Poster Presentation 37th Lorne Cancer Conference 2025

International paediatric bone marrow transplant priority partnership development and emerging themes (#273)

Elizabeth (Beth) N Williams 1 2 3 , Roxanne Dyas 1 2 3 , Rachel K Conyers 1 2 3 , Adam Nelson 4 5 , Amanda Gwee 1 2 3 , Amy Lovell 6 , Andrew Gennery 7 8 9 , Arjan Lancaster 10 , Ben Gelbart 1 2 3 , Eileen Van Der Stoep 10 , Hilda Mekelenkamp 10 , Kanchan Rao 9 , Karen Nicholson 7 , Katherine Colman 3 , Lisa Ott de Bruin 10 , Lori Chait-Rubinek 3 , Lorna McLeman 1 2 , Mary Slatter 1 7 8 , Niaz Choudhury 9 , Nienke Vreeken 10 , Shivanthan Shanthikumar 1 2 3 , Susan Farish 9 , Suzannah Kinsella 11 , Theresa Cole 1 3 , Timothy Prestidge 6 , Trevor Duke 1 3 12 , Robert Wynn 13
  1. Paediatrics, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, VIC, Australia
  2. Murdoch Childrens Research Institute, Melbourne, Victoria, VIC, Australia
  3. Royal Children's Hospital, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
  4. Kids Cancer Centre, Sydney Children's Hospital Network, Sydney, NSW, Australia
  5. University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia
  6. Starship Children's Hospital, Auckland, New Zealand
  7. Great North Children's Hospital, Newcastle, England, United Kingdom
  8. Newcastle University, Newcastle, England, United Kingdom
  9. Great Ormond Street Hospital, London, England, United Kingdom
  10. Leiden University Medical Centre, Leiden, The Netherlands
  11. James Lind Alliance, South Hampton, United Kingdom
  12. School of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Papua New Guinea, Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea
  13. Royal Manchester Children's Hospital, Mancester, England, United Kingdom

Background/ Motivation 

Bone Marrow Transplant (BMT) is a life-saving therapy for many patients. Research in Paediatric BMT, particularly the causes of   morbidity and mortality is scarce. We aim to establish and elucidate evidence-gaps in the current literature and, together with a broad stakeholder group, produce a prioritised set of research questions to direct future international research and funding.  

Objective 

To implement a Priority Setting Partnership (PSP) across Australia, New Zealand, The Netherlands and United Kingdom and identify the top 10 research uncertainties up to day 180 post BMT. To publish findings and present to funding bodies to best direct future research in this population.  

Approach/ Method 

Following the James Lind Alliance (JLA) method involves (i) creating a steering group with widely representative membership; (ii) conducting meetings with stakeholders; (iii) compiling a survey to gather research priorities; (iv) collating responses and checking against current evidence; (v) utilising secondary surveys to refine the top 10 stakeholder priorities.  

Findings/ Results 

This international study allows for a broad representation of global responses, reducing regional bias in the final top 10 research priorities identified. These final priorities will be made available via JLA platforms.  Come February 2025, the project will be approaching completion, allowing for discussion in many critical areas of interest. These include; evaluating the requirement for ethics approval and implications, emerging themes of participants’ priorities, correlations between participant’s involvement in BMT (lived experience or healthcare professional) or demographics with the patterns of priorities identified, and addressing challenges encountered throughout the process including methodological, data analysis, communication barriers and stakeholder engagement.  

Conclusion 

Implementing the PSP in paediatric BMT will provide clear, prioritised research questions to direct research to focus on areas of equipoise and assist funding bodies in directing grant opportunities. 

  1. James Lind Alliance http://www.jla.nihr.ac.uk