CLOSER · Childhood Leukemia: Overcoming distance between South America and Europe Regions

Cancer has become an important public health problem worldwide and inequalities in access to malignancies control result in differences in patients’ outcome. Despite the recent improvement of survival rates in childhood leukaemia, there is still a gap in survival between regions, even within well-organized international cooperative groups. Childhood leukaemia care should be addressed from a global point of view, considering not only scientific aspects, the amount of technological and human resources and the current health policies, but also economic, cultural, social, educational and environmental particularities across countries. The aim of CLOSER is to harmonize the levels of care and reduce inequalities in the outcome of childhood leukaemia patients in the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC), and in European countries. To do that, we will create a framework of collaborative, multidisciplinary research between CELAC and European regions. From a scientific point of view, we seek to boost a constant exchange of the knowledge on the biology and the technological approaches needed for the diagnosis and follow-up of childhood leukaemia between regions, provide additional resources to perform research and develop new simplified methods to assure a fast translation from bench to bedside. From a social and educative point of view, we will empower patients and families in leukaemia care and encourage the participation of civil society by analysing their particular needs, by promoting advocacy tools, launching a platform to exchange initiatives and experiences in patients care, always acting with the highest respect for the individualities of each country and with the objective to contribute to a better quality of life. To make sure that we approach childhood leukaemia care from an integral perspective, we will include as partners researchers, physicians, patients and families, patients’ organizations, policymakers, small and medium-sized enterprises and civil society representatives. CLOSER will allow a more fluent collaboration worldwide to improve childhood leukaemia control and the quality of life of the patients and their caregivers.