Pharmacy & Cell and Gene Therapy Unit

Working together for safe, effective and innovative treatments

The pharmacy prepares, stores, and dispenses all medications, including those used in clinical research, safely and effectively. Everything here focuses on precision, quality, and collaboration with physicians and nurses to provide each child with the right treatment at the right time.

The pharmacy has two main areas of work: the front office and the back office. At the front office, you are the first point of contact for the child and family: you dispense medication, support admission and discharge discussions, and assist with medication questions in the outpatient clinic or on the ward. The back office focuses on preparing medications in the cleanrooms, from standard medicines to complex formulations, as well as managing logistics, including procurement, storage, dispensing, and transport. Both roles are essential for the safe and efficient progression of the treatment process.

In addition to our state-of-the-art pharmacy, the Cell and Gene Therapy Unit plays a unique role in developing and producing advanced cell therapies, such as CAR-T. In specially designed cleanrooms, children’s immune cells are modified so they can target cancer cells. This work is strictly regulated according to GMP standards and requires a high level of specialization. The CGU translates laboratory research into treatments that can be applied clinically, making new therapies available more quickly for children with rare or treatment-resistant cancers.

To ensure that children receive the right medication in the correct formulation at the right time, we perform drug level measurements. These are carried out in specific cases within the pharmacy’s medication laboratory. Our analysts use LCMS techniques to determine the optimal drug doses. Innovative pharmacological research is also conducted.

What makes working in the Pharmacy & CGU unique?

The pharmacy at the Máxima Center combines pharmaceutical expertise with cutting-edge therapy innovations and the latest techniques. Working in the pharmacy means you are responsible for the safe and accurate preparation or dispensing of medications for children undergoing treatment at the Máxima Center. On the front office, you are closely involved in the treatment process and play an important role in patient care. On the back office, you use state-of-the-art equipment, including two preparation robots, a 3D printer, and a fully digitalized preparation system.

In the Cell Therapy Unit (CGU), you work with a specialized team that produces, optimizes, and prepares living cell products for clinical use. The work in the CGU is technically very complex, but highly innovative, and focuses on the latest developments.

Impact of your Work

Working in the pharmacy or the Cell and Gene Therapy Unit means you contribute directly to the treatment process of children with cancer every day. Whether you are in the pharmacy front office or back office, or in the CGU, your expertise has one shared goal: providing children with cancer the best possible treatment and making a difference in their care journey.

Growing, learning and developing

At the Máxima Center, you have the space to learn, specialize, and contribute to innovations. You work with the latest equipment and techniques in multidisciplinary teams, including pharmacists, pharmacy assistants, pharmacy staff, analysts, researchers, and CGU specialists. Together, you develop new protocols and therapies and translate research findings into clinical practice. This helps ensure that new treatments reach patients more quickly.

Whether you start in the front office, back office, or the CGU, your work makes a tangible difference every day for children and their families and contributes to progress in pediatric oncology.