Co-Principal Investigator

Mark Kieran, MD/PhD, Bristol-Myers Squibb

Co-Investigators

Peter C. Adamson, MD, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia
Lia Gore, MD, Children’s Hospital of Colorado
Melinda Merchant, MD/PhD, AstraZeneca
Martha Donoghue, MD, FDA
Wendy Long, PhD, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
Maureen M. O’Brien, MD, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital

Project Summary

Although much effort has been put toward increasing the accessibility of novel cancer therapies for children, the global system of pediatric oncology drug development continues to be suboptimal. The reasons for its current state are manifold and involve a complex interplay of incentives and barriers arising across a spectrum comprising the pharmaceutical industry, regulatory agencies, and the academic medical community. This proposal seeks funding to support a meeting of global stakeholders spanning these groups, including the advocacy community, to identify and address obstacles to timely pediatric cancer drug development and to promote a globally unified approach. The approach will leverage early progress driven by the ACCELERATE initiative, first launched in Europe, but now including colleagues from other continents, including North America. A summary report from the meeting will be drafted to serve as a blueprint for future work.