HHS to Increase Funding for Data-Centered Pediatric Cancer Research

Photo:  NEW AFRICA/SHUTTERSTOCK

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced a doubling of funding for its Childhood Cancer Data Initiative (CCDI) at NIH. The funding surge is designed to accelerate diagnostics, treatments and prevention strategies.

The CCDI was established in 2019 to collect, generate and analyze childhood cancer data. In addition to increased federal funding, the initiative will bring in private-sector partners to apply artificial intelligence to aid this effort. 

“We are dedicated to using every innovative method and technology at our disposal in our fight against childhood cancer,” said NIH Director Dr. Jay Bhattacharya. “By doubling down on this mission with AI, we are ensuring that state-of-the-art science is being leveraged to provide answers about these diseases that would otherwise be out of reach.”

“Our efforts have helped us learn from every child and better understand childhood cancer, reduce its risk, develop better treatments, and improve survivorship for children, teens and young adults with cancer,” said NCI Director Dr. Anthony Letai. “I cannot think of a better way to begin my tenure at NCI than to redouble our efforts to support our youngest patients and their families facing rare leukemias and other cancers. We will not stop until childhood cancer is a thing of the past.”

Pediatric cancer remains the leading cause of disease-related death for children in the United States, and its incidence has increased by more than 40% since 1975. HHS will use AI to maximize the potential for electronic health record and claims data to inform research and clinical trial design. Parents will remain in control of their child’s health information as the data is used to benefit patients and researchers.