The second virtual SIOP Europe General Assembly took place on 8 September 2021.
One of the main achievements of SIOP Europe in 2021 was the publication of the SIOP Europe Strategic Plan Update 2021-2026. Pamela Kearns has announced this information during the General Assembly and confirmed to the SIOPE members that the 7 key objectives have been updated to reflect the current needs of the paediatric oncology community. The Strategic Plan Update also includes the overview of SIOPE’s main achievements, project and activities taking place between 2015 and 2021.
During the General Assembly, Gilles Vassal highlighted that childhood cancer is at the top of the political agenda thanks to the work of SIOP Europe in partnership with CCI Europe, as it can be shown by the following key initiatives: Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan: Helping Children with Cancer, Horizon Europe Mission and Pharmaceutical Strategy for Europe: Revision of Paediatric & Orphan Regulations.
In 2020 and 2021, SIOP Europe was very active in the field of education, providing several new remote learning opportunities such as: ERN PaedCan and Young SIOPE Interactive Webinar Series, SIOP Europe Course in Paediatric Oncology and two educational pathways created in collaboration with the European School of Oncology. The SIOP Europe Annual Meeting took place virtually in April 2021, gathering together over 1554 participants from 65 countries.
Finally, several changes to the SIOPE Statute have been proposed and approved by the designated national representatives during the online voting that followed the meeting.
This has been the last General Assembly chaired by Prof Pamela Kearns who is stepping down as the SIOPE President in December 2021. Carmelo Rizzari (SIOP Europe President-Elect) thanked Prof Kearns for her engagement and outstanding achievements in the previous 3 years.