In Canada, researchers and clinicians working in pediatric psychosocial and survivorship care often face barriers in exploring unique and innovative ideas for research projects. A critical obstacle is the lack of accessible small-scale funding specifically targeted at early-stage or pilot studies that may not yet have the preliminary data needed to compete for larger-scale grants. This issue disproportionately affects early-career researchers and trainees and often opportunities for mentorship and training are missed. And ultimately, limits the development of new interventions, models of care, and insights that could improve outcomes for children with cancer and their families.

To address this gap, the Psychosocial & Survivorship research theme has launched an opportunity to support three small-scale projects across Canada. This work is intended to empower trainees, and new and emerging researchers to explore innovative ideas, provide a dedicated space for pilot and feasibility testing, and the generation of preliminary data. It will also provide dedicated supervised research time for individuals, increasing their experience and expertise in pediatric cancer and contributing to capacity building of the pediatric cancer research ecosystem in Canada.

These projects will lead to meaningful outputs, such as a conference abstract or poster presentation, and applicants will submit a final report and participate in knowledge-sharing activities to increase visibility and impact.

The outputs of this will serve as critical stepping stones for larger-scale research thereby advancing psychosocial and survivorship research and care in Canada.

 

Funded Projects:

Pilot Feasibility of Reducing PVT Margins
Project Leads: Derek Tsang and Sean Hassan
Institution: University Health Network
Aim: To determine if reducing radiotherapy margins in children can safely minimize radiation exposure to healthy tissue and lower the risk of long-term side effects.

FORT-AeYA: Initial Adaptation and Usability Study
Project Leads: Brooke Russell and Sophie Lebel
Institution: University of Ottawa
Funding Partner: The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society of Canada Quality of Life Grant
Aim: To adapt and test a developmentally appropriate therapy to help adolescent and young adult survivors of childhood cancer manage their fear of cancer recurrence and improve quality of life.

Characterize The Experience of Living with Chronic Pain Among Adult Survivors of Childhood Cancer
Project Leads: Jada Benedictson
Institution: Concordia University
Aim: To explore and understand the lived experiences of chronic pain among adult survivors of childhood cancer to inform better assessment, care, and support strategies.

For more information, please contact Renu Jeyapala.