Maxima Butterfly · From Caterpillar to BUTTERFLY: supporting transformation of DCs in a paediatric oncology network

From Caterpillar to BUTTERFLY: supporting transformation of DCs in a paediatric oncology network

In the Netherlands, approximately 600 children receive a cancer diagnosis every year, with one in four dying from this illness. Despite overall survival rates improving significantly over the past 50 years, certain paediatric cancers still have very poor outcomes. Recognizing the urgent need for centralized care and research, a group of parents and healthcare professionals set out on a mission to establish a national children's cancer center. In 2015, their efforts resulted in the creation of the Princess Máxima Center for Pediatric Oncology, a groundbreaking institution dedicated to uniting the most highly skilled caregivers, esteemed oncologists, and leading researchers under one roof. This concentration and integration of a specialized pediatric oncology team reflects the mission of the Princess Máxima Center: “To provide a cure for every child with cancer while maintaining an optimal quality of life.” The center offers parents and caregivers the assurance that their children will receive state-of-the-art care, giving vital hope and support to families dealing with childhood cancer. The Máxima Butterfly programme is an innovative initiative aimed at cultivating the next generation of pediatric oncology scientists. The project represents a unique and comprehensive training program, offering 28 international PhD students unparalleled opportunities for growth and impact. This robust research program spans the entire spectrum of pediatric oncology: from fundamental research to expose genetic and molecular characteristics of tumor cells to translational experiments to develop personalized therapy, leading to clinical trials to test novel and improved treatment options. Every avenue is explored in pursuit of improved outcomes and enhanced quality of life for young patients and their families. Additionally, collaborations are fostered both within and outside the center, resulting in partnerships with esteemed institutions worldwide to accelerate progress in the fight against pediatric cancer. Each student in the Máxima Butterfly project will focus their research on one of five areas: Brain Tumors, Solid Tumors, Blood Cancers, New Technologies, and Quality of Life. They will receive training in the basic aspects of pediatric cancer treatment and skills that can be applied across different fields (such as intellectual property, sharing knowledge, and entrepreneurship). Moreover, the programme fosters interaction with academic, clinical, and entrepreneurial experts through specialist training, networking activities, and participation in summer and winter schools. These (inter)national connections provide students with the chance to collaborate with esteemed academic, industrial, and patient advocacy groups. This multidisciplinary approach not only enriches the experiences of the Máxima Butterfly Doctoral Candidates (DCs) but also cultivates a collaborative environment conducive to breakthrough discoveries and advancements in pediatric cancer research. Being embedded within Utrecht University, a leading international research institution, provides the Máxima Butterfly DCs access to state-of-the-art educational resources and graduate schools. The insights gained from the research carried out within the program will advance our understanding of both pediatric oncology and the broader field of cancer research. Impressively, although at the very early stages of this project, there has been one open-access publication with 12 more in the pipeline. Efforts to connect with stakeholders and generate interest among external stakeholders, including the broader community, have led to numerous impactful activities such as courses, workshops, participation in the Weekend of Science (Utrecht Science Park), school outreach programs, and even lighthearted pub events. Notably, the Dutch Enterprise Agency, part of the Ministry of Economic Affairs, recently boosted the Butterfly program by promoting it through their social media channels. This collaboration has been vital in raising awareness of the Butterfly project among RVO stakeholders, significantly broadening its reach both nationally and internationally. A significant moment for the Butterfly management team during the first period was the video message from European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in November 2023, expressing the European Union's strong support for the project. Additionally, to maximize societal impact, milestones and activities are posted on the designated Maxima Butterfly website and social media channels. Project results are promoted through outreach activities such as posters and guest speaker appearances at (inter)national scientific research conferences. Furthermore, the Máxima Butterfly maximizes its visibility through posts on the established Princess Máxima Center’s website and LinkedIn platforms. The Center boasts 41K LinkedIn followers, and the Care and Research section of the Princess Máxima Center’s website publishes articles at strategic intervals throughout the year. The latest article showcased Butterfly PhD student Mianyong Ding as one of twelve pediatric radiotherapists from nine European countries who learned how artificial intelligence can help in the irradiation of children with kidney tumors. Overall, the Maxima Butterfly program's expected impacts are significant, encompassing advancements in pediatric cancer research, fostering international collaboration, training the next generation of scientists and clinicians, and contributing to global efforts to improve outcomes for children with cancer. Economically, immunotherapy developments will create new markets for pharmaceutical companies. This helps drive significant investment in research and development of targeted cancer treatments. Improved long-term side effect management can significantly reduce long-term healthcare costs. Liquid biopsies for detecting residual cancer cells demonstrate a cost-effective alternative to traditional invasive diagnostic procedures, potentially reducing healthcare expenditures by reducing the number of unnecessary surgeries and extensive testing. All of these research activities drive interdisciplinary collaborations, which promote technological innovation. Treatment standardization is improved, which can also result in accelerated regulatory approval and clinical implementation. On a societal level, developments that improve the children’s overall quality of life will potentially reduce family and caregivers’ stress. Early neuropsychological screening enables more proactive and personalized healthcare interventions. These early interventions can potentially reduce developmental challenges for children. Through the Butterly project, worldwide collaborations are established, and researchers gain valuable insight into potential disease biomarkers that can ultimately be used for detection, treatment, and, in some cases, disease prevention. We are only at the beginning of this exciting journey, and we expect further scientific developments during the course of this project. The results of this initiative will extend far beyond the lifetime of the Máxima Butterfly project.

Data: CORDIS, © European Union