Most Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma (DIPG) patients die within a year of diagnosis. The DIPG project aims to speed up the discovery of new therapies for DIPG patients by creating a continuous learning cycle between the clinic and laboratory, leveraging real-time data generated from clinical trials and compassionate use programs conducted on site.

The DIPG project requires a wholly integrated laboratory and clinic. The inaugural DIPG Centre of Expertise (clinic) is situated in Europe’s top ranked pediatric hospital, the University Childrens’ Hospital, Zurich. Collaborate Against Cancer is supporting the on-campus build and operation of the DIPG Research Institute (laboratory). The clinic and laboratory will work in unison to ensure learning is translated from each patient into future treatment options.

Over 3,000 children in the world are diagnosed each year with DIPG, which is a highly aggressive and difficult to treat brain tumor in the pons at the base of the brain. The pons controls many of the body’s most vital functions such as breathing, blood pressure and heart rate, resulting in staggeringly low prognosis. DIPG is the leading cause of pediatric brain tumor death. We hope to change that.

The program aims to generate significantly improved therapeutic options that extend survival rates for patients with DIPG within 24 months of commencement. The program also hopes to expand into new countries to promote the adoption and success of this new learning paradigm.