Gdańsk hosted specialists from across Poland, as well as experts from leading scientific centres in Europe and the United States, during the 13th Congress of the Polish Society of Paediatric Oncology and Haematology. The event took place on 11st–13rd June 2026 and was organised by the Department of Paediatrics, Haematology and Oncology of the MUG.
The programme addressed the most important challenges in contemporary paediatric oncology and haematology. Considerable attention was devoted to innovative methods of treating childhood cancers, including targeted and cellular therapies, as well as ongoing clinical trials. Topics related to supportive care, patients’ quality of life and the monitoring of long-term consequences of oncological treatment were also discussed. The event also included practical workshops in lung ultrasonography and paediatric nursing, enabling participants to further develop their clinical skills.
An important element of the programme was a series of lectures delivered by experts from Stanford University. Prof. Kara L. Davis gave the inaugural lecture on mechanisms of treatment resistance in acute lymphoblastic leukaemia analysed using single-cell technologies, entitled Unveiling Treatment Resistance through Single Cell Studies in ALL. Her presentation introduced the latest directions in translational research in paediatric haemato-oncology.
The session Are We Ready for the Early Integration of Paediatric Oncology with Paediatric Palliative Care?, featuring Prof. Justin Baker from Stanford University, also attracted considerable interest. In his lecture, Professor Baker emphasised the importance of early involvement of palliative care teams in the oncological treatment process and the impact of this model of care on the quality of life of patients and their families.
The Congress programme was further enriched by presentations delivered by Marcin Włodarski, M.D., Ph.D. and Marta Derecka, M.D., Ph.D. from St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis, United States, as well as Prof. Holger Lode from Greifswald, Prof. Jörg Fuchs from Tübingen, and Daniel Orbach, , M.D., Ph.D. from Paris.
Specialists from the Department of Paediatrics, Haematology and Oncology at the MUG actively participated in the scientific programme of the Congress, presenting the results of their research and clinical experience. In total, members of the team delivered 22 oral presentations and co-authored several dozen poster presentations, addressing, among other topics, advances in the treatment of selected childhood cancers, modern methods of supportive care, including microbiota transfer and ECMO, as well as palliative care in paediatric oncology.
A project by Adrianna Mulewska, M.D., focusing on fertility preservation in girls prior to haematopoietic cell transplantation, was recognised as one of the four best submissions presented during the Congress.
The event provided an opportunity to exchange experience, discuss directions for further development and strengthen cooperation between centres in Poland and abroad.
