Children Cancer Research: EPICKids

Project Description

At Fundación Aladina, we are advancing EPICkids, an international research initiative that explores how nutrition — specifically the Mediterranean Diet — can support children with cancer throughout their treatment. The project reflects our commitment to improving not only survival rates, but the everyday quality of life of young patients.

EPICkids unites leading hospitals and research institutions across Southern Europe and the United States in a single collaborative network. Working hand in hand with healthcare professionals, the initiative is designed to produce practical tools for monitoring and improving the nutritional status of children and adolescents diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) and certain brain tumors.

Project Impact

Although EPICkids remains in its research phase, it is already generating knowledge with the potential to reshape pediatric oncology care. Its central focus is the collection of high-quality data that will help researchers understand how diet shapes treatment tolerance, recovery, and overall well-being.

Since its launch in 2025, the initiative has continued to grow steadily, building the evidence base for future breakthroughs that could directly benefit children facing cancer.

Challenges and Solutions

At this stage, the central challenge is safeguarding the accuracy and consistency of data gathered across multiple countries and institutions — a task that demands time, close coordination, and rigorous scientific standards. That diligence is not an obstacle but a requirement: only carefully validated data can produce findings reliable enough to be applied in real clinical settings.

Future Steps

Looking ahead, EPICkids will keep strengthening its international partnerships and deepening its research. The ultimate aim is to translate results into clear, evidence-based recommendations that healthcare professionals can put into practice — helping children better tolerate treatment and supporting their long-term health and recovery.

Links:

• Aladina's website