Children Cancer Research: EPICKids

A Warm Thank You

Thank you for supporting EPICKids, a groundbreaking research initiative led by Fundación Aladina to better understand how nutrition—particularly the Mediterranean Diet—may help children with cancer cope with treatment and improve long-term outcomes. Thanks to your generosity, the project continues moving forward across all participating hospitals in Spain and Europe. This year, our focus remains on the careful collection of high-quality data, an essential step toward generating evidence that will meaningfully improve pediatric oncology care in the future.

A Story From the Research Team

At Hospital Niño Jesús, Evangelina, a nutritionist and researcher on the EPICKids team, witnesses every day how crucial proper nutrition is for children facing cancer. She explains, “Nutrition is key for every child’s health, and even more so for those undergoing oncology treatment. Thanks to the EPICKids study and the support of Fundación Aladina, we are getting closer to understanding how diet might influence treatment and disease management. This is an important step that will help us better support young patients at every stage.” Her dedication reflects the passion of all professionals involved in shaping the future of nutritional care in pediatric oncology.

Where We Stand Today

EPICKids continues to operate in all participating hospitals, with researchers actively gathering data from enrolled children. While no direct beneficiaries can be reported yet, this phase is critical: the accuracy, consistency, and depth of the information collected now will allow scientists to later draw conclusions, identify patterns, and develop evidence-based nutritional recommendations that may improve treatment experiences for thousands of children. Every hour invested today brings us closer to actionable results.

Looking Ahead With Purpose

As we enter 2025, the EPICKids team remains fully committed to rigorous scientific work and international collaboration with partners in Spain, Italy, and Greece. Once data collection is complete, the next steps will include analysis, interpretation, and eventually the creation of practical protocols for healthcare teams. Your support makes this long-term vision possible. Together, we are laying the foundation for advancements that could transform nutritional care in pediatric oncology for years to come.

Links:

• Aladina's website

At the Aladina Foundation, we are proud to lead EPICKids, an innovative international research project exploring how the Mediterranean Diet can help children with cancer better cope with the side effects of treatments and potentially improve survival outcomes. This project is designed to create practical, evidence-based resources for healthcare professionals, helping them monitor and enhance the nutrition of children and adolescents diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) and selected brain tumors across Southern Europe.

EPICKids brings together leading institutions including Columbia University Irving Medical Center, the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) under the WHO, and hospitals such as Niño Jesús and La Paz in Madrid, Sant Joan de Déu and Vall d’Hebron in Barcelona, Virgen del Rocío in Sevilla, as well as Italy’s Fondazione Monza e Brianza, Fondazione IRCCS, and Aghia Sofia Hospital in Athens.

Project Impact

Although EPICKids is still in its early stages, focused on the careful and precise collection of critical data, its potential is enormous. We are laying the groundwork for research that could reshape nutritional care in pediatric oncology, offering practical insights to improve the everyday lives of children undergoing cancer treatment. In 2025, we proudly celebrate two years since the launch of this ambitious initiative, reaffirming our dedication to giving young patients the best chance to thrive.

Challenges and Solutions

The early phase of EPICKids requires meticulous attention to data accuracy and reliability. This foundational work is essential, as it will allow future analysis to generate actionable insights that can truly make a difference for children battling cancer.

Future Steps

Looking forward, EPICKids will continue its international collaboration, maintaining rigorous scientific standards while strengthening partnerships with hospitals and research centers. Our ultimate goal is to provide healthcare teams with practical, evidence-based guidance that improves nutritional care and supports the recovery, strength, and well-being of every child facing cancer.

Links:

• https://aladina.org/en/support-and-research-against-cancer/epickids/