A committed partner, supporting progress from the laboratory to the digital world

Caring for children with cancer requires continuous progress. Sometimes that progress comes from groundbreaking research in the laboratory, with new insights leading to better treatments. Sometimes it comes from everyday clinical practice, by helping children and families better cope with the impact of the disease and its treatment. Both are essential to continually improving care.

One example of this scientific progress is research into how CAR T-cell therapy works, a form of immunotherapy in which a child’s own immune cells are used to fight cancer. At the Princess Máxima Center, researchers have gained new insight into why leukemia returns in some children after CAR T-cell treatment. This knowledge will help develop more effective treatments for children with leukemia.

We are also making important progress in improving quality of life. Together with children, parents, and healthcare professionals, we are developing new visual resources that help families better cope with anxiety, stress, and relaxation throughout the treatment process. The first results are now available in the M4You app, the digital environment of the Princess Máxima Center. There, children can find relaxation videos, practical tips, poems, and information about music activities, among other resources. These tools help them find moments of calm and discover activities that support their well-being.

These developments have been made possible in part thanks to the support of the ODAS Foundation. Their contribution shows how one partner can contribute to the Máxima Center’s mission in different ways, from groundbreaking research to digital support that helps children and families throughout treatment. We are deeply grateful to the ODAS Foundation for its trust and many years of commitment.