In Canada, there is currently no unified national educational platform that supports the training of Persons With Lived Experience (PWLEs), patient advocates, early career researchers and clinicians in pediatric cancer research, advocacy, and patient engagement. There is an opportunity to address this gap to build a truly collaborative, inclusive pediatric cancer research ecosystem. PWLEs are often asked to participate in research and advocacy without adequate support or understanding of how the medical and research systems work. Meanwhile, clinicians and researchers often lack opportunities to meaningfully learn from the patient experience.

The ACCESS Learning Institute is designed to address this critical gap by developing a national, longitudinal, virtual education platform co-created with PWLEs, clinicians, researchers, and educators. Grounded in the principles of equity, diversity, inclusion, and meaningful patient engagement, the Institute will provide structured training for both PWLEs and professionals, bridging the divide between patient and care provider experiences.

The virtual platform will host ACCESS developed learning modules and content as well as curated links to external training resources, a pediatric cancer glossary, and paramedical materials. By offering national, accessible training resources to both pediatric cancer patients and professionals, the Institute will build capacity, support meaningful patient engagement, and promote a shared understanding across Canada.

For more information, please contact Jenna Craig.