Children Cancer Research: EPICKids

Project Description
At Fundación Aladina, we are driving forward EPICkids, an international research initiative focused on understanding how nutrition—specifically the Mediterranean Diet—can support children with cancer throughout their treatment. This project reflects our commitment to advancing not only survival, but also the quality of life of young patients.

EPICkids brings together leading hospitals and research institutions across Southern Europe and the United States, creating a strong collaborative network. By working closely with healthcare professionals, the project aims to generate practical tools that help monitor and improve the nutritional status of children and adolescents diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) and certain brain tumors.

Project Impact
While still in its research phase, EPICkids is already playing a key role in building knowledge that has the potential to transform pediatric oncology care. The project focuses on collecting high-quality data that will allow researchers to better understand how diet influences treatment tolerance, recovery, and overall well-being.

As we mark two years since its launch in 2025, this initiative continues to grow steadily, laying the foundation for future breakthroughs that could directly benefit children facing cancer.

Challenges and Solutions
One of the main challenges at this stage is ensuring the accuracy and consistency of the data collected across multiple countries and institutions. This process requires time, coordination, and rigorous scientific standards. However, this careful approach is essential to ensure that future findings are reliable and can be effectively applied in clinical settings.

Future Steps
Looking ahead, EPICkids will continue strengthening its international collaboration and advancing its research efforts. The ultimate goal is to translate findings into clear, evidence-based recommendations that healthcare professionals can use to improve nutritional care, helping children better cope with treatment and supporting their long-term health and recovery.

Links:

• Aladina's website