FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Contact: Margetta Thomas, Communications Manager
margetta.thomas@curesearch.org
Collaborative forum to address the unique aspects and challenges of pediatric cancer clinical trial design
Bethesda, MD – September 9, 2021 – CureSearch for Children’s Cancer will host the virtual 2021 Pediatric Early Development Symposium (PEDS) – Pediatric Oncology Clinical Trial Development: New Approaches for a Changing World – on October 6-8.
This annual symposium brings together leaders from all areas of the global pediatric cancer ecosystem – academia, regulatory, pharmaceutical, funding organizations, partners, donors and volunteers – to drive the collaborations necessary to accelerate and drive real, measurable change in children’s cancer research.
“Earlier collaboration is needed to advance pediatric drug development and CureSearch is in a unique position to integrate information across key stakeholders,” said Caitlyn Barrett, PhD, national director of research and programs at CureSearch.
This year’s meeting will address the current and future challenges in the pediatric oncology clinical trial landscape, and provide a global perspective with a forward outlook over the next 20 years. It is necessary to address optimized clinical trials – especially in rare diseases that often have limited populations. With the FDARA 504 RACE act in full swing, pharmaceutical companies and clinical research organizations will need to start preparing now for trials in the future.
PEDS will include informative sessions like: Expanding the Global Footprint of Pediatric Oncology Clinical Trials, which will address the challenges and promises of clinical trial development in a range of countries including China, Japan and South America.
In 2018, the World Health Organization launched the Global Initiative for Childhood Cancer to provide leadership and technical assistance to governments to support them in building and sustaining high-quality childhood cancer programs. The goal is to achieve at least 60% survival for all children with cancer and reduce suffering, globally, by 2030. This goal highlights the importance of global coordination on pediatric oncology trials.
The session is chaired by Sabine Mueller, MD, PhD, professor of Clinical Neurology, UCSF; co-leader, Pediatric Malignancies Program, UCSF Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center.
“It is not often that pediatric oncology champions from all over the world are available in one place to address innovation in clinical trial development for children,” said Dr. Mueller. “I am excited that this panel represents not only the US and Europe, but also perspectives from China, Japan and South America. Each panelist has experience with making collaboration possible, which is essential because the next decade of pediatric cancer clinical trials is going to require international coordination.”
Panelists include:
- Derek Ansel, MS, CCRA, Senior Director, Therapeutic Strategy Lead, Rare Diseases, Worldwide Clinical Trials
- Chi-kong Li, MBBS, MD, FRCPCH, FHKAM, Professor, Department of Pediatrics, The Chinese University of Hong Kong
- Sae Ishimaru, MD, PhD, Clinical Research Fellow, Trial and Data Center, Princess Maxima Center
- Guillermo Luis Chantada, MD, Pediatric Hematologist/Oncologist, Garrahan Hospital
- Heidi Wang, MD, Head, Global Regulatory Sciences China, Bristol-Myers Squibb
Other topics will include:
- Keynote – The Path of a Pediatric Targeted Therapy Through Drug Development
- Keynote Speaker: Elly Barry, MD, MMSc, Senior Vice President, Clinical Development, Day One Biopharmaceuticals
- Real-World Evidence and Synthetic Control Arms
- Chair: Peter Adamson, MD, Global Head, Oncology Development and Pediatric Innovation, Sanofi
- Pharmacokinetics in pediatric clinical trial design: How do we find the “right” dose?
- Chairs: Elizabeth Fox, MD, Senior Vice President of Clinical Trials Research, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital
- Louis Stancato, PhD, Research Fellow, Pediatric Capabilities, Eli Lilly and Company
- Decentralized Clinical Trials
- Chair: Mark Turner, PhD, MBChB, MRCP(UK), MRCPCH, DRCOG, FFPM(Hon), Professor of Neonatology and Research Delivery, University of Liverpool
- Developing Clinical Trials with Combination Therapies
- Chair: Mark Kieran, MD, Vice President of Clinical Development, Day One Biopharmaceuticals
To learn more and register for PEDS 2021, at curesearch.org/PEDS.
About CureSearch
CureSearch for Children’s Cancer works to end childhood cancer by driving targeted and innovative research with measurable results in an accelerated time frame. CureSearch focuses on advancing the strongest research out of the laboratory and into clinical trials and development, where better, less-toxic treatments can quickly help children.
