President
Prof. Dr. med. Katrin Scheinemann, M.Sc.
Medical Director Centre for Haematology/ Oncology
Foundation East Switzerland Children's Hospital St. Gallen
About SPOG
As a non-profit organisation SPOG coordinates and is responsible for a comprehensive programme of clinical cancer research for children and adolescents all over Switzerland.
What does SPOG do?
The Swiss Paediatric Oncology Group (SPOG) is a non-profit organisation constituted as an association that researches cancer in children and adolescents in close collaboration with leading international research groups. Our members are Swiss hospital departments that look after children and adolescents with cancer and blood disorders. We work throughout Switzerland at the university hospitals in Bern, Basel, Zurich, Lausanne and Geneva and the children’s hospitals in St. Gallen, Lucerne, Aarau and Bellinzona.
Our mission: Research – giving a future to children with cancer.
Who are we?
The Swiss Paediatric Oncology Group (SPOG) was set up in 1976 as a national association of dedicated doctors involved in cancer research for children and adolescents. All the hospital departments in Switzerland that specialise in childhood cancer are members of SPOG.
What do we want?
We want to ensure the best possible care for children and adolescents with cancer and blood disorders in Switzerland. We strive to treat childhood cancer optimally and to improve the quality of life of affected children and adolescents.
Why do we exist?
SPOG researches the special aspects of cancer and blood disorders in childhood and adolescence. Children are not simply small adults. They develop different types of cancer and respond differently to medicines. Their cancer must therefore be researched separately so that their particular needs can be taken into account.
Our vision: We want a future in which all children and adolescents with cancer can be cured.
For whom do we exist?
We are dedicated to children and adolescents with cancer and their families and stand up for their needs.
What do we do?
Our quality-controlled, international therapy optimisation studies enable children and adolescents with cancer to benefit from the latest scientific findings and international expertise. Our studies also help to improve treatments for future patients.
How do we work?
We work with internationally leading research groups and affected families to develop innovative treatment options for children with cancer. Our experts are passionate about their efforts to improve the chances of a cure and quality of life for children and adolescents with cancer.
Organisation of SPOG
This is how SPOG is organised:
All nine Swiss hospital departments that care for children and adolescents with cancer and blood disorders are members of SPOG. The SPOG General Assembly approves and monitors the research programme and the other organs of the association. The business office, the SPOG Coordinating Center (CC) in Bern, is responsible for study and quality management and for procuring funding.
16
clinical studies
11
research projects
9
member hospitals
18
employees at the SPOG CC
The Board of Directors
The SPOG Board of Directors represents the association’s interests to the outside world and monitors ongoing business. It consists of the President, the Vice-President and other members who are elected every three years.
Vice President
PD Dr. med. Nicolas Gerber
Head of Clinical Trials Center Oncology
University Children's Hospital Zurich
Assessor
Prof. Dr. med. Dr. phil. Raffaele Renella
Head of the Department of Paediatric Haematology-Oncology
University Hospital Lausanne CHUV
Assessor
PD Dr. med. Dr. sc. nat. André von Büren
Senior Consultant Division of Paediatric Haematology and Oncology
University Hospitals Geneva HUG
General Assembly
The General Assembly is the governing body of SPOG. It comprises the heads of the paediatric oncology and haematology departments and units at the children’s hospitals in Switzerland.
All the hospital departments in Switzerland that specialise in childhood cancer are members of SPOG.
Coordinating Center
Eighteen people work at the SPOG business office in Bern. They ensure that the doctors in the hospitals can concentrate fully on their young patients.
Downloads
You can download important documents including the Annual report, the organisational chart and the SPOG bylaws here. They contain information about our work and our objectives and will enable you to get to know SPOG better.