SHINE participated in the kick-off meeting of the PHOENIX project, held in Barcelona on the 16th and 17th June of 2026, marking the start of a six-year European initiative aimed at improving treatment options for children and adolescents with high-risk cancers. SHINE was represented at the meeting by Miriam Cabrita.
Funded by the EU Cancer Mission under Horizon Europe with €8.5 million, PHOENIX (Phase I/II trial of an Oral ER-stress iNducer in relapsed/refractory neuroblastoma and paediatric solid tumours) is coordinated by the Vall d’Hebron Research Institute (VHIR) and brings together 13 organisations from six European countries.
The project will evaluate, for the first time in paediatric patients, the drug ibrilatazar (ABTL0812) as a potential new treatment for relapsed or treatment-resistant solid tumours, including high-risk neuroblastoma. The goal is to develop safer and more effective therapies while reducing long-term side effects.
Within the project, SHINE will contribute to ensuring that innovative treatments and clinical trials are accessible and responsive to the needs of children and families. Specifically, SHINE will:
- Investigate how social determinants and contextual factors influence access to clinical trials and treatment outcomes.
- Capture the experiences of children, adolescents, and families throughout the trial to better understand engagement, adherence, and barriers to participation.
- Develop tailored information and guidance to support children and families during their participation in the study.
- Connect PHOENIX with the wider European cancer research and innovation ecosystem, particularly the EU Cancer Mission Diagnosis and Treatment Cluster
PHOENIX further strengthens SHINE’s growing portfolio of cancer-related projects, reinforcing its commitment to advancing equitable access to innovative healthcare and improving outcomes for patients and families across Europe.