Events

The 9th Pizza & Science session took place on 3 September, bringing together students, clinicians, researchers and others interested in paediatric oncology to explore the role of the microbiome in childhood cancer.

This time, we welcomed Maija Rozenberga, PhD Candidate and Research Assistant at the National Institute of Research and Innovation, Precision Medicine Group, who presented her lecture “Challenges in pediatric cancer microbiome research”.

Microbiome research is becoming an increasingly important area in paediatric oncology. During her presentation, Maija introduced research aimed at characterising the composition and dynamics of the gut and oral microbiome in children with cancer. To track changes over time, biological samples are collected at different stages of treatment — before therapy, during treatment, after therapy and during long-term follow-up. This longitudinal approach makes it possible not only to describe changes in the microbiome, but also to investigate microbiome-associated markers that could potentially help predict disease progression, treatment effectiveness and the risk of complications in the future. The presentation sparked an engaging discussion, giving participants an opportunity to learn more about microbiome research and explore its potential role in the development of precision medicine for children with cancer.

Pizza & Science Episode 8 brought together students, clinicians, and researchers for an engaging discussion on rare disease diagnostics and genomic medicine.

We were honoured to welcome Dr. Laima Ambrozaitytė, Senior Medical Geneticist and Head of the Laboratory for Molecular Genetics and Cytogenetics at the Centre for Medical Genetics, Vilnius University Hospital Santaros Klinikos. In her lecture, “Targeted or Whole Genome Sequencing for Rare Disorders in the Diagnostic Setting – Lithuanian Case”, she shared valuable insights into the Lithuanian experience of applying genomic sequencing in rare disease diagnostics and clinical practice.

The lecture was engaging from the very first moment, with questions and discussion starting immediately and continuing throughout the session. Participants gained valuable insights into the potential and limitations of whole exome and whole genome sequencing, the impressive turnaround times achieved in genetic analysis, and Lithuania’s nationwide laboratory structure, where specialised laboratories each contribute their own areas of expertise.

Pizza & Science Episode 7 took place on 25 March, following the PMPC Consortium Meeting, marking a strong and inspiring conclusion to two days of collaboration.

We had the honour of welcoming Adeel Saleem, PhD, Head of the Cell and Gene Therapy Unit at Princess Máxima Center (Utrecht). In his lecture, “Establishing a GMP Facility for Advanced Cell Therapies: From Infrastructure to Clinical Implementation and Lessons Learned Along the Way,” he shared the experience of building a cell therapy unit from the ground up — from securing funding and developing infrastructure to implementing advanced therapies in clinical practice.

The session provided valuable insights into the challenges and practical aspects of translating innovative therapies into real patient care, fostering an engaging discussion among students, clinicians, and researchers.

Pizza & Science Episode 6 brought together students, clinicians, and researchers for an inspiring discussion on rare diseases and patient advocacy.

We had the honour of welcoming Anne Hugon, parent advocate and EU Project Manager for ERN ITHACA at AP-HP. In her lecture, “Talking Rare Diseases: Experience, Challenges and Hope”, she shared a powerful perspective that bridges lived experience with European-level policy and project work.

The session highlighted the importance of patient voices, equitable access to diagnostics, and quality care in the field of rare diseases, fostering an open and engaging discussion within the PMPC community.

Pizza & Science Episode 5 was a special one — we had the honour of welcoming Dr. Lu Wang, Medical Director of Molecular Pathology at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, USA.

Dr. Wang introduced the field of molecular pathology, highlighting its clinical applications and sharing valuable insights from her work at St. Jude.

The session brought together clinicians, researchers, and students for an engaging discussion on how molecular diagnostics can enhance precision medicine for children.

Pizza&Science Episode 4 was a an absolute success – a full house, great energy, and inspiring conversations. This time we had the pleasure to host Egija Berga-Švītiņa, PhD, Molecular Geneticist at the Children's Clinical University Hospital and Co-Lead of PMPC Center of Excellence WP4.

Her talk “Precision medicine at CCUH: past, present, and what’s next” captivated the audience.

On June 19th, for the third time - Pizza&Science event!

Dr. Marie Bernkopf, Head of the Diagnostic Group for Pediatric Solid Tumors at St. Anna Children's Cancer Research Institute (CCRI) Topic: “Liquid Biopsies in Pediatric Oncology: Revolutionizing Diagnosis, Early Relapse Detection and Personalized Treatment”

Inese Čakstiņa-Dzērve, lead researcher of the RSU Institute of Microbiology and Virology, gave the lecture "First steps and future perspectives towards functional precision medicine in Latvia" on April 10^th at the Children’s Clinical University Hospital's Children and Youth Mental Health Centre. 

On January 30th the first lecture of the Pizza & Science lecture series was held at CCUH - "Precision Medicine for Pediatric Cancer Care: The More We Know, the Better We Can Treat".

Iniciated and led by Mirjam Blattner-Johnson, science professor and pediatric cancer research group leader at RSU & CCUH & Hopp Children's Cancer Center Heidelberg (KiTZ).