Francisco González, head of the Clinical Trial Operations Unit at VHIR, participated in the roundtable 'Decentralization of Clinical Trials in pediatrics: implementation through a network of centers', organized by RECLIP. The session brought together experts to discuss the challenges and opportunities of this innovative model.
González presented Vall d'Hebron's experience and institutional strategy to promote pediatric clinical research, facilitating access for children and adolescents to innovative studies. This commitment is part of the new Strategic Plan for Pediatric and Perinatal Research 2026-2030, which maintains pediatric clinical research as a priority line.
VHIR has promoted the Pediatric and Perinatal Research Hub, which integrates 32 research groups, eight of which are dedicated exclusively to pediatrics. A key project is BRIDGE (Breaking Barriers with Remote Integration for Global Pediatric Trials), funded by the Instituto de Salud Carlos III, which aims to overcome barriers in the participation of children and adolescents in clinical trials.
The BRIDGE project combines infrastructure, digital tools, telemedicine, and decentralized models to reduce travel, facilitate remote monitoring, and improve collaboration between centers. It includes a virtual platform with telemedicine services and a Community of Practice with healthcare professionals and patient associations.
