U.S. policy changes mean Canadian children with cancer are losing access to clinical trials – CBC

As U.S. ends funding for brain tumour research group, Canadian doctors worry about impact on young patients

Sep 25, 2025

Canadian researchers say they’ve had to stop offering kids with cancer places in some clinical trials because of funding and policy changes in the United States.

The U.S. government is halting funding for some pediatric clinical trials outside the U.S., and not renewing funding for the Pediatric Brain Tumor Consortium, a network of experts that conducts clinical trials and focuses on improving treatments for brain tumours.

The network’s only Canadian site is at Toronto’s Sick Kids hospital.

Dr. Jim Whitlock, chair of the C17 Council representing Canada’s pediatric cancer programs, and division head of hematology/oncology at Sick Kids, said they have had to stop enrolling new patients in three clinical trials because of the change. Current patients can continue to receive treatments.

Read more: https://www.cbc.ca/news/health/pediatric-cancer-clinical-trials-1.7642673