On the occasion of International Childhood Cancer Day on February 15, 2026, and its 15th anniversary, the association Imagine for Margo celebrates 15 major victories in the fight against childhood cancers. Over the past 15 years, the association has donated nearly €30 million to research, funded 100 innovative projects, and enabled more than 9,200 children to benefit from personalized treatments across Europe.
Childhood cancers: a major public health issue
Cancer remains today the leading cause of death by disease among children in France and Europe. Faced with this alarming reality, Imagine for Margo – Children without Cancer has been taking action on all fronts since 2011: funding translational and clinical research, facilitating access to innovative therapies, advocating with French and European public authorities, and supporting families affected by the disease.
The association has helped develop 129 innovative treatments and involved more than 9,200 patients in its clinical programs.
Behind these figures are children’s lives saved, revolutionary treatments, and scientific breakthroughs that are transforming the landscape of pediatric oncology.
1. MAPPYACTS (2016–2028): The revolution of personalized medicine
Investment: €1.75 million
The European program MAPPYACTS, led by France, has revolutionized the management of childhood cancers by allowing 3,091 children in relapse to benefit from complete sequencing of their tumor and an analysis by a multidisciplinary committee. This personalized medicine approach makes it possible to better understand each disease in order to prescribe the most effective treatment for each child. The success of this program led the French State to integrate it into the France Genomic Medicine 2025 program, ensuring its sustainability and its public funding.
2. ACSÉ-ESMART (2016–2028): A clinical trial unique in the world
Investment: €1.8 million | Patients included: 254
ACSÉ-ESMART represents a major innovation in clinical research in pediatric oncology. This trial with a revolutionary format simultaneously tests 18 innovative treatments, making it possible to considerably accelerate access to therapeutic innovation for sick children. This approach makes it possible to gain precious time: testing faster means saving faster.
3. TAG-N-TRAK (2019–2021): A treatment effective at 94%
Investment: €60,000
This program made it possible to identify patients carrying the NTRK mutation and to give them access to a targeted treatment showing an exceptional effectiveness rate of 94%. Tumors previously considered incurable have become easily curable thanks to a simple syrup to be taken at home, without significant side effects. A real therapeutic revolution that radically changes the prognosis of these young patients.
4. SACHA (2019–2026): The registry that is a worldwide reference
Investment: €450,000 | Patients monitored: 1,300 | Therapies evaluated: 80+
SACHA constitutes the first global registry of this type, recognized by the National Agency for the Safety of Medicines (ANSM) and the High Authority for Health (HAS). This registry secures access to new treatments and lists the effectiveness and toxicity of more than 80 innovative therapies. Deployed internationally for three years, SACHA has made it possible to discard ineffective drugs while transferring the most promising molecules into formal clinical trials.
5. BIOMEDE (2015–2027): Hope against diffuse intrinsic brainstem gliomas
Investment: €2.5 million | Patients included: 601
BIOMEDE is the largest clinical program in the world on diffuse intrinsic brainstem gliomas, a tumor with a historically very poor prognosis. The sequencing of biopsies has made it possible to almost completely understand this disease and to test 4 new drugs in association with radiotherapy. Historical result: for the first time, some children become long-term survivors of this disease. Hope where there was none.
6. BEACON (2014–2028): Immunotherapy against neuroblastoma
Investment: €2 million | Patients treated: 385
This program allowed 385 patients in relapse or refractory to standard treatments to access innovative therapies, notably immunotherapy. The association of chemotherapy and immunotherapy has made it possible to significantly improve the survival of patients in relapse. New promising molecules are currently being analyzed to continue this therapeutic revolution.
7. NIVO-ALCL (2019–2026): Curing without bone marrow transplant
Investment: €600,000 | Patients treated: 44
An innovative immunotherapy combined with chemotherapy allowed many patients suffering from relapsed lymphoma to be cured without undergoing a bone marrow transplant. This major advance offers less heavy treatment, more cures, and a better quality of life during and after treatment, radically transforming the care pathway of these young patients.
8. REVIIHBT (2024–2027): Virtual reality restores vision
Investment: €300,000 | Target patients: 100
This innovative program offers patients with a brain tumor visual field rehabilitation exercises through virtual reality. The first phase of the trial on 8 patients demonstrated a significant improvement in their vision. Technological innovation at the service of quality of life, allowing children cured of cancer to return to a normal life.
9. CARBEMED (2021–2025): CAR-T cells attack brain tumors
Investment: €300,000
This program develops a CAR-T cell treatment against the most aggressive forms of medulloblastoma. This technology consists of reprogramming immune cells so that they specifically destroy tumors. The first results are promising: CAR-T cells are capable of targeting and destroying medulloblastoma cells located in the brain, a technological feat bringing hope.
Legislative and political victories: changing the rules of the game
10. Parliamentary mobilization (2019–2025): €65 million secured
Since 2019, Imagine for Margo and numerous associations have been mobilizing members of parliament to increase public funding for pediatric oncology research. The concrete result: an additional €5 million per year since 2019, along with two exceptional additional budgets of €20 million in 2023 and €10 million in 2024.
These funds, allocated by the French National Cancer Institute (INCa) as part of an association task force (in which Imagine for Margo represents the GRAVIR collective), have made it possible to fund calls for projects in fundamental research and notably support four integrated centers of excellence in pediatric oncology research (Imagine for Margo is a member of one of them: Paris Kids Cancer). They have also co-funded a team supporting a pediatric project within the Cancer Grand Challenges program (our president, Patricia Blanc, serves as a patient advocate in the NextGen and PROTECT projects).
An additional €20 million annual budget dedicated to fundamental and clinical research on childhood cancers has also been secured starting in 2026.
11. European Cancer Plan (2020): Europe commits to children
The first Plan to defeat Cancer constitutes a strong political commitment of the European Union. Imagine for Margo and other associations fought so that this plan would not leave children aside. Major victory: the European Cancer Plan now includes measures dedicated to pediatric oncology and a complete section on the follow-up of children cured of cancer. By the end of 2025, the European funds dedicated to childhood cancers amount to €100 million. Because children are not miniature adults.
12. BIOMEDE 2 – ONC201: Mobilization up to the President of the Republic
Faced with the unavailability in France of ONC201, a drug essential for treating certain gliomas, Imagine for Margo and other associations contacted the government, the President of the Republic and the ANSM. Result: authorization obtained to manufacture ONC201 in France, allowing sick children to have access to it. The association also obtained from the American laboratory access to the drug in France for the BIOMEDE trial. When associative mobilization unlocks the impossible.
13. ANSM Fast Track: accelerating clinical trial approvals
The authorization procedures for clinical trials were taking too much time, delaying access to innovative treatments. Thanks to the advocacy of Imagine for Margo, an accelerated procedure (Fast Track) for clinical trials of innovative treatments in pediatric oncology was put in place with the ANSM. The concrete result: less administrative waiting means faster access to clinical trials and more lives saved. In the face of childhood cancer, every day counts.
14. Family rights: 620 days to support a sick child
Previously, parents of sick children had to choose between keeping their job and accompanying their child during the illness. Thanks to the mobilization of many associations including Imagine for Margo, double victory: doubling of leave (from 310 to 620 continuous days for parents of a child with cancer) and strengthening of rights (increase in amounts and easing of access to the daily parental presence allowance). Being the parent of a sick child should no longer represent an impossible choice.
15. France’s Ten-Year Cancer Strategy: children finally recognized
For too long, childhood cancers were not a priority of public health policies in France. Imagine for Margo and partner associations fought so that children would no longer be forgotten. Historic victory: childhood cancers are now part of the priorities of the ten-year cancer strategy in France. Concrete result: official recognition, dedicated resources, increased visibility, and a commitment from the State for 10 years. Children and adolescents with cancer are no longer invisible.
These victories call for more: let’s accelerate research together
These 15 victories show the path that has been taken and the strength of collective mobilization. They prove that investing in research saves lives and radically transforms the prognosis of children with cancer. But the fight is far from over.
Even today, cancer remains the leading cause of death by disease among children. Each year, 2,500 children and adolescents are diagnosed in France and 1 child out of 5 does not survive. For survivors, 2 out of 3 will live with lifelong side effects from their disease or treatments. These numbers are unacceptable.
Each victory calls for the next. Treatments that seemed impossible 15 years ago are now a reality for some children. The therapies of tomorrow already exist in research laboratories, but they need funding to move from the experimental stage to accessible treatment.
Childhood cancers remain underfunded compared to adult cancers. That is why we must continue to mobilize. Every donation funds a new research project. Every voice raised with political decision-makers advances the cause. Every share raises awareness and expands the mobilization. Together, we can accelerate research, multiply victories, and move closer to the day when all children will be cured.
Join the mobilization. Support research. Change the future of sick children.
Because every victory counts. Every progress brings us closer to the day when no child will die from cancer. And on that day, we will get there together.