The quest to revolutionise treatment for children battling blood cancer has taken a significant leap forward today as the ATICUS Network (Accelerating Trials in Children Undergoing Stem Cell Transplant) announces the appointment of its first dedicated Project Lead.
This pivotal appointment marks the official transition of ATICUS from a visionary concept into an operational reality. Funded by the national charity Cure Leukaemia, The ATICUS Network is set to become the world’s first national clinical trial infrastructure specifically dedicated to paediatric stem cell transplants.
For decades, children undergoing bone marrow or stem cell transplants have often lacked a coordinated pathway to access the latest global therapies. The ATICUS Network, spanning 11 leading paediatric transplant centres across the UK, including Great Ormond Street Hospital, Birmingham Children’s, and Royal Manchester Children’s, aims to bridge this gap, ensuring young patients have the same access to innovative treatments as adults.
Paul Sherrington, CEO of Accelerating Clinical Trials (ACT), commented:
“The appointment of the Project Lead is a major step in our progress to open ATICUS. Building a national infrastructure of this scale requires expert coordination and a relentless focus on delivery. With this role in place, we are now moving at pace to ensure that the UK’s world-class paediatric clinicians have the platform they need to bring life-saving trials to the bedside of every child who needs them.”
The Project Lead will be responsible for the strategic rollout of the network, overseeing the integration of research nurses across the 11 sites and streamlining the regulatory hurdles that often delay the opening of paediatric trials.
The human impact of these trials is best expressed by those they serve. Alyssa, aged 16, who previously participated in a clinical trial, shared:
“When I thought I was going to die, I thought I hadn’t done anything with my life but I knew what I was doing through a clinical trial was going to make a difference for people in the future.”
Dr Katharine Patrick, Consultant Paediatric Haematologist at Sheffield Children’s Hospital added: “This a vital milestone in ensuring that paediatric patients across the UK have equal access to life-saving research”. Katharine is riding all 9 stages of the Tour de France Femmes avec ZWIFT as part of ‘The Route’ this summer and raising funds which will make the network become a reality.
James McLaughlin, CEO of Cure Leukaemia, expressed his pride in the milestone:
“We are incredibly proud to be appointing the first role in the ATICUS Network, which marks a major moment of progress for the charity and the families we serve. Our supporters have shown immense passion for this project, and seeing it come to life with this clinical appointment is a testament to that dedication.”
Professor Rob Wynn, Consultant Paediatric Haematologist at Manchester Children’s Hospital comments:
“We aren’t just funding a role; we are building the foundation of a network that will give children battling blood cancer the best possible chance at a future.”
As blood cancer remains the most common form of cancer in children and teenagers, the ATICUS Network represents a lifeline for families. By accelerating the delivery of new drug and transplant combinations, the network aims to make transplants safer, reduce long-term complications, and ultimately improve survival rates for children across the country.
This breakthrough is only the beginning of a journey that will change the landscape of paediatric cancer care forever. We invite you to be a part of this world-first initiative by visiting the Cure Leukaemia website to discover more about the life-changing impact of the ATICUS Network, follow our progress as we open sites across the UK, and find out how you can support our mission to ensure no child is left behind in the search for a cure.
Find out more at https://www.cureleukaemia.co.uk/patient-hub/the-aticus-network/
