The Winter School was a truly inspiring and educational experience. Over two packed days, we explored a range of exciting topics that showcased the diversity and depth of pediatric oncology research. From theranostics and AI in diagnostics to the future of neurosurgery, each talk brought a fresh perspective. Arthur Braat’s session on precision medicine and Wigard Kloosterman’s career story of moving from academia to entrepreneurship stood out as both informative and motivational.

One of the highlights was the 3-minute pitch session, aka Shark Tank pitches, where PhD students shared their research with a review panel. The feedback was constructive and thoughtful—it really helped us reflect on how we communicate our science in a short time. The workshops were equally valuable. The grant writing session, centered around the “Golden Circle,” made us think deeply about the “why” behind our work. Additionally, how to formulate a grant application and good tips and tricks. Martha Grootenhuis’s talk on the placebo and nocebo effects in pediatric cancer research added an important psychological angle to the scientific discussions.

Overall, the Winter School Program not only highlighted the latest advancements in pediatric oncology but also emphasized the value of effective pitches. As the field of pediatric oncology revolves around networking events and conferences, where capturing the attention of our audience and effectively communicating our research is crucial, we gained valuable insights on how to do just that.