MICYRN and ACCESS: Strengthening pediatric clinical trial development in Canada

MICYRN is pleased to announce that we have partnered with ACCESS to support the development of Canadian investigator-led clinical trials in pediatric hematology, oncology, and stem cell therapy through the ACCESS Clinical Trials Incubatory (CTI).

Clinical trials are essential to improving care for children and youth, yet access to early-phase pediatric trials in Canada remains limited. Many studies are concentrated at only a small number of large centres, creating barriers for patients and families, and limiting opportunities for investigators across the country to lead new trials.

The CTI was developed to address these challenges by strengthening national capacity for clinical trial development and expanding equitable access to participation.

The initiative is designed to provide centralized expertise, tools, and coordination to help investigators move clinical trial ideas from early concepts to fully developed proposals ready for funding, regulatory submission, and implementation. This includes support for:

• trial design and methodology

• protocol and document preparation

• statistical guidance

• budgeting and contracts

• regulatory and ethics considerations

• industry engagement

Through collaboration between MICYRN and ACCESS, as well as partners across the pediatric oncology clinical trials ecosystem, this initiative will contribute to a more coordinated infrastructure for investigator-initiated trials and improve access to clinical research opportunities for children and families nationwide.