, USA – Pediatric Oncologist, St Jude Children’s Research Hospital
Sarah Tasian, USA – Chief of the Hematologic Malignancies Program at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, USA |
| 6:00 – 6:25 PM EDT | Maria Jofrion – Mother of Tommy, an 18 y.o. diagnosed with brain tumors when he was 2 y.o.
Alice Williams, USA – Mother in awe of her two children, Lexie 26 y.o., diagnosed at age 3 and 1/2 months with brain tumor, and Emily 28 y.o., sibling extaordinaire |
| 6:30 – 6:55 PM EDT |
Eric J. Small, USA – ASCO President-Elect
Enrique Soto, Mexico – Head of Cancer Care in the Elderly Clinic at the National Institute of Medical Science and Nutrition, Editior-in-Chief of Mexican Journal of Oncology, Member of ASCO Board |
| 7:00 – 7:25 PM EDT | Doug Hawkins – Group Chair, Children’s Oncology Group, Professor of Pediatrics at University of Washington and Seatle Children’s Hospital
Peter Adamson – Global Head, Oncology Development & Pediatric Innovation, Sanofi |
| 7:30 – 7:55 PM EDT | Ricardo Garcia, USA – Richi’s dad, brain tumor survivor CEO and Co-Founder at Oncoheroes Biosciences President and Founder at Richi Childhood Cancer Foundation |