Pediatric Oncology Investigational Therapeutics.

This grant will support the ongoing and future efforts of the Investigational Therapeutics Program at Doernbecher Children’s Hospital, OHSU. The time and effort required to maintain a high-quality Phase I program is considerable. Paramount to such a program is an infrastructure that ensures the safe and ethical conduct of these studies. Our Division of Pediatric Oncology is an active member of the Children’s Oncology Group (COG) Phase I Consortium and has enrolled over 30 patients onto investigational studies in the past three years. Our  referral base has been the entire state of Oregon and southwest Washington and now has the potential for much of California as well. Despite the funds provided to us by the COG Phase I Consortium, we require considerably more monetary support to successfully run our program. This grant award will help to sustain and expand our current program. Investigators within our program contribute to the design, implementation, and manuscript preparation of Phase I trials. One goal of our program has been to develop a unique practice model where the psychosocial supports of our Palliative Care Program are integrated into the care of patients on Phase I trials. A second goal is to strengthen the educational component of our Investigational Therapeutics Program by actively teaching medical and nursing staff within our division. The training of fellows and junior faculty in laboratory-based and clinical investigation relevant to translational research is an important component of this educational focus as well. A third goal of our program is collaboration with organizations outside the COG Phase I Consortium, like the National Cancer Institute, pharmaceutical companies, and the medical oncology program within our institution. Our ultimate goal is for all eligible children and adolescents within our referral area to have the opportunity to participate in Phase I/II trials.