Every child Is unique.
So should be their treatment.
Our Mission
Childhood cancer is the leading cause of death by disease in children in Switzerland, affecting over 300 children in Switzerland every year, with one child losing their life to the disease each week. Survivors of childhood cancer often have serious long term side-effects as a result of the treatments. Yet, despite its devastating impact, childhood cancer remains significantly underrepresented in Swiss public discourse. The KidsCan association was founded on the belief that:
1. There is an urgent and unmet need in children’s healthcare in Switzerland, requiring immediate attention.
2. Too often, current treatments are failing children, as they do not always provide optimal outcomes nor meet their long-term needs.
3. New clinical opportunities exist but are not sufficiently researched, preventing them from reaching children fast enough and limiting access to innovative treatments.
1. There is an urgent and unmet need in children’s healthcare in Switzerland, requiring immediate attention.
2. Too often, current treatments are failing children, as they do not always provide optimal outcomes nor meet their long-term needs.
3. New clinical opportunities exist but are not sufficiently researched, preventing them from reaching children fast enough and limiting access to innovative treatments.
Together We Can Make a Difference
At KidsCan we believe that together, we can make a difference by accelerating the development and implementation of new clinical possibilities for children’s health.
Our goal is to bring new therapies to children with high risk or resistant disease across Switzerland. Accelerated access to innovative therapies and effective drug combinations we hope to reduce treatment-related toxicities and improve overall outcome.
Our goal is to bring new therapies to children with high risk or resistant disease across Switzerland. Accelerated access to innovative therapies and effective drug combinations we hope to reduce treatment-related toxicities and improve overall outcome.
Using Data Science for Clinical Impact
Precision medicine aims to match the right treatment to each child, based on data. Within KidsCan we aim to launch KidsCan-01, a trial based on cutting edge sequencing and imaging technologies, high-throughput drug screening and AI to deliver data-driven treatment support. The different methods map molecular alterations and drug sensitivities to the individual clinical journey of each patient.
Drug Response Profiling
Drug Response Profiling is a method that evaluates how a patient’s cancer cells respond to specific medications ex vivo in order to identify actionable combinatorial interventions.
Next-Generation Sequencing
Whole genome and RNA sequencing can detect individual genetic variants and gene expression signatures, highlighting potential therapeutic targets.
Single-Cell Multi-Omics
These methods map the cellular composition of tumors at single-cell resolution allowing us to better understand the molecular mechanisms that drive drug resistance and sensitivity.
Spatial Profiling and Digital Pathology
Imaging mass cytometry and spatial transcriptomics map the tumor tissue and its microenvironment, thus visualizing the cellular heterogeneity within a tumor.
With KidsCan we federate functional precision medicine in Switzerland to provide tailored treatment options for our youngest patients.
Prof. Jean-Pierre Bourquin
Cancer survivors often face long term side effects that impact their quality of life and contribution to society. For parents and children, it is imperative that new, innovative treatments are found and accessible to all patients in order to cure more children, and cure them better.
Nicole Scobie
Who We Are
Jean-Pierre Bourquin
President of KidsCan
Raffaele Renella
Vice-President
Nicole Scobie
Committee Member, Treasurer
Ana Guerreiro-Stücklin
Committee Member
Raphael Morscher
Committee Member
Manuel Diezi
Committee Member
Events
Join us for an inspiring Chamber Music Evening on
Friday, June 6, 2025, at the Lavater Saal in Zurich.
The evening will beging with opening remarks from KidsCan’s President and Vice President, followed by greetings from committee member Nicole Scobie. The highlight of the night will then be a captivating chamber music performance.
Doors will open at 6 pm, with the program starting at 6:30 pm. It will last approximately 60 minutes and conclude with an aperitif riche. Register here.
Friday, June 6, 2025, at the Lavater Saal in Zurich.
The evening will beging with opening remarks from KidsCan’s President and Vice President, followed by greetings from committee member Nicole Scobie. The highlight of the night will then be a captivating chamber music performance.
Doors will open at 6 pm, with the program starting at 6:30 pm. It will last approximately 60 minutes and conclude with an aperitif riche. Register here.
Get in Contact
