Assorted News from the Last Week:

Congressman Michael McCaul with Childhood Cancer Caucus co-chairs Ami Bera, M.D. (D-Calif.) and Mike Kelly (R-Penn.)introduced the Accelerating Innovation (AI) for Kids Act. The legislation will accelerate the use of artificial intelligence (AI) to improve and transform pediatric cancer research, treatment options, and data storage.

Essay by CAC2 Member Joshua Omale “The Future of Pediatric Health Is About More Than Disease.”

CAC2 Member LifeArc releases the paediatric therapeutic development workshop priorities for medulloblastoma.

Survival outcomes for US children and adolescents with cancer have generally improved from 2001 to 2021, but disparities have persisted across some patient subgroups.

Immunotherapy nivolumab, given together with chemotherapy, was approved by the FDA for newly diagnosed Stage III and Stage IV classic Hodgkin lymphoma in adolescents and adults setting a new standard of care.

Developmental timing distinguishes pediatric and adult cancers through retention and rewiring mechanisms.

A unified vision-language model for precision oncology and biomarker prediction in neuroblastoma.

The ITCC-P4 PDX Platform enables preclinical testing of pediatric cancers with 353 PDX models.

Epigenetic mapping provides deeper insight into leukemia.

Children, adolescents with cancer can benefit from strength training, aerobic exercise.

Upcoming Webinars, Online Opportunities, and Meetings:

CCDI Virtual Symposium:  CAR-NKT Cell Therapy for Neuroblastoma on July 14, from 1:00–2:00 p.m. ET.  Click here to register.

LifeArc webinar: “Translating novel biology into paediatric oncology drug discovery” on July 16 from 10:00-11:00 ET.  Click here for information and to register.

  Registration Now Open for the CAC2 Summit in Miami on July 22-24! https://invite.bublup.com/QvcRaOOFd78s

The Brainstorm Summit on September 16-18 brings together parents, families, clinicians, researchers, government officials, and advocates in a supportive environment where everyone “just gets it.”  Click for more information and to register.

The 58th Annual Congress of the International Society of Paediatric Oncology (SIOP 2026) September 15-18 in San Antonio, Texas & Online.  For information and to register.

CCDI Symposium on September 17-18, hosted by the National Cancer Institute, has opened registration.  Click for more information and to register. 

15th GOLDEN TOAST 2026, September 17 at 6:00 ET.  Click for more information.

CureFest registration now open!  September 18-20.  Click for more information and to register.

Recent Recordings:

Children’s Cancer Cause joined Cancer Nation and the Lymphoma Research Foundation on June 15th for Right to Thrive: A Conversation on the Lainie Jones Comprehensive Cancer Survivorship Act (CCSA), a virtual town hall focused on newly introduced bipartisan legislation to advance survivorship care.

Take Action:

Please complete the CAC2 PAIR for Pediatric Cancer survey to help us build a durable set of guiding principles — the “rules of engagement” — for how the pediatric cancer advocacy community works with industry. The principles the community prioritizes most will become our guiding principles, reviewed periodically as the field evolves.  Survey Link.

On behalf of CCI Europe, childhood cancer survivors (with a cancer diagnosis before or until 18 years of age)are invited to complete a survey being conducted as part of the PhD project “SurNet: Addressing the Psychosocial Needs of Survivors of Pediatric Cancer” at Iscte – Instituto Universitário de Lisboa.  Please submit responses before July 31.