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What does SPOG do?

The Swiss Paediatric Oncology Group (SPOG) is a non-profit organisation constituted as an association that researches cancer in children and adolescents in close collaboration with leading international research groups. Our members are Swiss hospital departments that look after children and adolescents with cancer and blood disorders. We work throughout Switzerland at the university hospitals in Bern, Basel, Zurich, Lausanne and Geneva and the children’s hospitals in St. Gallen, Lucerne, Aarau and Bellinzona.

Our guiding principles

We are dedicated to sick children and adolescents and their families.
We stand up for the needs of those affected.
We operate a culture of mutual respect and trust.
We are committed to transparency, openness and willingness to help.
We are grateful for all support for our work.

Our mission: Research – giving a future to children with cancer.

Who are we?

The Swiss Paediatric Oncology Group (SPOG) was set up in 1976 as a national association of dedicated doctors involved in cancer research for children and adolescents. All the hospital departments in Switzerland that specialise in childhood cancer are members of SPOG.

What do we want?

We want to ensure the best possible care for children and adolescents with cancer and blood disorders in Switzerland. We strive to treat childhood cancer optimally and to improve the quality of life of affected children and adolescents.

Why do we exist?

SPOG researches the special aspects of cancer and blood disorders in childhood and adolescence. Children are not simply small adults. They develop different types of cancer and respond differently to medicines. Their cancer must therefore be researched separately so that their particular needs can be taken into account.

Our vision: We want a future in which all children and adolescents with cancer can be cured.

For whom do we exist?

We are dedicated to children and adolescents with cancer and their families and stand up for their needs.

What do we do?

Our quality-controlled, international therapy optimisation studies enable children and adolescents with cancer to benefit from the latest scientific findings and international expertise. Our studies also help to improve treatments for future patients.

How do we work?

We work with internationally leading research groups and affected families to develop innovative treatment options for children with cancer. Our experts are passionate about their efforts to improve the chances of a cure and quality of life for children and adolescents with cancer.

Organisation of SPOG

This is how SPOG is organised:

All nine Swiss hospital departments that care for children and adolescents with cancer and blood disorders are members of SPOG. The SPOG General Assembly approves and monitors the research programme and the other organs of the association. The business office, the SPOG Coordinating Center (CC) in Bern, is responsible for study and quality management and for procuring funding.

16

clinical studies

14

research projects

9

member hospitals

15

employees at the SPOG CC

The Board of Directors

The SPOG Board of Directors represents the association’s interests to the outside world and monitors ongoing business. It consists of the President, the Vice-President and other members who are elected every three years.

Prof. Dr. med. Katrin Scheinemann, M.Sc.
President
Prof. Dr. med. Katrin Scheinemann, M.Sc.
Medical Director Centre for Haematology/ Oncology
Foundation East Switzerland Children's Hospital St. Gallen
PD Dr. Nicolas Gerber
Vice President
PD Dr. Nicolas Gerber
Head of Clinical Trials Center Oncology
University Children's Hospital Zurich
PD Dr. Raffaele Renella
Assessor
PD Dr. Raffaele Renella
Head of the Department of Paediatric Haematology-Oncology
University Hospital Lausanne CHUV
PD Dr. André von Büren
Assessor
PD Dr. André von Büren
Head Physician Department of Paediatric Haematology and Oncology
University Hospitals Geneva HUG

General Assembly

The General Assembly is the governing body of SPOG. It comprises the heads of the paediatric oncology and haematology departments and units at the children’s hospitals in Switzerland.

Picture: Carolina Piasecki, Scientific Meeting 2023

Organisational Chart

You can download our organisational chart in PDF format here.

Download
Prof. Dr. Francois Doz, France Prof. Dr. Angelika Eggert, Germany Prof. Dr. Stefan Pfister, Germany SCIENTIFIC ADVISORY BOARD Children’s Cancer and Leukemia Group UK, CCLG Gesellschaft für Pädiatrische Onkologie und Hämatologie, GPOH The Nordic Society of Paediatric Haematology and Oncology, NOPHO SIOP Europe, the European Society for Paediatric Oncology, SIOPE COLLABORATIVE GROUPS Prof. Dr. Katrin Scheinemann (President) PD Dr. Nicolas Gerber (Vice President) PD Dr. Dr. Raffaele Renella (Assessor) PD Dr. Dr. André von Büren (Assessor) BOARD OF DIRECTORS Managing Director Isabelle Lamontagne-Müller Partner Relations Head Partner Relations: Catia Gehrig Flora von Holzen | Gina Eggenschwiler Monitoring Adrian Manser | Sara Nyffeler | Petra Polakova Quality Management Bravina Nadarajah Administration Simon Ryser Head Clinical Operations Dr. Michael Zeller Clinical Project Management Team Leader: Lara Fux Mirjam Grylka | Yuvia Guilarte | Dr. Seraina Domenig | Dustin Singer Administration: Laura Canonica Aarau Dr. Jeanette Greiner Basel Prof. Dr. Nicolas von der Weid Bellinzona PD Dr. Mattia Rizzi Bern Prof. Dr. Rhoikos Furtwängler Geneva Prof. Dr. Marc Ansari Lausanne PD Dr. Raffaele Renella Lucerne Dr. Freimut Schilling St. Gallen Prof. Dr. Katrin Scheine- mann Zurich Prof. Dr. Jean-Pierre Bourquin HOSPITAL FACILITIES (SPOG STATIONS) SPOG MEMBER INSTITUTIONS GENERAL ASSEMBLY SPOG COORDINATING CENTER Januar 2024

Coordinating Center

Fifteen people work at the SPOG business office in Bern. They ensure that the doctors in the hospitals can concentrate fully on their young patients.

Our team

Downloads

You can download important documents including the Annual report, the organisational chart and the SPOG bylaws here. They contain information about our work and our objectives and will enable you to get to know SPOG better.

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