Marta Lalinde: “I am contributing to increasing knowledge of this disease and ensuring that there are more treatment options in the future”

Marta Lalinde is the clinical trials coordinator of the Pediatric Oncohematology Unit of the Miguel Servet Children's Hospital in Zaragoza. She has been in this newly created position for two and a half years, which is funded equally by Aspanoa and the IIS Aragón

The technological revolution has changed the world and medicine has not been left behind. New digital tools make it possible to collect a multitude of patient data and exploit it to know which treatments work best and find new lines of research.

This is the work you do Marta Lalinde (Zaragoza, 1996), which is the clinical trials coordinator of the Pediatric Oncohematology Unit from the Miguel Servet Children's Hospital in Zaragoza. He has been in this newly created position for two and a half years, which is funded equally by Aspanoa and the Aragón Health Research Institute (IIS Aragón).

“What I like most about my job is that I feel that I am doing my part, that I am contributing to increasing knowledge of this disease and that there are more treatment options in the future”

The Unit is currently open approximately 13 clinical trials, a process through which new treatment protocols are tested in search of better survival. There are also 8 active registries, in which patient data is uploaded, which is subsequently exploited to try to open new avenues of research and, where appropriate, start a clinical trial.

Many families are unaware of this important work. In fact, Marta points out that on more than one occasion she has been mistaken for a doctor. She is a graduate of Biotechnology and Master in Clinical Trial Monitoring and Pharmaceutical Development. She worked in the Servet Adult Oncology clinical trials unit and is now focused on this professional challenge that she describes as “very rewarding.” We wanted to interview her so she could explain her work in more detail.

What is your day to day life like at the Unit?

My role is to be the link between the hospital or the clinical part run by the doctors and the trial promoter. Sometimes questions arise about how to apply a protocol or how to record certain information and I try to resolve them. I am also in charge of doing the patient monitoring, that is, being aware that samples are taken and sent at the appropriate time, that the pertinent evaluations and tests are carried out according to the protocols of each trial, reporting any adverse events that may occur, etc. The data that is generated is dumped directly into a digital platform or data collection notebook (CRD). And then there is the whole documentation part: trying to get selected for a trial, having all the information well recorded and justified so that the trial promoter can check it, etc.

This is a newly created position, but data was collected and sent long before, right?

Yes. The position is continuously created at the beginning of 2022 through the IIS Aragón and thanks to funding from Aspanoa. Previously, the Unit's own doctors were in charge. They did it as best they could, often outside of their working hours. But the workload was very important and it was decided that there had to be a person who was directly in charge of this task to provide a better service. Dr. Carlota Calvo was the first doctor I met, who interviewed me and who explained to me how they worked the first day I went to the hospital. I believe that it would be impossible to currently carry out all the trials without a person 100% dedicated. If we want to continue opening new trials and have different treatment options, there has to be a professional who is dedicated to it.

Who finances clinical trials?

“In Pediatrics there are hardly any pharmaceutical companies financing trials”

Unlike what happens in adult oncology, In Pediatrics there are hardly any pharmaceutical companies financing trials. The promoters are usually the hospital foundations and national and international universities, which seek above all to see if the combination of different therapies is more effective or if modifying a protocol results in better survival. In our case, a large part of the trials are promoted by the SEHOP (Spanish Society of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology).

Tell us some examples of the trials that are open right now.

We are participating in very important trials with many patients recruited. We have some trials pending to open, others are finalizing recruitment and some are even closing to give final results. On the other hand, of the records, the most voluminous is that of leukemias, because it is the most common childhood cancer.

How is it decided which patients enter a clinical trial?

To participate in a trial, the first thing is sign the informed consents. The clinical trial is offered adapt to the patient's situation and illness. The protocol and all the tests and possible adverse effects are explained to them and all doubts are clarified for the parents and also for the patient, because some are already older or even teenagers and are old enough to agree and even sign as well. From there, the analyzes, imaging tests, required samples begin to be done... All this data is recorded and, if the minor meets all the criteria to participate in the trial, he or she is included in the trial and will begin treatment in the corresponding branch.

What does working in Oncopediatrics mean to you?

On a professional level, it is giving me a lot. I had never worked in Pediatrics and there are features of the schemes and designs that vary with respect to projects in adults, so I have been able to expand my experience and knowledge within the area.

On a personal level, sometimes it is hard because I am a person who empathizes a lot and although I am not in direct contact with the families, I end up knowing the stories of the patients who participate in the trials and registries, and There are very complicated moments. Fortunately, there is also good news and very good days because you see the evolution from when they are ill and how they respond to treatment and even patients in consultation who are discharged. And all of that is very gratifying. What I like most about my job is that I feel like I am putting My grain of sand, that is, I am contributing to increasing knowledge of this disease and ensuring that there are more treatment options in the future.

Finally, what do you think of Aspanoa's work?

Thanks to Aspanoa, this position was created and I was able to coordinate all the Unit's rehearsals. In addition, all the camps and activities you do for children are wonderful, added to the work you do with moms and dads who need your support. It is encouraging that there are organizations that can provide such good things when someone is going through such a bad situation.

Source: Aspanoa