As 2024 comes to an end, we reflect with gratitude and pride on our SIOP community, which has now reached a record-breaking 3,655 members. Together, we have advanced our shared mission to ensure children with cancer worldwide receive the care and hope they deserve.

Thank you for your dedication—whether at the bedside, in research, or through advocacy on national and global stages. Your efforts are the heart of SIOP, driving meaningful improvements for children and families affected by cancer.

This year, we reunited at the SIOP 2024 Congress in Honolulu, where over 2,800 people gathered to share knowledge, forge collaborations, and advance paediatric oncology. The vibrant discussions and innovations showcased the strength of our global community. We also celebrated growing participation and impact through our Continental Congresses.

Our advocacy efforts reached new heights, including key publications of the SIOP Global Mapping Programme and contributions to London Global Cancer Week and the World Cancer Congress. Events such as Progress in Childhood Cancer Data Sharing and Every Facility, Every Country: SIOP Global Mapping Programme emphasised equitable access to care. Initiatives like World Radiotherapy Awareness Day and Universal Health Coverage Day underscored the urgent need for critical investments in cancer care.

We celebrated a successful International Childhood Cancer Day (ICCD) campaign and a remarkable Gold September, with landmarks worldwide lit in gold. A joint Survivor’s Week webinar with CCI spotlighted both challenges and successes in addressing stigma and communication in childhood cancer.

This year also marked the launch of impactful initiatives. The Epidemiology and Outcomes Network focuses on addressing disparities and improving outcomes, while the Survivorship Network prioritizes long-term care for childhood cancer survivors. Additionally, DiSPLeN—a new disease-specific platform from the SIOP Global Health Network—connects professionals globally to bridge gaps in care, especially in low-resource settings.

Enhancements to SIOP CONNECT resulted in more member engagement, reflecting the enthusiasm and commitment we witnessed from our community across all activities year long. We proudly supported our members with 140 scholarships and 27 awards.

Looking to 2025, we are excited to build on this year’s achievements. The SIOP Congress in Amsterdam will be a platform to advance our mission further. We will launch our new Strategic Plan, strengthen support for the WHO Global Initiative for Childhood Cancer, and lead impactful campaigns, including ICCD 2025, which will focus on actionable solutions for overcoming barriers in care and research.

The SIOP Global Mapping Programme will continue to collect relevant information for mapping the paediatric oncology services and their workforce. We aim to publish a global framework for paediatric oncology units, providing standardized guidelines for both their creation and operation.

SIOP will continue and expand the support to research through its PARC Programme, and will work on generating the top research questions for paediatric cancer. We are also excited to launch an ambitious educational programme in Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia, equipping healthcare professionals with tools to address this major paediatric cancer.

In association with St Jude Global, PROS and IPSO, 2025 will witness a significant expansion of the ARIA Project, driving education and training worldwide.

Thank you for being part of this extraordinary community. Your unwavering commitment inspires us all as we work towards a world where no child dies of cancer. Wishing you and your loved ones a joyful holiday season and a successful year ahead.

With heartfelt appreciation,

Guillermo Chantada
SIOP President

Rejin Kebudi
SIOP Secretary General