If you want to increase life expectancy in the country, then you should start with treating cancer in children — Javad Nazarian, Principal Investigator, Brain Tumour Institute, Children’s National Health System.

On average, 15 children out of every 100,000 worldwide fall ill with cancer each year. In Russia this translates to 4,500 children — Galina Novichkova, Chairperson of the Board, Doctors, Innovations, Science for Children Foundation for Support and Development in Children’s Haematology, Oncology, and Immunology.

The crucial prerequisites to securing a breakthrough in healthcare are developing and rapidly implementing innovative technologies in practice — Evelina Zakamskaya, Anchor, Russia 24.

The paediatric cancer research group raises an average of USD 30 million per year. Of this, USD 25 million goes towards clinical research, and USD 5 million is allocated to organizing and managing research, statistics and data analysis — Galina Novichkova, Chairperson of the Board, Doctors, Innovations, Science for Children Foundation for Support and Development in Children’s Haematology, Oncology, and Immunology.

Currently, procurement of immunotherapeutic drugs accounts for 38% of all expenses on purchasing oncological medications. According to some forecasts, this figure will reach USD 100 billion in 2022 — Boris Afanasyev, Director, Rаisa Gorbacheva Memorial Research Institute for Paediatric Oncology, Haematology and Transplantation.

Across the world, academic medical centres are a source of breakthrough ideas for the pharmaceutical industry, as well as for modern medical equipment. Investments from the public or private sector are required in order to see these ideas reach fruition — Evelina Zakamskaya, Anchor, Russia 24.

Underfunding is a serious barrier impeding scientific research, the implementation of innovative technology, and the treatment of children with the best medicines — Evelina Zakamskaya, Anchor, Russia 24.

We have problems which have arisen due to a reluctance on the part of business to invest in science and support scientific processes, and the inability of the state to do the same — Alexander Rumyantsev, General Director, Dmitry Rogachev National Research Centre.

The clinical development of innovative medications at early stages costs far more than lab research. Academic clinical research is barely funded at all. We have no mechanism by which to receive funds for the purpose of conducting clinical research — Mikhail Maschan, Director, Institute of Haematology, Immunology and Cell Technologies, Dmitry Rogachev National Research Centre of Paediatric Haematology, Oncology and Immunology of the Russian Ministry of Health.

Unless innovative technologies are used in administration, we will be unable to implement any breakthrough technologies — Tatyana Yakovleva, Deputy Minister of Healthcare of the Russian Federation..

There is no laboratorial platform by which to individualize patients. <...> As for allogeneic transplantation, there is no national donor register — Boris Afanasyev, Director, Rаisa Gorbacheva Memorial Research Institute for Paediatric Oncology, Haematology and Transplantation.

One of the most problematic areas in the diagnostics of cancer is the pathology. The role of the pathologist is to take the cell tissue, put it in a glass, look in the microscope, count the cells... If they don’t know exactly what cancer type it might be, they package the cells, send it to some other specialist on the other side of the country to ask for a second opinion.... More than 40% of all delays are caused by the pathologist — Jan-Willem Scheijgrond, Vice President, Global Head of Government and Public Affairs, Royal Philips.

Healthcare today must keep children healthy, rather than return them to health — Tatyana Yakovleva, Deputy Minister of Healthcare of the Russian Federation..

Any investment that any society makes in disease prevention has the greatest return out of societal investments — Kevin Ali, Kevin Ali.

On average, 70% of children and adolescents survive, but they undergo very complicated, difficult, and occasionally debilitating chemotherapy. It is vital to create personalized therapy to ensure that a child does not undergo excessive treatment — Galina Novichkova, Chairperson of the Board, Doctors, Innovations, Science for Children Foundation for Support and Development in Children’s Haematology, Oncology, and Immunology.

What is the most fearsome moment for a child undergoing cancer therapy? It is when they have to go in a CT scanner. It is frightful – also for the parents. So, how can we improve that process, and make it more comfortable for the child, and not so traumatic? Those are other investments we can make — Jan-Willem Scheijgrond, Vice President, Global Head of Government and Public Affairs, Royal Philips.

When the healthcare sector places an order, on the one hand it is important that we understand it correctly, and that on the other hand we ensure that all the expertise and technological opportunities we have created are employed to the great extent possible to develop and manufacture the medicines which are most in needed in paediatrics — Sergey Tsyb, Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade of the Russian Federation.

Philanthropic financing creates a unique opportunity to develop, implement and provide patient access to a new therapy. It provides chances for recovery today and in the future — Mikhail Maschan, Director, Institute of Haematology, Immunology and Cell Technologies, Dmitry Rogachev National Research Centre of Paediatric Haematology, Oncology and Immunology of the Russian Ministry of Health.

Big, fundamental science is supported by the state, but practical things which bring an immediate result can be supported by pharmaceutical companies — Mikhail Panteleev, Professor of the Department of Medical Physics, Faculty of Physics, Lomonosov Moscow State University.

It is important for any institution to think of itself in the digital context. This also applies when attracting philanthropists — Dmitry Korobkov, Chairman of the Board of Directors, ADV.