A Strong Network
The West German Pediatric Study Center (WPSZ) is a network of eleven clinics and two regulatory partners that have come together with the shared goal of strengthening and improving pediatric oncology care in western Germany in a sustainable way.
At the core of our collaboration is the commitment to providing children and adolescents with malignant diseases access to innovative therapies—such as early-phase clinical trials or cell therapies—as close to home as possible. To achieve this, we engage in regular scientific exchange, sharing our experiences with drug trials, diagnostic advancements, and basic research findings—always in the best interest of our young patients.
Our network brings together university and non-university hospitals as well as research institutes to create the best possible conditions for conducting clinical trials and research projects in cooperation with the pharmaceutical industry and academia. Currently, the WPSZ includes sites in: Cologne, Essen, Dortmund, Bonn, Krefeld, Herdecke, Datteln, Aachen, Sankt Augustin, Homburg/Saar.
The eleven participating clinics collectively treat 600 newly diagnosed patients per year. The two involved research institutes oversee more than 15 clinical drug trials on behalf of academic sponsors. All locations have years of experience in clinical trials. Within the WPSZ, eight GPOH (German Society for Pediatric Oncology and Hematology) study leaders and their coordinating study centers play an active role in shaping the treatment of childhood cancers at both the national and international levels.
In Europe’s largest metropolitan region, this network ensures that children are not only treated according to the latest standards but also have access to novel treatment options.