Dr. Lucas Moreno, head of the Pediatric Oncology and Hematology Service at Vall d'Hebron University Hospital and of the Childhood Cancer and Blood Disorders group at Vall d'Hebron Research Institute (VHIR), has been appointed as president-elect of the European Neuroblastoma Group (SIOPEN Association, part of the International Society of Pediatric Oncology in Europe) in 2023. This is a group formed by centers from 25 European countries along with Singapore, Australia and Israel to promote the implementation of clinical trials for the treatment of neuroblastoma and other research projects to improve clinical practice for this aggressive childhood tumor.

Dr. Moreno will serve as president-elect during 2023, to become president of the group from 2024 for two to four years. His election marks the first time a Spaniard has led SIOPEN. "It is an opportunity to lead the development of new treatments and research projects that, carried out collaboratively among the different centers in the group, can have an impact worldwide", says Dr. Moreno.

Among the studies promoted by SIOPEN is BEACON, a clinical trial for the treatment of relapsed neuroblastoma. Promising results have recently been obtained using innovative therapy combinations for these patients, and the BEACON2 study will be launched soon.