Current projects
Thanks to improved treatments, an increasing number of children and adolescents are surviving cancer. However, intensive oncological treatments can have adverse long-term health consequences (late effects), lowering quality of life. Many childhood, adolescent and young adult cancer survivors (CAYACS) are unaware of the possibility of their risk for late effects.
The European project will provide children and young adults who have survived cancer with e-health tools designed specifically for and with them to help them manage their health. This is a collaborative effort between 32 institutions from 16 European countries.
Through the creation of this digital content, access to psychosocial resources and informative material is ensured. The support platforms will be available in 15 different languages, which helps to promote equal access to high quality resources. The goal is that childhood cancer survivors and their loved ones can enhance their wellbeing and quality of life by consulting the online content that will be developed within the e-QuoL project.
In a first step, existing e-health tools for survivors and parents are being explored, such as websites from parent organizations, hospitals or other childhood cancer websites. A systematic content analysis of these sites will determine features and content that is currently available. The learnings from this exploration will shape the choices made regarding the e-QuoL project support resources.
Second, the team at the University of Lucerne is responsible on a psychosocial needs assessment survey to assess the needs of childhood cancer survivors and their support network (parents, siblings, grandparents, partners). The survey is available in 15 different languages and was created in collaboration with the other e-QuoL project partners. Results will inform the creation of the information for e-health tools.
Beyond the psychosocial needs assessment, the team at the University of Lucerne will develop the content for a website to provide the required information and support to family members and friends of survivors.
Funding: The e-QuoL project, number 101136549, is funded by the European Union, and the Swiss State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation (SERI)
Project Leader: Prof. Gisela Michel, PhD
Team: Anica Ilic, PhD; Katharina Roser, PhD; Kathleen Ostheim, MSc; Aline Wechsler; Anne Maas, PhD; Valeriia Balaeva, MSc
Duration: January 2024 – December 2027
Childhood cancer profoundly disrupts family dynamics, imposing psychological strain on parents and altering family roles. Mothers are often primary caregivers, while fathers shoulder financial responsibilities, creating distinct challenges. Research has largely focused on mothers, with limited evidence on fathers, particularly in non-English-speaking contexts. Fathers must balance childcare, siblings’ needs, partner relationships, and employment, yet remain underrepresented in psychosocial oncology research. Consequently, current support strategies may fail fathers’ specific needs.
This project aims to: (1) examine the fathers’ caregiving, psychological, and social experiences following a child’s cancer diagnosis; (2) compare fathers’ psychological and physical wellbeing with their partners and with the general population; (3) assess longitudinal changes in fathers’ wellbeing during and after treatment; (4) identify fathers’ support needs; and (5) develop tailored recommendations for father-focused support strategies.
Paediatric oncology centres of Switzerland and patient organizations participate in enrolment. Study 1 is a longitudinal survey of 130 fathers during and after their child’s cancer therapy (Aims 1–4). Eligible fathers are Swiss residents whose child (<19 years) is diagnosed and treated at a participating centre. Exclusion criteria include terminal illness with end-of-life care or no current treatment (watch and wait). Fathers will be invited to involve their partners, who will complete separate questionnaires. Validated instruments will be administered at two timepoints: three to four months after diagnosis and within four months post-therapy or initiation of oral maintenance chemotherapy. Study 2 comprises semi-structured interviews with 20–30 fathers to explore caregiving and psychosocial experiences in depth (Aims 1, 4). Study 3 employs a Delphi process with stakeholder panels to develop consensus-based recommendations for father-specific support (Aims 4, 5).
FiNESSE is the first project investigating the psychosocial impact of childhood cancer on fathers in Switzerland. Its multicentre, longitudinal design will capture diverse linguistic and cultural contexts, currently absent from the literature. FiNESSE will generate the first evidence-based, father-specific support recommendations, co-developed with fathers and healthcare providers, to ensure cultural and contextual relevance.
Funding: Swiss National Science Foundation (Grant no: 10.006.311)
Principal Investigators: Prof. Gisela Michel, PhD, Lucerne; PD André von Bueren, PhD, Geneva
Project team: in Lucerne: Peter F. Raguindin, PhD; Caterina Montagnola, PhD; Cosima Meier, PhD student; Leah Weber, PhD student; Nina Kägi
Paediatric oncology clinics in Switzerland: PD Dr. Christina Schindera, Basel; Dr. Pierluigi Brazzola, Bellinzona; PD Dr. Nicolas Waespe, Bern; Dr. Laura Crosazzo Franscini, Lausanne; Dr. Freimut Schilling, Luzern; Prof. Dr. Katrin Scheinemann, St. Gallen; KD Dr. Sabine Kroiss, Zurich; Zoltan Laszlo, Kinderkrebshilfe Schweiz.
Project duration: 1 September 2026 – 31 August 2030
You can also download a pdf file with a description of our current and previous projects (English and German in the same file).
