PedStart is the national F-CRIN network for pediatric clinical research. It supports academic and industrial sponsors in the design, implementation, and conduct of multicenter pediatric clinical trials in France and Europe. As the French partner of the European c4c-S (Conect4children-Stichting) infrastructure, PedStart serves as a single point of entry to facilitate the conduct of pediatric clinical research projects across all specialties.
PedStart, the national pediatric clinical research network
Founded in 2018, PedStart brings together the key players in pediatric clinical research to develop high-quality studies that address the specific needs of children.
The network brings together Clinical Investigation Centers (CICs), Clinical Research Centers (CRCs), university and non-university hospitals conducting pediatric clinical research (PCR), as well as associations demonstrating expertise and clinical research activity in pediatrics.
Thanks to its national and European organization, PedStart:
- facilitates the implementation of multicenter clinical trials;
- provides a network of centers that meet high-quality standards;
- promotes cooperation among stakeholders in pediatric clinical research nationwide;
- coordinates the Network of National Networks (NNN), which brings together 16 European national networks.
The network serves children of all ages and covers all pediatric specialties.
Organization
PedStart's headquarters are located at the Orléans University Hospital.
The network is coordinated by:
- Prof. Régis Hankard, coordinator;
- Prof. Frédéric Gottrand, coordinator;
- Dr. Florence Flamein, medical coordinator;
with the support of project leaders Karine François, Laura Méquignon, and Zane Opincane.
PedStart relies on a network of 23 pediatric clinical research centers spread throughout the country, as well as on interregional networks such as HUGOPEREN in western France :
- CRC AMIENS
- CIC BORDEAUX
- CIC BREST
- CRC CAEN
- CIC DIJON
- CHU GARCHES
- CIC GRENOBLE
- CH LIBOURNE
- CIC LILLE
- CIC LIMOGES
- CIC LYON
- CIC MARSEILLE
- CIC MONTPELLIER
CIC NANTES - CIC HOPITAL NECKER
CIC RENNES - CIC ROBERT DEBRE AP-HP
- CIC ROUEN
- CIC TOULOUSE
- CHU SAINT ETIENNE
- CIC STRASBOURG
- ESAN NANTES
- The network also collaborates with the French Association of Ambulatory Pediatrics (AFPA) to offer interested academic and industrial partners a single point of entry to pediatric clinical research.
Scientific Expertise
PedStart supports all pediatric specialties and provides sponsors with a structured network to conduct clinical trials according to the highest quality standards.
The network provides access to all pediatric specialties, drawing in particular on pediatric federations and societies, and promotes the involvement of children and their families in research through the Kids France group, supported by PedStart.
PedStart also develops close collaborations with several F-CRIN networks, notably:
- I-REIVAC, the French clinical research network in vaccinology;
- CLEIO, a national network dedicated to innovative therapies.
At the European level, PedStart facilitates the deployment of multicenter trials through its partnership with ECRIN (European Clinical Research Infrastructure Network) and its role as the French partner of c4c-S.
The network has finally been recognized as a Category 1 network by the European Medicines Agency (EN-PREMA), attesting to its ability to conduct large-scale pediatric clinical trials.
Completed Projects and Notable Results
Each year, the network contributes to tangible advances in clinical research, with several studies completed. Here are a few examples:
Objective : To evaluate whether early prophylactic treatment of CAP with acetaminophen reduces mortality and morbidity in extremely preterm infants (23–28 weeks), by limiting pulmonary overperfusion and preserving cerebral and mesenteric blood flow, without exposing them to severe side effects.
Publication: JAMA Pediatrics
- Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of an antibody in preventing RSV (Respiratory Syncytial Virus) infections, such as bronchiolitis.
- Publications: The New England Journal of Medicine and The Lancet
Contact the network
To learn more about the PedStart network, visit their website: https://www.pedstart.org
Please feel free to contact the PedStart network coordination team as well: pedstart@chu-orleans.fr
Network Partners
- F-CRIN
- Inserm
- conect4children
- ECRIN
- EnprEMA
- European Medicines Agency
- Lille University Hospital
- Lille Multidisciplinary Clinical Research Center (CIC)
- HUGOPEREN
- KIDS France
- Orléans University Hospital
- Network of National Networks (NNN)
- PedStart Association
- French Association of Ambulatory Pediatrics (AFPA)
- French Society of Pediatricians
- OrphanDev
- CLEIO
- I-REIVAC
