CIHR Team Grant : Pediatric Cancer Consortium
Well-being, Health and Biomedical Discovery
Deadlines
Academic Unit: inquire with unit
Memorial Deadline: Thursday 21st, April 2022
External Deadline: Tuesday 26th, April 2022
Description
Background
Every year in Canada there are nearly 1000 children diagnosed with cancer. It is the most common disease-related cause of death among Canadian children – more than asthma, diabetes, cystic fibrosis and AIDS combined. Although survival rates for many of the most commonly diagnosed cancers in children and youth continue to improve, it is also important to note that approximately 14.6% of children experience a relapse within five years of diagnosis1. Furthermore, two-thirds of childhood cancer survivors will have at least one chronic or long-term side effect as a result of their cancer treatment including: infertility; damage to major organs, such as the heart, lungs, kidneys and central nervous system; cognitive impairments; psychosocial difficulties; as well as the development of subsequent cancers due to treatment of their primary disease2.
In general, it is recognized that cancers in children act differently and are found in different sites than in adults, and that cancers in children tend to grow and spread throughout the body more quickly. The types of cancers that account for the majority of new cases of pediatric cancer in Canada include leukemia, brain and central nervous system cancers, and lymphomas. Investments in pediatric oncology are needed to improve the access to care, and advance therapies and cures for young Canadians.
The refreshed Canadian Strategy for Cancer Control, recently released by the Canadian Partnership Against Cancer (CPAC), identified the need for increased services and support for children, adolescents and young adults living with cancer. Additionally, childhood cancer was identified as a priority health issue at the 2019 World Indigenous Cancer Conference, by the Canadian Indigenous Research Network Against Cancer. There is also a strong community surrounding pediatric cancer research across Canada that includes clinicians, academic researchers, and advocacy groups. Advocacy groups are highly motivated and include active grassroots organizations powered by parents, grandparents, patients, clinicians and others, and have a long history of advocacy and engagement with government and regulators helping to shed light on the needs of this community.
In recognition of the need to better address pediatric cancers, the Government of Canada is providing funding to tackle gaps and challenges in pediatric cancer with a goal to achieve better health outcomes and better quality of life for those affected by pediatric cancer.
Purpose
This funding will build on previous investments in pediatric cancer research by establishing a foundation for coordinated research and knowledge mobilization within this area in Canada through the creation of a Pediatric Cancer Consortium.
The Consortium will advance a shared vision to collaborate and produce research that will influence policy and practice predicated on better science, better access, and better coordination to improve lives of pediatric cancer patients and their families/caregivers. An interconnected Consortium will bring together the ecosystem of pediatric cancer research platforms, networks, research teams, policy makers and people with lived/living experience (PWLE), Indigenous communities and organizations, healthcare providers and other entities.
Predicated on a learning health system model, researchers across the pillars, PWLE (e.g. patients, families), health care providers, industry, policy and regulatory bodies, will work synergistically to advance discovery and implementation across the cancer control continuum from prevention to diagnosis to treatment to survivorship. The Consortium will address knowledge gaps in pediatric cancer research and encourage the application of research evidence into improved health outcomes for children affected by cancer and their families.
Specific Objectives
The specific objectives of this funding opportunity are to:
- Establish a multi-stakeholder Pediatric Cancer Consortium which covers the cancer control continuum from prevention to diagnosis, treatment to survivorship that encompasses the breadth of stakeholders and knowledge-users with a transparent, inclusive multi-jurisdictional recruitment and membership process, meaningful engagement with partners and innovative international research collaborations.
- Advance pediatric cancer research through platforms and projects in high priority areas.
- Improve the research pipeline for the development and further access to drugs for children affected by cancer and their families, by working in the context of regulatory frameworks (Health Canada) for drug approval processes and, with engagement of people with lived/living experience (PWLE), influencing system improvements through research and knowledge mobilization.
- Advance equitable access to new and promising therapies regardless of geography, race/ethnicity, and socioeconomic status.
- Build capacity for the next generation of pediatric cancer researchers through training and mentorship opportunities embedded and interconnected across the Consortium and capacity for people with lived and living experience to engage meaningfully in the research ecosystem.
- Maximize research impact and knowledge mobilization within and beyond the Consortium to help ensure evidence is integrated in and used to inform health policy, decision making and planning.
| Competition | Full Application (202204PDC) |
|---|---|
| Application Deadline | 2022-04-26 |
| Anticipated Notice of Decision | 2022-08-02 |
| Funding Start Date | 2022-06-01 |
- More information can be found here.