Canadian children battling cancer may soon face a devastating setback, as recent U.S. policy changes threaten their ability to join vital clinical trials.
Doctors warn that Canada’s pediatric oncology patients are losing access to U.S.-based trials after the American government cut funding for the Children’s Oncology Group’s brain tumour research network — a critical program that has helped advance treatments for some of the deadliest childhood cancers.
Until now, Canadian hospitals and patients were integrated into these research collaborations, giving children access to experimental therapies not available at home. With funding pulled, that participation is in jeopardy, raising concerns about stalled progress in treating rare and aggressive cancers.
“We’re talking about kids with brain tumours — where survival rates have historically been poor,” said one Canadian oncologist. “Losing access to these trials could mean losing hope for many families.”
The U.S. decision comes as part of broader budget and policy changes, and Canadian physicians say the move will have an outsized impact north of the border, where domestic clinical trial infrastructure is limited.
Advocacy groups are now calling on Ottawa to step in with new funding or strike bilateral agreements to ensure Canadian children aren’t left behind.
“This is not just about science, it’s about fairness and giving every child a chance,” one parent of a young patient told CBC News.
The future of Canadian participation in U.S.-based pediatric cancer trials remains uncertain, but doctors stress the urgency: without access, many families will be left with no options beyond standard treatments.
