Claudia Sampor, MD, is a pediatric hematologist-oncologist whose work bridges clinical research, translational science, and public health to improve childhood cancer outcomes across Latin America.
She began her research career at Hospital de Pediatría JP Garrahan in Buenos Aires, where she was part of a multidisciplinary team led by Dr. Guillermo Chantada and Dr. Paula Schaiquevich, focusing on retinoblastoma. Early work on retinoblastoma exposed her to the full arc of the disease, from delayed diagnosis and complex treatment decisions to survivorship and long-term outcomes, while contributing to clinical and translational studies aimed at generating regionally relevant evidence to inform care for children with cancer. Working alongside clinicians and scientists from different disciplines, she learned the value of multidisciplinary approaches and the importance of generating knowledge that reflects the realities, constraints, and priorities of low- and middle-income settings.
As Sampor's career evolved, her research interests expanded beyond disease-specific questions to address broader systemic challenges affecting childhood cancer outcomes. Through her involvement with regional networks such as the Latin American Society of Pediatric Oncology (SLAOP), she engaged in multinational collaborative initiatives, which led to recognizing that survival disparities in the region are driven not only by biology but also by inequities in access to timely diagnosis, treatment, and quality care.
In parallel, she developed a strong interest in education as a tool for equity. As Medical Director of the TeLeo program, Sampor contributed to the design and implementation of a regional virtual training platform that has supported pediatric oncology professionals across multiple countries, particularly in settings with limited access to formal subspecialty training. This experience further shaped her understanding of how strengthening professional networks and capacity building can directly impact the quality of care.
These combined experiences led Sampor to progressively shift her focus toward public health, strengthening health systems, and implementation science. She is particularly interested in designing and supporting strategies that improve early diagnosis, strengthen referral pathways, and enhance quality of care through standardized treatment protocols and regional collaboration. Her current work with the Pan American Health Organization focuses on translating evidence into policy and practice, supporting countries in the development and implementation of national and regional childhood cancer initiatives, and strengthening monitoring and evaluation frameworks to guide decision-making and improve outcomes in vulnerable populations, ultimately aiming to build more equitable and resilient health systems for children with cancer across the Americas.
Sampor joins the St. Jude Graduate School to gain formal training in global child health, implementation science, and strengthening health systems, which are essential to advancing her current work and future goals. While Sampor's professional experience has provided her with strong practical foundations in regional coordination, strategy development, and program implementation, she seeks to complement this with rigorous academic training to enhance the design, evaluation, and sustainability of childhood cancer initiatives. Being part of this program will allow her to strengthen technical and analytical skills, deepen understanding of leadership, and engage with a multidisciplinary community committed to improving outcomes for children worldwide.
Hometown: Buenos Aires, Argentina
Education:
2012 Doctor of Medicine, Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Buenos Aires University School of Medicine
2009 Doctor of Medicine, Pediatrics, Universidad Nacional del Nordeste (UNNE)
2005 Doctor of Medicine, School of Medicine: Universidad Nacional del Nordeste (UNNE)
Awards/Honors/Scholarships:
2018 Traveling Fellowship, International Symposium on Pediatric Neuro-Oncology (ISPNO)
2018 Best poster prize, IV International Congress in Translational Medicine
2015 Bernardo A. Houssay. Award for Clinical Research in Retinoblastoma
2014 Best poster prize, Latin American Society of Pediatric Oncology (SLAOP) Congress
2013 National award for the best project, Translational Research Centers for Studies in the Chemical and Pharmaceutical Industry (CEDIQUIFA)
Publications:
Vásquez, L., Grynzspancholc, E., Valencia, D., Villarroel, M., Fuentes Alabí, S., Sampor, C. Maza, M. (2026). Regional Landscape of Access, Availability, and Quality of Essential Pediatric Oncology Medicines in Latin America: Results From a Multicountry Survey. Pediatr Blood Cancer, 73(6):e70320
Palma, J., Vásquez, L., Salas, L., Viveros, P., Mendoza, A., González, N., Guerra, R., Sampor, C. Martínez, C., Gallardo, P., Clavo, Y., Zavando, D., Brathwaite, O., Salgado, A., Copana, R., Maury, S., Ojeda-Casares, H., Roldán, O., Estupiñan, M., Sabinés, JA., Maradiegue, E., Chavez, S., Pascual, C., Marmol. L., Carranza, J., Lochamin, S., Villacrés, N., Guerrero, C., Vargas, G., Rivera, E., Hernández, M., García, C., Beingolea, L., Maza, M., Huerta, P., Luciani, S., Calle Dávila, MC. (2026). Bridging the Gap: Regional Disparities in Access to Pediatric Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation (HSCT) in the Andean Subregion. Pediatr Blood Cancer, 73(4):e70130
Khan, MS., Sampor, C., Farmer, M., Ranasinghe, N., Sniderman, E., Prasad, M., Raj, TS., Dalvi, R., Kambugu, JB., Schoot, RA., Moreira, DC., Peckham-Gregory, EC., Challinor, J., Weber, LS., Pulungan, A., Chantada, G., Wollaert, S., Atanassova, A., Kebudi, R., Hasanoglu, E., Thacker, N., Pritchard-Jones, K. (2025). Childhood Cancer Early Diagnosis and Appropriate Referral: An Educational Initiative of the International Society of Paediatric Oncology (SIOP), in Collaboration With International Pediatric Association. Pediatr Blood Cancer, 72(7):e31702
Sampor, C., Alonso, R., Durañona, M., Gorostegui, M., Antillon-Klussmann, F., Lopes, LF., Cappellano, AM., Gonzalez-Ramella, O., Lobos, P., Palma, J., Grynszpancholc, E., Vasquez, L., Morales La Madrid, A., Moreira, DC., Cruz, O., Chantada, G. (2024). The Teleo Program: Tele-Education in Pediatric Oncology as a Tool to Support Training Programs in Latin America. Pediatr Blood Cancer, 71(12):e31335.
Cancela, MB., Winter, U., Zugbi, S., Dinardi, M., Alves da Quinta, D., Aschero, R., Ganiewich, D., Sampor, C., Sgroi, M., Lagomarsino, E., Fandiño, A., Llera, A., Chantada, G., Carcaboso, A., Schaiquevich, P. (2024). Mimicking Retinoblastoma Treatment With Repeated Topotecan or Melphalan Develops Cross-Resistance to Classic Agents But Not to Repurposed Drugs. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci, 65(14):14