PICK4Kids–Veda STAR Awards

These are national research awards established to support innovative and clinically relevant projects that advance precision oncology for children with solid tumors in India. The awards aim to improve access to precision diagnostics, promote innovation, enable personalized treatment, and ultimately improve outcomes for children with cancer.

Awards will be considered in four disease categories:

• Wilms tumor
• Neuroblastoma
• Sarcomas
• Brain tumors

The primary objective is to expand access to precision oncology and translate advances in diagnostics, technology and research into better clinical care for children with solid tumors. Improving the reach and clinical impact of molecular testing remains an important focus; however, the awards also encourage innovation involving advanced imaging, radiomics, artificial intelligence, digital pathology, biomarkers and integrated precision-oncology approaches. Projects should ultimately contribute to more precise diagnosis, risk stratification, treatment selection, response assessment, access to appropriate targeted therapies or improved patient outcomes.

Projects may include, but are not limited to:

• Improving access to established molecular testing
• Developing, optimizing or validating disease-specific molecular panels
• Molecular biomarkers and translational research
• Genomic or other molecular characterization of pediatric tumors
• Radiology, advanced imaging and radiomics
• Artificial intelligence and machine-learning applications
• Digital and computational pathology
• AI-assisted diagnosis, tumor classification or risk stratification
• Imaging or AI-based prediction of molecular alterations
• Automated tumor segmentation or treatment-response assessment
• Integration of clinical, imaging, pathology and molecular data
• Innovative technologies that improve access to precision diagnostics
• Research linking precision diagnostics to treatment selection, targeted therapies and patient outcomes

No. Molecular diagnostics are an important focus of the awards, but precision oncology extends beyond molecular testing. Projects involving radiomics, artificial intelligence, advanced imaging, digital pathology, biomarkers, computational approaches or integrated clinical–molecular–imaging strategies may also be considered. The proposal should clearly demonstrate how the approach could contribute to more precise diagnosis, risk stratification, treatment selection, response assessment, personalized therapy or improved outcomes.

Yes. Radiology, radiomics and AI projects are eligible when they address a meaningful clinical or scientific problem in pediatric precision oncology. Examples include tumor characterization, prediction of molecular features, risk stratification, automated tumor assessment, prediction of treatment response or relapse, and technologies that improve access to expert diagnostic interpretation. The emphasis should be on clinical relevance, appropriate validation, feasibility and potential impact on patient care, rather than technology development alone.

Yes. Applicants may collaborate with an established molecular laboratory or other appropriate technical partner. Collaborations that enable high-quality precision diagnostics to reach a larger number of children, particularly those treated outside major tertiary centers, are encouraged.

Yes. Capacity-building projects may be considered when they directly strengthen precision oncology for children. Examples include establishing or strengthening a clinically relevant molecular assay, improving diagnostic capability, developing a disease-specific platform, or expanding an existing service so that precision diagnostics reach more patients.

Yes. Development, optimization or validation of a focused molecular panel may be supported when there is a strong scientific rationale and clear potential impact on diagnosis, risk stratification, treatment selection or patient outcomes.

Yes. Multicentric and collaborative studies are encouraged, particularly when collaboration increases patient numbers, improves geographic reach, strengthens scientific quality or expands access to precision diagnostics.

Yes. Projects involving patients, patient samples, identifiable clinical information or prospective research must obtain applicable Institutional Ethics Committee approval before initiation and comply with relevant institutional and regulatory requirements.

Applications will be reviewed by the PICK4KIDS Scientific Committee. Evaluation will consider:

• Scientific merit
• Innovation
• Clinical relevance
• Feasibility
• Appropriate use of precision-oncology technologies
• Potential to improve access
• Scalability and sustainability
• Measurable impact on diagnosis, treatment or patient outcomes

Additional disease-specific, technical or international expertise may be sought when required for appropriate evaluation of a proposal.

Awardees will be expected to work toward predefined project milestones, provide periodic progress updates, document the reach and impact of the project, submit a final report and present the findings at an appropriate scientific forum. Scientific publication of the work will be encouraged where applicable.

Yes. Publications, presentations and other scientific outputs arising from the funded project should acknowledge support from the PICK4KIDS–Veda Star Foundation Molecular & Precision Oncology Innovation Awards.

A strong proposal should address an important unmet clinical or scientific need, have a clearly defined precision-oncology strategy, demonstrate feasibility, include measurable outcomes and show how the project could meaningfully improve access, diagnosis, treatment decisions, personalized therapy or outcomes for children with cancer.