As a researcher, going through a PhD track is one of the possible steps in your career. Within a research group, the doctoral student researches and explores a specific topic. Afterwards, the doctoral candidate defends his or her dissertation and receives the title ‘doctor’.
Many PhD students work at the Máxima Center, the largest pediatric oncology research hospital in Europe. Some of the international researchers are going through the process from the European programs Vagabond and Butterfly. Two of them share their experiences.
Different perspectives
Babette Hoen is a doctoral student in the Den Boer Group, Belgian and part of the Vagabond Consortium. She says, ‘I find it very fun and valuable to do my PhD track from Vagabond. A doctoral program is very intensive and because we do it together, we have a lot to gain from each other. For example, we give each other feedback on a scientific level. We also learn a lot from each other in terms of personal development.'
Within the Vagabond and Butterfly programs, the doctoral students investigate various aspects within pediatric oncology. Hoen: 'Within Vagabond, I am the only one focusing on acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). I study the effect of the so-called leukemic microenvironment in the bone marrow on the response to immunotherapy. It is then very refreshing to get feedback from someone who focuses, for example, on neuroblastoma and looks at my research from that angle.'
Network for the future
Miguel Vieira Martins is also investigating the application of immunotherapy in children with ALL. As a Portuguese pediatrician and now a Butterfly PhD candidate in the Pieters Group, he does so with a clinical perspective. He emphasizes how important international networks within pediatric oncology are: ‘Pediatric cancer is fortunately very rare. But, for reliable results we need data from larger groups of children. Collaboration with other centers is therefore necessary for almost every study. Especially within the clinical studies I focus on.'
Through his research, Vieira Martins is already in contact with several pediatric oncology centers. With these contacts and the ones he is gaining within the Máxima and international programs, he is building a network for the future. ‘I am convinced that this will help me and all my fellow PhD students in our future careers and, ultimately, contribute to accelerating pediatric oncology research and improve clinical care.’
Industrial market fair
The Vagabond and Butterfly PhD students meet for the first time during the joint ‘Autumn School’ at the Máxima. Other doctoral students from the Máxima join them. They will do this during the 'Industrial market fair'. Here they interact with researchers from different companies. Dr. Martina O'Flaherty, coordinator of the Butterfly program, organizes the fair. ‘It is important that the researchers of the future have the broadest possible perspective of the field. That includes the business community. By engaging in conversation, the PhD students learn about the similarities and differences and how we work together to provide better treatments for children with cancer.’
In addition, for the Vagabond students, it is the last time they will meet within the four-year program. Prof. Dr. Jan Molenaar, co-coordinator of the program: 'It is very nice that we can conclude the program together like this. The PhD students who are heading toward the end of their program can share their lessons learned with the Butterflies who have just completed their first year and the other PhD students in the Máxima. And we all take this extra networking boost with us in this way nicely!’
During the industrial market fair, researchers will be present from: Genmab, Sanofi, Crown Bioscience, Roche-Genetech, Ambagon Therapeutics.
The Butterfly program is made possible thanks to Horizon Europe/Marie Sklodowska-Curie COFUND project number 101081481, the Princess Máxima Center and participating research groups.
The Vagabond network is funded by Marie Sklodowska-Curie Actions, part of Horizon 2020. The program aligns with the work of the Innovative Therapies for Children with Cancer (ITCC) platform.