Cancer is number one cause of death by disease for children in the U.S. Despite that alarming statistic, 30 states do not include any childhood cancer language in their comprehensive cancer plans.

ACCO works with state governments to reduce the disparity between adult and pediatric cancer. To date, $66 million has been appropriated for childhood cancer in four states because of ACCO’s “What About Kids” State Research Initiative, with more than $30 million appropriated in the last year!

In 2022, through the work of ACCO’s Director of Government Affairs and our KY-based Advocacy Regional Coordinator, Kentucky’s General Assembly increased its state appropriation from $2.5 million annually to $6.25 million for FY 2023-24 bringing the total appropriation for childhood cancer in Kentucky to $22,500,000 from FY 2018 – FY 2024.

In 2022, ACCO’s continued advocacy with New Jersey’s governor resulted in an additional $10 million appropriated for childhood cancer research, bringing NJ to a total of $25,000,000 appropriated to date.

In 2022, ACCO’s advocacy with PA resulted in an additional $7.5 million appropriated for childhood cancer research at 3 academic research institutions, bringing PA to a total of $17.5 million appropriated to date.

ACCO identified legislative champions in Maryland and California and worked to have childhood cancer legislation passed in Maryland (SB 51, and HB 775), with an associated $1 million appropriated by Governor Hogan for childhood cancer research at the University of Maryland’s School of Medicine.

What About Kids Research Projects

Significant research has already taken place because of the state-based childhood cancer appropriations in KY, MD, NJ, and PA.

Evidence-based childhood cancer research being funded through the Kentucky Pediatric Cancer Research Trust Fund includes research focused on childhood acute myeloid leukemia (AML), acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), brain and spinal cord tumors, Ewing Sarcoma, Osteosarcoma, and Germline research, all taking place at the University of Kentucky. The University of Louisville is doing novel research focused on AML, CAR-T therapy, neuroblastoma, as well as the psychosocial impact roadmap of childhood cancer.

Maryland’s appropriation research plan is summarized in Maryland’s Cancer Moonshot in Pediatric Cancer Research. Like Kentucky, research will be focusing on types of childhood cancer with poorer prognosis including AML, and brain tumors. Their studies will be focused on structure-based drugs which degrade proteins that drive childhood leukemias, structure-based drugs which attack a novel, high-potential target molecule in pediatric cancers, biomaterials for controlled delivery of therapeutics for childhood leukemias and brain tumors, as well as ways to cross the blood-brain barrier to utilizing immunotherapy to treat pediatric brain tumors.

Childhood Cancer Research is also taking place at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, UPMC Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, Penn State Children's Hospital, and Abramson at UPENN, as well as Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey.

Want to donate to childhood cancer research?

Please support ACCO’s What About Kids Research Initiative as we lead innovative state funding for childhood cancer research!

What About Kids Research Initiative

By American Childhood Cancer Organization

What About Kids Research Initiative