Latvia reveals its inaugural Children's Precision Medical Center
European Collaboration Advances Pediatric Precision Medicine in Latvia
The development of the Pediatric Center of Excellence in Latvia is a significant step forward in the fight against cancer, particularly in children, as cancer remains the leading cause of death in this age group in both Latvia and the Netherlands.
The President of the Republic of Latvia, Edgars Rinkevičs, has emphasized the importance of the Pediatric Center of Excellence for Precision Medicine in Latvia. He expressed hope to protect children and adults from cancer and to cure cancer when it occurs. The scope of the collaboration is much broader than just oncology.
European collaboration in pediatric precision medicine is making strides in enhancing research, innovation, and treatment options for rare and complex diseases. This joint effort involves coordinated funding, clear goals, and tangible impacts, particularly visible in countries like Latvia and the Netherlands.
Funding and Collaboration
The European Commission's Horizon Europe program provides just over €14 million for the development of the Pediatric Center of Excellence. The ID-EPTRI (European Paediatric Translational Research Infrastructure) project, funded by the European Commission under the INFRADEV call, aims to create a comprehensive research infrastructure focused on pediatric drug discovery and early development. The project involves 29 partners from 21 countries, including scientific and clinical centers, non-profits, and universities, fostering cross-border collaboration.
The Fight Kids Cancer Initiative, led by organizations such as Imagine for Margo (France), KickCancer Foundation (Belgium), and KiKa (Netherlands), directs €12 million in 2025 alone towards innovative research programs, including clinical trials and translational studies on hard-to-cure pediatric cancers.
Latvia and the Netherlands are also part of broader European networks benefiting from funding programs like Interreg Sudoe and European Commission initiatives that support precision medicine research projects—especially in pediatric oncology and rare diseases.
Goals
The primary goals of the Pediatric Center of Excellence include developing technology-driven, regulatory-compliant pediatric medicines and translational research pathways that move breakthroughs from discovery to clinical application. The center also aims to accelerate pediatric oncology research, enabling clinical trials that bring new treatments swiftly to children with rare and complex cancers. Furthermore, the center addresses significant unmet medical needs in rare diseases such as neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1), with recent European Commission approvals for treatments improving options for both pediatric and adult patients.
Impact on Rare and Complex Diseases
The collaboration has already had a significant impact on rare and complex diseases, including pediatric cancers. Increased access to innovative therapies is transforming care in pediatric oncology and rare genetic disorders like NF1 in Europe, including Latvia and the Netherlands. Collaborative funding has enabled multiple clinical trials and research projects targeting specific pediatric rare tumors and conditions, enhancing treatment protocols and improving patient outcomes.
By connecting research communities and sharing resources, Europe’s pediatric precision medicine initiatives are overcoming previous fragmentation in drug development for children, directly benefiting health systems and patients in Latvia, the Netherlands, and beyond.
Collaboration with the Princess Máxima Center
Researchers from all over Europe have come to Latvia to collaborate with the Princess Máxima Center and train local researchers. The goal of the collaboration between the Princess Máxima Center and Latvian researchers is to cure every child with cancer. The Center of Excellence brings together the best of Latvian and international expertise and research.
Valts Ābols, Chairman of the Board of BKUS, stated that this collaboration will allow Latvia to participate in the development of new treatments and diagnostic methods. The Princess Máxima Center in the Netherlands is Europe's leading institution for pediatric precision medicine. A total of €34 million has been raised for the Center of Excellence.
In conclusion, European collaboration supported by coordinated funding programs and strategic goals is significantly advancing pediatric precision medicine. It fosters innovative research and clinical trials in rare and complex diseases, including childhood cancers, with demonstrable positive impacts in Latvia, the Netherlands, and other member countries.
- The European Commission's Horizon Europe program, in collaboration with the ID-EPTRI project, is providing €14 million to aid the development of the Pediatric Center of Excellence in Latvia, focused on pediatric drug discovery and early development, with a goal to help children living with medical-conditions such as cancer.
- The collaboration between the Pediatric Center of Excellence in Latvia and the Princess Máxima Center in the Netherlands, leading European institution for pediatric precision medicine, is addressing significant unmet medical needs, particularly in the fight against childhood cancer and rare diseases like neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1), by bringing together the best of both Latvian and international expertise and research, thereby improving health and wellness outcomes for children in Europe and beyond.
