BrainChild project builds precision cancer treatment platform for children in Sweden
Genomic and clinical data integration aims to match young patients with targeted therapies faster and more safely
A new project in Sweden is building the data infrastructure needed to offer more children with cancer access to personalised treatment based on their genetic profile.
BrainChild, supported by national initiative Genomic Medicine Sweden (GMS), is developing systems to link genomic sequencing with clinical data such as pathology, radiology and electronic medical records.
The goal is to make sequencing results useful beyond a single diagnosis and to support ongoing clinical care while safeguarding patient privacy.
“In Sweden today, we do whole-genome sequencing for all children diagnosed with cancer,” said Per Sikora, who leads infrastructure work at GMS. “But most of that data is used once for a single patient and then effectively discarded.”
By building a secure, large-scale platform, BrainChild aims to change that—making it easier for clinicians to spot treatable mutations and avoid unnecessary side effects.
One such case is Filippa, a child whose tumour was found to carry a BRAF V600E mutation. “Before, we used to treat these types of tumours with cytostatic drugs, often with poor results,” said Dr Magnus Sabel, a paediatric oncologist at Sahlgrenska University Hospital.
“Thanks to genomic analysis, we found a targetable mutation and could offer Filippa precision medicine. She avoided many side effects and responded well; her tumour is now 20% of its original size.”
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The project also prioritises ethical use of health data. It is working with doctors, researchers, patient groups and ethicists to ensure data is shared responsibly and that the system builds public trust.
“We have the technology, the scientific knowledge, and the will, but the clock is ticking,” said Sikora. “Children are being diagnosed today, and every delay is a missed opportunity to help them.”
The Recap
- BrainChild builds infrastructure to integrate genomic and clinical data.
- Whole-genome sequencing done for all children diagnosed with cancer.
- The project emphasises responsible data sharing and building clinician trust.
