About SPOG

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 guiding principles

We are dedicated to sick children and adolescents and their families.

We stand up for the needs of those affected.

We operate a culture of mutual respect and trust.

We are committed to transparency, openness and willingness to help.

We are grateful for all support for our work.

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.

clinical studies

research projects

member hospitals

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.

President

Prof. Dr. med. Katrin Scheinemann, M.Sc.

Medical Director Centre for Haematology/ Oncology

Foundation East Switzerland Children's Hospital St. Gallen

Vice President

PD Dr. Nicolas Gerber

Head of Clinical Trials Center Oncology

University Children's Hospital Zurich

Assessor

PD Dr. 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.

Picture: Carolina Piasecki, Scientific Meeting 2023

Organisational Chart

You can download our organisational chart in PDF format here.

Download

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.

Our team

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.

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