Young Clinical Trials Ambassadors
In May 2024, POLPEDNET Kids was established – the Polish equivalent of YPAG (Young Person Advisory Group), operating under the auspices of the “Pomnik – Children’s Health Centre” Institute (IPCZD) in Warsaw.
The group brings together children and young people aged between 8 and 18 who wish to play an active role in the development of modern medicine, clinical trials and innovative solutions in healthcare.
Mission
POLPEDNET KIDS’ mission is to give a voice to children, teenagers, young adults and their families in the development of modern medicine – from the design of clinical trials, through educational materials, to community initiatives.
The group’s objectives include:
Co-designing and providing feedback on clinical trials – ensuring that procedures and information materials are tailored to the needs of children and young people.
Education – organising workshops and meetings to introduce participants to the world of medicine, scientific research and innovation.
Raising public awareness – creating educational materials for peers, patients and families that explain complex issues in an accessible way.
International cooperation – participating in European and global projects (including those under ICAN, TEDDY and ECHO) to ensure that the voices of Polish children are heard around the world.
Our activities:
Educational workshops
POLPEDNET KIDS regularly organises workshops during which young people gain practical insight into the world of medicine. Topics covered so far have included, amongst others:
- modern technologies in medicine,
- the basics of clinical trials,
- hospital pharmacy and the role of the pharmacist in treatment,
- interventional cardiology,
- an introduction to gene therapy,
- from science fiction to modern medicine.
Creative projects
Young people help to create innovative educational and artistic projects, including:
- the comic book ‘A Day in the Life of a Hospital Pharmacist’ – in the form of a colouring book, where children can add their own dialogue (currently in production),
- a board game about clinical trials in space,
- art and creative competitions that engage a wide audience.
Social initiatives
POLPEDNET KIDS is also involved in charitable campaigns. In December 2024, the group organised a collection of presents for children hospitalised at the IPCZD. Thanks to the commitment of members, parents and partners, they managed to put together parcels full of books, games and school supplies.
International cooperation
The group actively participates in international projects and conferences, representing Poland at events such as iCAN (International Children’s Advisory Network) meetings and within European research consortia.
- At the ICAN 2025 conference in Montreal, the group won the award for ‘the world’s most innovative group’.
- During the iCAN Summit in Ireland (12–17 July 2026), the group’s members, together with their supervisor and coordinator, Dr Aleksander Wiśniewski, MD, were presented with the prestigious Exceptional Impact Award.
Why is this important?
Thanks to the involvement of young people, clinical trials and modern medical solutions can be made more patient-friendly. The views of children and young people enable researchers, doctors and pharmaceutical companies to look at trials from a different perspective – that of the patient and their family. This, in turn, leads to better-quality research, more effective recruitment of clinical trial participants and greater public trust.
Actions
POLPEDNET Kids has submitted a recommendation to the European Commission regarding the establishment of expert groups on the development of medical devices for rare paediatric conditions
POLPEDNET Kids has issued a favourable opinion on the documentation relating to the study ‘Wideokinetic assessment of the right ventricle in patients with tetralogy of Fallot undergoing corrective surgery or reoperation on the right ventricular outflow tract, and comparison with standard echocardiographic assessment’:
- Informed consent form,
- Information for the patient and legal guardian regarding the specifics of the study.
The principal investigator at the IPCZD will be Dr Agnieszka Grzyb, MD, from the Department of Cardiac Surgery.
If you would like to find out more about what we do, please get in touch:
a.wisniewski@ipczd.pl with the subject line ‘POLPEDNET KIDS’
Tel: +503 173 651, landline: 22 815 71 66
