Pulseras Candela renews its commitment to childhood cancer research at Vall d’Hebron

The Pulseras Candela association has renewed its support for childhood cancer research conducted at the Vall d’Hebron Research Institute (VHIR). The new agreement, which will extend the collaboration until 2027, provides an essential boost to continue investigating new tools for diagnosis, monitoring, and treatment of pediatric tumors, particularly ependymoma.

On November 19, representatives from Pulseras Candela visited Vall d’Hebron to formalize the agreement and make the first annual contribution, reinforcing their commitment to science and to improving the lives of children diagnosed with cancer.

A story that turns challenges into hope

Pulseras Candela was founded in 2013 following the story of a girl, Candela, who was diagnosed with leukemia. During her treatment, she learned to make bracelets, an activity that quickly became a tool for solidarity and support. Candela taught the technique to two friends, who began selling the bracelets to raise funds for childhood cancer research. The initiative multiplied, and over time, hundreds of children, families, and volunteers joined, creating a movement with a significant social and emotional impact.

Today, the association does more than just make bracelets: it organizes solidarity events, works to raise awareness of childhood cancer—a rare and often little-known disease—and allocates the funds raised to finance research projects aimed at improving diagnosis and available treatments. Among these projects, the collaboration with VHIR stands out.

“There is a diagnosis far worse than cancer for your child, and that is knowing that medicine can do nothing for them. Research is hope for all families affected by childhood cancer and the only way to improve treatment and increase survival rates,” says David Sánchez, president of Pulseras Candela.

Research to advance new treatments

Since 2019, Pulseras Candela has collaborated with the Childhood Cancer and Hematological Diseases group at VHIR on the project “New Therapeutic Approaches for the Treatment of Pediatric Ependymoma,” led by Dr. Miquel Segura, in which they have already invested over €354,000.

The renewed agreement supports the work of a postdoctoral researcher, Dr. Khloud Elsharawy; two predoctoral researchers, Dr. María Gallego and Gal·la Farreny; and two oncologists, Dr. Anna Llort and Ms. Marina Ortiz. The aim is to strengthen research lines and the team by incorporating profiles such as neurosurgeons, neuroradiologists, and neuropathologists, enabling an integrated and multidisciplinary strategy to address pediatric brain tumors.

The main lines of work planned in the project are:

• Expanding the number of cell models to test new therapies and drug combinations.
• Consolidating research in epigenetic therapies, an emerging field with great potential.
• Developing immunotherapies, starting with experimentation in cell and animal models, and paving the way for participation in clinical trials and next-generation advanced therapies (e.g., CAR-T therapies or oncolytic viruses).
• Implementing liquid biopsy in pediatric brain tumors to improve diagnosis, clinical monitoring, and treatment response.

This support will allow continued progress in new therapeutic strategies that may offer more effective and less aggressive options for children with this type of tumor.