START Opens Spain's First Pediatric Onco-Hematology Clinical Research Unit in Madrid
Key Insights
START Center for Cancer Research (search) and HM Hospitales (search) have launched Spain's first pediatric onco-hematology clinical research unit at HM Montepríncipe University Hospital (search) in Madrid.
The new facility is the first pediatric clinical research center of its kind within Spain's private hospital sector, designed to support all phases of pediatric oncology clinical studies.
The unit aims to provide clinical trial access to hundreds of children with cancer across Europe annually, addressing the global crisis of 400,000 new childhood cancer cases worldwide each year.
The START Center for Cancer Research (search), the world's largest community-based network specializing in early-phase oncology clinical trials, has partnered with HM Hospitales (search) to launch Spain's first pediatric onco-hematology clinical research unit at HM Montepríncipe University Hospital (search) in Madrid. This groundbreaking facility represents the first pediatric clinical research center of its kind within Spain's private hospital sector.
The new START Pediatrics unit addresses a critical global health crisis, with cancer affecting 400,000 new children worldwide each year, translating to approximately 1,000 new cases of childhood cancer daily. The facility is designed to provide research options for children when standard treatments have been exhausted.
Clinical Infrastructure and Leadership
The purpose-built unit at HM Montepríncipe University Hospital (search) is equipped to support all phases of pediatric oncology clinical studies. Led by Dr. Marta Osuna Marco, a pediatric oncologist serving as Principal Investigator, the facility offers streamlined regulatory support tailored to meet the unique requirements of pediatric trials, dedicated pediatric research infrastructure, and specialized staff committed to providing hope for children and their families.
"Working with children facing cancer is both humbling and inspiring," said Dr. Marta Osuna Marco. "Being able to bring START's level of expertise and access to these patients is something I'm truly grateful for. Every day, we're giving families new hope – and now, with this initiative, we're also giving back to the research that will shape tomorrow's therapies."
Strategic Partnership and Vision
The collaboration combines START's global trial expertise with HM Hospitales (search)' clinical infrastructure. Nick Slack, MBE, Chairman and CEO of START, emphasized the alignment with the organization's mission: "This new unit couldn't be more aligned with our mission of delivering 'Hope Through Access'. To stand inside this unit and witness the courage of these young patients and the resilience of their families is profoundly humbling. It's a powerful reminder that innovation must be matched with compassion."
Dr. Juan Abarca, President of HM Hospitales (search), highlighted the facility's European reach: "We now have the ability to offer innovative clinical trials to pediatric patients across Europe – just as we do for adults – providing an additional path of hope when standard treatments have been exhausted. This collaboration with START will allow us to bring research-driven care to hundreds of children with cancer each year, and to do so with excellence and compassion."
Collaborative Development
The unit's establishment resulted from extensive collaboration involving multiple stakeholders. Dr. Emiliano Calvo, clinical investigator and Director of Clinical Research at START Madrid-CIOCC and President of START in Europe, acknowledged the contributions of Dr. Blanca López-Ibor, Director of Pediatric Onco-hematology Area at HM Hospitales (search), and Fundación HM Hospitales (search), along with the START Madrid-HM CIOCC team and the Department of Oncopediatrics.
The facility's construction was supported by Fundación Nemesio Díez (search), a non-profit foundation whose contributions reflect the initiative's collaborative spirit built on compassion and purpose.
START's Global Network
START's broader network has conducted more than 1,000 early-phase clinical trials across 12 clinical trial sites, including studies for 45 therapies that received FDA or EMA approval. The organization represents the world's largest roster of early-phase principal investigators, deeply rooted in community oncology centers globally.
The new pediatric research program expands START's mission of delivering "Hope Through Access" by offering innovative treatments to patients who need them most, while accelerating the discovery of new therapeutic options for childhood cancer.