Angela Mastronuzzi, Associate Professor of General and Specialist Pediatrics at Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, shared on LinkedIn:
“EPICA-DIPG Kick-off Meeting in Barcelona!
I am grateful to have been part of the EPICA-DIPG kick-off meeting in Barcelona, bringing together partners from Italy, Spain and the Netherlands around a European research initiative for children with diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (DIPG), bringing treatment, monitoring and delivery together to generate important evidence for future clinical studies.
During the meeting, Concetta Quintarelli, Head of the Gene Therapy for Tumors Research Unit at Ospedale Pediatrico Bambino Gesù, spoke on our behalf, presenting our role in this early-phase clinical trial.
Our team will contribute through:
- Manufacturing
- Regulatory affairs management
- Clinical trial recruitment
But for me, this is about even much more than these vital responsibilities.
As a physician and researcher, I have met extraordinary children with DIPG and their families. Their stories have strengthened my commitment to finding better treatments and continuing to move research forward.
I am also profoundly thankful to Fondazione Il Coraggio Dei Bambini and its President, Alessandro Cannolicchio, who will take part in this project representing a patient and parent association. The Foundation has continuously supported my unit over the years, after losing their daughter to DIPG. They have a deep commitment to advancing research and supporting other children and families facing this disease. It is an honor to share this journey with them.
EPICA-DIPG represents what can happen when researchers, clinicians and families come together with a shared goal. It feels especially meaningful that we came together for this meeting during Childhood Cancer Awareness Month.
Hope is in research.
You can also read:
From Loss to Legacy: Funding Research and Hope for Children with DIPG
