Through the Pediatric Acute Leukemia Master Clinical Trial (Blood Cancer United PedAL), we're setting out to fundamentally change how children with pediatric acute leukemia are treated.
What is Blood Cancer United PedAL?
In June 2022, we launched the PedAL Master Clinical Trial, the first integrated, global, acute leukemia master clinical trial to test new, safer therapies on children, who will be matched to treatments based on their unique tumor biology.
Who is leading the Blood Cancer United PedAL trial?
Blood Cancer United is leading an international collaboration, convening some of the best minds in cancer research and treatment. Through partnerships with the National Cancer Institute (NCI) (part of the National Institutes of Health), Children’s Oncology Group (COG), and the Innovative Therapies for Children and Adolescents with Cancer (ITCC) consortium, Blood Cancer United PedAL trials are available to children and families in North America, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, and Europe—bringing the dream of safer, more effective pediatric acute leukemia treatments closer to home for more people.
Blood Cancer United PedAL is a key component of The Dare to Dream Project, a big, bold campaign to fund groundbreaking pediatric research that will accelerate safer, less toxic and, more effective treatments for kids. It’s not enough that children with blood cancer survive—we want them to have the chance to thrive as survivors. Blood Cancer United’s The Dare to Dream Project also funds a wide range of free information and education materials, one-on-one support services, financial assistance in the United States, and advocacy for accessible, affordable healthcare on behalf of all children and their families.
Why is the Blood Cancer United PedAL Trial needed?
Kids are different, and for too long treatment for pediatric acute leukemia has followed a one-size-fits-all approach. And because blood cancers are more common in adults, there has been a smaller incentive to develop new treatments for children. As a result, pediatric progress has lagged - only five cancer treatments have been approved for first use in children with blood cancer since the 1990’s. And, even with the progress that’s been made, 80% of childhood cancer survivors still develop chronic health conditions from their treatment. Blood Cancer United PedAL will change all that.
Why Blood Cancer United?
The second master clinical trial, Blood Cancer United PedAL continues our rich history of supporting and driving innovative research, tackling all types of blood cancer in children and adults. Combined with the Beat AML Master Clinical Trial©, Blood Cancer United has a proven track record of breaking down barriers to unite worldwide leaders in addressing adult acute leukemia to bring better treatments to patients.
"Children are not little adults. Their bodies work in different ways, and they undergo changes as they grow, which means we need different treatment approaches, especially for children with relapsed acute leukemias. Our vision is to identify the unique tumor biology of each child's cancer to help match them with the most promising treatment with the fewest long-term side effects."
- Gwen Nichols, MD
Chief Medical Officer
How does Blood Cancer United PedAL work?
Through international partnerships, Blood Cancer United PedAL taps into established infrastructures to make screening and therapeutic trials available to more children.
- The Blood Cancer United PedAL screening trial identifies the unique tumor biology of each child’s cancer.
- Based on their tumor biology, families can then enroll eligible children in an Blood Cancer United PedAL therapeutic trial or any other trial that best meets their needs
- By enrolling their child in the screening trial, parents are helping to advance research for all children because their child’s tumor biology results will be assessed the same way as children’s around the globe to help researchers find patterns and to advance more targeted treatments worldwide
Blood Cancer United PedAL benefits from the latest in digital and data technology
Led by the University of Chicago, a robust data infrastructure allows global sharing to advance cures with two Blood Cancer United-supported breakthroughs in data gathering:
- GEARBOx (Genomic Eligibility Algorithm at Relapse for Better Outcomes) is a unique search tool that will help healthcare professionals all over the world quickly match patients who have relapsed or refractory disease to appropriate clinical trials and lifesaving treatments. Please click this link to learn more about GEARBOx.
- Data Commons consolidates pediatric clinical trial data from multiple international institutions into a single, unified data set to ensure consistency in data collection, analysis, and reporting. Please click this link to learn more about Data Commons.
Learn more about PedAL (PDF). Or call (800) 955-4572 to speak to an Information Resource Specialist.
Blood Cancer United PedAL Leadership Team
Meet the visionary leaders of the Blood Cancer United PedAL Master Clinical Trial, who are dedicated to ushering in a new era of pediatric drug development.
Gwen Nichols, MD
Blood Cancer United
Co-Chair, PedAL Initiative
Todd Cooper, DO
Seattle Children’s Hospital
Co-Chair, PedAL Initiative
Sarah K. Tasian, MD
Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia
Clinical Trial Lead
Samuel L. Volchenboum, MD, PhD
University of Chicago Pediatric Cancer Data Commons
Bioinformatics Lead
Ann Collins
The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society
Project Leader
Kimberly Stegmaier, MD
Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
Preclinical Discovery Lead
Julie Guillot
AML Parent and Partnership
Outreach Chair
We remain committed to helping children and their families throughout their entire cancer experience. Contact us at [email protected] to learn more about this groundbreaking master clinical trial.
