The Royal Hospital for Children (RHC) in Glasgow has further strengthened its position at the forefront of global paediatric oncology after playing a leading role in hosting one of Europe’s largest paediatric oncology conferences.
Dr Milind Ronghe, Clinical Lead for Paediatric Haematology and Oncology, and Consultant Paediatric Oncologist at the RHC, was a key local organiser in bringing the 7th SIOP Europe Annual Meeting (SIOPE) to the UK for the first time.
Working alongside international partners, Dr Ronghe and colleagues helped secure Glasgow as the host city for the European paediatric oncology conference, attracting more than 1,300 specialists from across Europe.
Held at the Scottish Event Campus, the SIOPE conference brought together clinicians, researchers, clinical trial groups and emerging leaders in the field to drive forward thinking in the treatment and care of children and young people with cancer.
“Bringing this conference to Glasgow has been a significant milestone, not only for our team at the Royal Hospital for Children but for paediatric cancer care across the UK. It reflects the strength of our collaboration, innovation and commitment to improving outcomes for children and young people with cancer,” said Dr Ronghe.
During the event, Dr Ronghe chaired a number of sessions, including discussions on the role of artificial intelligence in paediatric cancer care, highlighting the rapid pace of innovation shaping the future of treatment. He also hosted an ECMC (Experimental Cancer Medicine Centre) site visit to the RHC, showcasing the hospital’s pioneering work including clinical trials programme, novel drug delivery approaches and the collaborative model that supports children across Scotland and beyond.
The Royal Hospital for Children, Glasgow is the largest paediatric care centre in Scotland. The haematology and oncology department cares for children and young people with cancer from all over the West of Scotland. It is also home to Scotland’s only Experimental Cancer Medicine Centre (ECMC) for paediatrics.
As part of this ECMC network, the RHC works in close partnership with centres in Edinburgh, Belfast, Newcastle and Aberdeen, holding weekly regional relapse meetings to discuss patients and access to the most innovative therapies.
“Collaboration is critical in paediatric oncology, and through working with partners across the UK and Europe, we are improving access to new therapies and advancing care for patients and families,” said Dr Ronghe.
Organisers described the conference as a major success, with strong attendance and high levels of engagement across a wide range of interactive sessions. These focused on key priorities including improving cure rates, enhancing quality of survival, and strengthening education and collaboration in childhood cancer care.
