Children with Cancer UK announces appointment of new trustee and scientific advisor

Children with Cancer UK, the leading national children’s charity dedicated to the fight against childhood cancer, welcomes a new trustee, Professor Bruce Morland, and a new scientific advisor, Professor Pamela Kearns, alongside the rolling out of its five year research strategy.

6 October 2022

Bruce Morland, Trustee

Bruce Morland has recently retired as a Professor of Paediatric Oncology at Birmingham Women’s and Children’s Hospital. He spent his career managing children with non-CNS (Central Nervous System) solid tumours and is an international expert in the treatment of liver and bone tumours. He has extensive experience in the development of novel new therapies for childhood cancer and the conduct of early phase clinical trials. He was previously Chairman of the Children’s Cancer and Leukaemia Group (CCLG).

Pamela Kearns, Scientific Advisor

Pamela Kearns is Professor of Clinical Paediatric Oncology at the University of Birmingham and an Honorary Consultant Paediatric Oncologist at Birmingham Women and Children’s Hospital. She is Director of the University of Birmingham’s Institute of Cancer and Genomic Sciences and Director of the Cancer Research UK Clinical Trials Unit (CRCTU). She is a Trustee for Cancer Research UK as well as A Child of Mine, a charity dedicated to supporting bereaved parents. She is also Chair of the Research Assessment Panel for GOSH Charity, and Chair of The Independent Scientific Advisory Panel for Bone Cancer Research Trust.

Five year research strategy

Children with Cancer UK has also recently announced the publication of its plans through its five year research strategy from 2022 until 2027. The charity said that it would be building on its previous research success which includes the development of a breakthrough molecular technique for measuring Minimal Residual Disease (MRD), subsequently adopted by the NHS as part of the standard treatment for all children with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia.

Jo Elvin, CEO of Children with Cancer UK said of the strategy

We are incredibly proud of what has been achieved by the projects we have funded over the last three decades. We feel confident about this next phase which will focus on the continuation of vital research. Since its launch in 1988, Children with Cancer UK has raised more than £290 million and funded over 300 research projects which has contributed to childhood cancer survival rates improving from 67% to 84%*. Thanks to the generosity of donors, Children with Cancer UK’s funds will continue to bring together some of the world’s greatest scientific minds whose experience, knowledge, insights and long term commitment will take us ever closer to the charity’s aim of living in a world where every single child and young person survives cancer.

Research that Children with Cancer UK is currently funding includes working on more targeted, less toxic treatment options as well as support of clinical and laboratory research aimed at improving survival and quality-of-life for children and young people. Included in the strategy is the charity’s commitment to continuing its valued collaborations with other charities, universities and organisations which have proved very successful over the last 30 years. The charity will also continue to support the next generation of clinician scientists and research leaders, encouraging their long-term career progression through a number of dedicated programmes.

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For more information about Professor Bruce Morland, Professor Pamela Kearns, the five year research strategy or images please contact: Hannah Chambers hannah.chambers@childrenwithcancer.org.uk

Patient story – Bethan

Bethan was just four years old when she was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL). She had been unwell

Patient Story – Florrie H

Florrie was diagnosed with multi system Langerhans cell histiocytosis on 21 September 2020 when she was just 18 months

Patient Story – Matilda T

Matilda was diagnosed with B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukaemia on 24 February 2022 when she was just three years old.

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