The Paediatric Haematology-Oncology team provides comprehensive, family-centred care for infants, children and adolescents with childhood cancers, blood disorders and conditions requiring haematopoietic stem cell transplantation.
Based in the VIVA-University Children’s Cancer Centre (VUC3) at National University Hospital, our multidisciplinary team provides care across the spectrum of leukaemia and lymphoma, solid and brain tumours, benign haematological disorders, cellular therapy and stem cell transplantation. As an academic centre, we integrate clinical care with research and advances in precision diagnostics, targeted and immune-based therapies.
We provide specialised care for children and adolescents with cancer and blood disorders through a range of dedicated clinical programmes. Click on a tab below to learn more about each service area.
Benign Haematology
Our division provides specialist care for children with a wide range of inherited and acquired blood disorders. These include thalassaemia and other haemoglobinopathies, aplastic anaemia and congenital bone marrow failure syndromes, immune thrombocytopenia, congenital neutropenia, von Willebrand disease, haemophilia and rare congenital anaemias.
Care includes specialised diagnostic evaluation, transfusion support, disease-specific therapies and long-term follow-up. For selected severe non-malignant blood disorders, stem cell transplantation may provide definitive treatment.
Paediatric Blood and Marrow Transplantation
Our established Paediatric Blood and Marrow Transplantation Programme provides specialised transplantation care for children and young adults with malignant and non-malignant conditions.
The programme provides matched sibling, matched and mismatched unrelated, haploidentical and cord blood transplantation, as well as selected immuno-cellular therapies. It supports patients with high-risk cancers as well as conditions such as bone marrow failure, haemoglobinopathies, immunodeficiencies and selected metabolic or inflammatory disorders. The programme has been FACT-accredited since 2012.
Paediatric Brain Tumours
We provide multidisciplinary care for children and adolescents with brain and central nervous system tumours, including medulloblastoma, ependymoma and paediatric gliomas.
The Paediatric Neurosurgical Service and other specialists in neuroradiology, pathology, radiation oncology, rehabilitation and supportive care coordinate treatment.
Cellular Therapy and Immunotherapy
Our programme provides immune-based and cellular therapies for selected children with high-risk or relapsed cancers, including bispecific antibody therapy and chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy.
Our clinical and research teams have developed novel cellular therapies, including an in-house developed fratricide-resistant CD7 CAR T-cell therapy for relapsed or refractory T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukaemia and CD19 and CD22 CAR T-cell therapy for B-cell leukaemias/lymphomas.
Integrated Care at VUC3
The 9a VIVA-University Children’s Cancer Centre (VUC3) provides an integrated environment for outpatient consultation and day therapy for children with cancer and blood disorders. Its facilities are designed around the needs of children who may be immunocompromised and their families.
The division also works closely with the Children’s Cancer Foundation and other partners to support the emotional, social and practical needs of children and their families throughout treatment and recovery.
Childhood Leukaemia and Lymphoma
Childhood leukaemia is a major clinical and research focus of our programme. Through the Malaysia-Singapore Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia (Ma-Spore ALL) studies, our team has helped develop risk-adapted treatment using minimal residual disease and molecular features to tailor therapy according to each child's disease.
We provide comprehensive care for children with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia, acute myeloid leukaemia, chronic myeloid leukaemia, juvenile myelomonocytic leukaemia, myelodysplastic syndromes and Hodgkin and non-Hodgkin lymphomas.
Research, Education and Regional Collaboration
Clinical and translational research is integral to our programme, with active work in childhood leukaemia, precision diagnostics, immunotherapy, cellular therapy and stem cell transplantation.
Our team also participates in regional training and collaborative programmes, including the annual St Jude-VIVA Forum in Paediatric Oncology, bringing together healthcare professionals involved in childhood cancer care across the region.
Solid Tumours
Our team manages a broad range of childhood solid tumours, including neuroblastoma, retinoblastoma, osteosarcoma, rhabdomyosarcoma, Ewing sarcoma and other rare paediatric malignancies.
We deliver care through close multidisciplinary collaboration with paediatric and subspecialty surgeons, radiologists, pathologists, radiation oncologists, and other specialists, coordinating surgery, systemic therapy, radiotherapy and supportive care tailored to each child's needs.
Paediatric haematology-oncology care requires expertise from many disciplines. Our paediatric haemato-oncologists work closely with specialist nurses, pharmacists, allied health professionals and specialists across paediatrics, surgery, radiation oncology, pathology, diagnostic imaging and other disciplines to develop an individualised care plan for each child.
Dr Krista Lea Francisco
Principal Resident Physician
Our paediatric oncology nurses are integral to the care of children and families throughout diagnosis, treatment and follow-up. They provide specialised nursing care for patients receiving chemotherapy, immunotherapy, cellular therapy and stem cell transplantation, as well as blood products and other intravenous treatments.
Nurses also support central-line care, infection prevention, symptom management and education for children and caregivers, working closely with the medical and multidisciplinary teams to provide safe and coordinated care.
Children undergoing treatment for cancer or blood disorders may require support extending beyond medical treatment. Depending on each child's needs, our team works with pharmacists, dietitians, medical social workers, psychologists and counsellors, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, rehabilitation professionals and palliative and supportive care teams.
We also work closely with the Children’s Cancer Foundation (CCF), which provides services including counselling, therapeutic and hospital play, child life services, caregiver support, school reintegration, academic support, survivorship programmes, financial assistance and palliative and bereavement support.
Our operations and administrative teams support children and families throughout their care journey by coordinating appointments, treatment schedules, procedures and communication across the different teams involved in their care.
They work alongside the clinical team to facilitate care across outpatient, day therapy and inpatient services and help families navigate the wider NUH and NCIS healthcare system.
Featured News and Patient Stories |
Promising cell therapy offers hope for relapsed or refractory T-Cell Leukaemia
5 Oct 2024
S’pore baby with 1 in 100 million brain stem tumour survives and thrives against all odds
22 Jun 2024
‘Our little miracle’: British boy who came to Singapore for treatment for aggressive cancer heads home
26 Jun 2020
Our team works with community and charitable partners to provide support throughout treatment and survivorship.
Children's Cancer Foundation (CCF) provides psychosocial support, child life and therapeutic play services, caregiver support, school reintegration, academic assistance, survivorship programmes and financial, palliative and bereavement support.
VIVA Foundation for Children with Cancer partners with VUC3 in supporting childhood cancer care, research, education and regional collaboration.
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