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Childhood cancer is the leading cause of disease-related death among Canadian children. One in five diagnosed children dies from the disease, and diagnoses are increasing each year. Since children are still growing when they are treated, survivors often face lifelong health challenges that impact their quality of life and productivity. Sustained investment is vital for ensuring all childhood cancer survivors have a chance at a healthy, productive future.
Canada is overly dependent on international sponsors for clinical trials and other advanced treatments, especially from the United States. The Canadian pediatric cancer clinical research network is not sufficiently supported, leaving our children vulnerable to loss of treatment access due to political volatility in the US. We must build more made in Canada solutions.
ACCESS (Advancing Childhood Cancer Experience, Science & Survivorship) is a pan-Canadian network launched in 2023 that unites more than 1,200 survivors, families, researchers, clinicians, and community partners to transform pediatric cancer in Canada.
ACCESS is focused on two strategic priorities: (1) Maintain and expand a national network of patients, families, clinicians, researchers and partner organizations; and (2) Support new research and innovation in critical areas of childhood cancer science, care and survivorship.
ACCESS is driving innovation, supporting clinical trials, promoting policy change, sharing and leveraging data, and developing tools and strategies to increase equitable access to diagnosis, treatment and care.
With its initial federal investment, ACCESS has supported 300 researchers across 66 studies, built partnerships with more than 100 national and international collaborators, and mobilized Canada’s pediatric cancer community into a unified network.
Continued federal investment is urgently needed:
Sustained investment in childhood cancer innovation will improve diagnosis and cures, reduce costly late-effects of treatment and secure a healthier population.
Canada risks losing momentum, talent and critical research progress. Canada can lead globally in childhood cancer care and ensure every child has equitable access to life-saving treatment.
Federal action is needed to build Canadian capacity and reduce our reliance on other nations for life-saving care.
The science of better care: positioning Canada as a world leader in childhood cancer. ACCESS is asking the federal government for:
$8 million over four years starting in 2027-28, to continue operational support for the ACCESS network and lead development of a national strategy.
$80 million over four years beginning in 2027-2028, to continue support for innovative research and clinical trials in childhood cancer, fund and leverage national research and data infrastructure to aid pediatric cancer research and finalize and implement a national strategy for childhood cancer.
A national strategy will include new research in areas that will advance childhood cancer outcomes such as personalized medicine, support for clinical trials, knowledge and innovation infrastructure to promote collaboration and education, and a broad and inclusive network that will catalyze partnerships and investment.
ACCESS is a unique collective, survivors, families, clinicians, researchers and community partners to build a national strategy whose lived experience drives our work created to overcome provincial barriers, fragmented data and inequitable access to care.
We believe that children and their families should be at the heart of our mission.
ACCESS has already engaged more than 1,000 members of Canada’s pediatric cancer community and created a culture of collaboration and shared purpose creating a unified, inclusive network centered on those who have experienced cancer firsthand.
We are united in our commitment to effect meaningful change and ensure the voices of people with lived experience reach policymakers and government members in an impactful way.
This strong national network is essential to transforming the pediatric cancer landscape for Canadian children and their families, positioning Canada as a global leader.
Cancer is the most common cause of disease-related death in Canadian children.
One in five children diagnosed with cancer dies from the disease.
More than 45,000 survivors live with long-term effects, including chronic health issues, reduced independence and barriers to workforce participation.
The number of Canadian children being diagnosed with cancer is rising each year.
The loss of a child to cancer represents far more years of life lost compared to most adult cancers, underscoring the urgency of prioritizing pediatric investment.
Canada is overly dependent on international sponsors for clinical trials and other advanced treatments, especially the United States. That support is fragile.
Borders, whether provincial or international, should not be a barrier to a child's access to the best providers, emerging treatments, or transformative technologies and research.
Federal leadership is essential to expand Canada's own capacity for clinical trials and advanced treatment technologies, ensuring equitable access to care for all Canadian children.
Investing in a national strategy will enable Canada to retain and grow its own research talent and become a global leader in pediatric cancer care.
Sustained investment will ensure Canadian children have access to cutting-edge therapies. It will also advance capacity for other innovative treatments in Canada, reducing reliance on U.S. systems and securing equitable access for families.
While cure rates have improved, many childhood cancer survivors in Canada face lifelong health issues that impact their quality of life, independence and productivity in the workforce.
Investing in survivorship research and care is crucial to addressing these challenges, reducing the long-term health and economic burden of the disease and ensuring that survivors can lead full and healthy lives.
Supported almost 300 researchers across 66 studies, including Canadian-led clinical trials in diseases such as infant brain cancer and sarcoma that are expanding access nationwide.
Established collaborations with over 100 national and international organizations spanning research, care and advocacy.
Produced more than 100 training and communications resources and began addressing policy and regulatory barriers that limit children’s access to trials and innovative care.
ACCESS is creating a unified, inclusive community centred on children and families.
Canada’s pediatric cancer community is motivated but needs structure and resources to effect meaningful change.
A strong national network positions Canada as a global leader in childhood cancer research and care.
Clinical trials are often the only treatment option for children not cured by standard therapies. Yet Canadian children often lack access due to regulatory and resource barriers.
ACCESS is enabling Canadian-led trials and advancing cutting-edge science in genomics and AI to accelerate discoveries.
Federal support will expand clinical trial capacity, attract industry investment, and provide high-quality jobs in Canada.
Data about pediatric cancer is scattered across jurisdictions and often inaccessible.
ACCESS is building on federal initiatives like the Cancer in Young People Canada (CYP-C) platform to connect and mobilize data nationally.
Co-designing data systems with families will build trust, improve research power, and accelerate innovations in care.
Reducing health system burden: Effective early treatment reduces the costly complications and late effects that often require lifelong medical care. Every child cured early represents decades of avoided healthcare costs.
Improving quality of cures: Investment in research and clinical trials increases the number and quality of cures, reducing relapses and chronic conditions that are expensive for families and the system.
Supporting economic productivity: Survivors who receive effective treatments are healthier, live longer and contribute to Canada’s workforce and economy, rather than facing barriers to employment and independence.
Attracting investment & jobs: Building sustainable national pediatric cancer infrastructure attracts industry partnerships and high-quality jobs, positioning Canada as a global leader.
$8 million over four years starting in 2027-28, to continue operational support for the ACCESS network and develop a national strategy.
$80 million over four years beginning in 2027-2028, to continue support for innovative research and clinical trials in childhood cancer, fund and leverage national research and data infrastructure to aid pediatric cancer research and finalize and implement a national strategy for childhood cancer.
This investment will secure Canada’s leadership, improve survival rates and quality of life for children and reduce long-term health and economic burdens.
One in five children diagnosed with cancer in Canada will die from their disease.
The number of Canadian children diagnosed with cancer is increasing each year.
There are 45,000 childhood cancer survivors in Canada
The federal government invested $30 million in pediatric cancer research in 2022; $23M was invested in 2023 in the formation of ACCESS as a national pediatric cancer consortium
ACCESS has connected more than 1,200 survivors, patients, families, healthcare providers, researchers, and community organizations.
ACCESS has supported 300 researchers in conducting 66 innovative pan-Canadian research studies, including new clinical trials.
ACCESS has built partnerships with more than 100 national and international collaborators.
More than 100 educational resources have been created for ACCESS members.
ACCESS is requesting $88 million over 4 years, beginning in 2027-2031.
This funding is proposed to be broken down as follows
2027/28: $17 million
2028/29: $23 million
2029/30: $23 million
2030/31: $23 million
Raise awareness through social media, meet with your MP, and share any way you can in your community.