Childhood cancer charities unite to fund £700,000 of paediatric cancer research

Two leading childhood cancer charities, Children with Cancer UK and CCLG: The Children & Young People’s Cancer Association, have joined forces to co-fund over £700,000 in three innovative research projects aimed at improving treatments and long-term outcomes for children and young people with cancer.

This collaboration enables the charities to support larger, more ambitious studies by combining resources and expertise. Their joint approach is designed to accelerate progress and deliver meaningful improvements for young patients and their families.

Three vital projects will receive funding:

At the University of Birmingham, Dr Maarten Hoogenkamp is developing new drugs to block a protein that helps leukaemia cells grow, which could significantly improve survival rates for children with this most common form of childhood cancer.

At the University of Southampton, Dr Matthew Blunt is creating a new type of immunotherapy for rhabdomyosarcoma, a type of sarcoma that affects the muscles attached to bone. This project takes an innovative approach, aiming to create safer and more effective alternatives to chemotherapy, which often causes severe and lasting side effects in young patients.

At the Alder Hey Children’s NHS Foundation Trust, Prof Shivaram Avula is using advanced brain imaging to spot early signs of cognitive problems in children with brain tumours, enabling doctors to intervene sooner and improve long-term quality of life.

These grants reflect Children with Cancer UK and CCLG’s shared commitment to driving progress towards a future where every child and young person with cancer not only survives but thrives.

Gavin Maggs, Chief Executive of Children with Cancer UK said:

Working together with CCLG allows us to achieve more for children and families affected by cancer. Between us, we can fund research that pushes boundaries and brings us closer to safer, more effective treatments, maximising impact and accelerating progress. Co-funding like this has to be the way forward, for our donors, for the academics, and most importantly, for the children.

Ashley Ball-Gamble, Chief Executive of CCLG said: 

Our charities share the same goal – improving outcomes and quality of life for children and young people with cancer. By working together, we can support even more innovative research that addresses the key issues facing young patients. We are delighted to partner with Children with Cancer UK on this vital investment in our shared vision for the future.