Dr Peter Adamson, M.D., director of Clinical and Translational Research at The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, shares his expertise about developing better treatments for children with cancer during the Childhood Cancer Summit earlier today.
Following the Summit on Capitol Hill, Dr. Adamson will meet with Sen. Robert Menendez (D-N.J.). He will be accompanied by the family of a now-healthy child who was successfully treated with an experimental cancer drug in a federally-sponsored clinical trial.
Dr. Adamson’s advocacy visit to Washington is part of The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia’s observance of Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. During this month, participants pursue the goal of advancing policies to better treat and ultimately prevent childhood cancer.
Dr. Adamson is asking lawmakers to support greater investment in pediatric cancer research as part of an increase in funding for the National Institutes of Health. Encouraging public-private partnerships among government, industry, research institutions and philanthropies will provide greater incentives to develop and make available the next generation of anticancer treatments for children.
An internationally recognized leader in pediatric cancer drug development, Dr. Adamson is chair-elect of the Children’s Oncology Group, a cooperative organization of 5,000 medical experts at over 200 children’s hospital, universities and cancer centers in North America and beyond. He edited a 2005 report by the Institute of Medicine, part of the National Academy of Sciences, entitled, “Making Better Drugs for Children with Cancer.”
