Despite promising treatment options being developed globally, many Canadian children, adolescents, and young adults (CAYAs) with cancer are unable to access these innovations due to systemic barriers. The provincial nature of Canada’s healthcare system results in fragmented regulations and inconsistent access to research, innovation, and care across regions. Moreover, existing regulatory frameworks were largely designed with adult patients in mind, overlooking the unique needs of younger populations. These challenges compounded by limited trial infrastructure, geographic barriers in rural and remote areas, restrictive eligibility criteria, and the underrepresentation of marginalized groups continue to hinder equitable access to emerging therapies for CAYAs in Canada.

The ACCESS Innovation Sandbox project is a strategic and collaborative response to address these systemic challenges. It offers a structured yet flexible space for stakeholders to collaboratively test, refine, and implement innovative approaches to improving access to pediatric oncology clinical trials and therapies. Rather than attempting to overhaul Canada’s complex health and research systems all at once, the Innovation Sandbox acts as a “test bed” – a contained, collaborative environment that simulates real-world conditions. Within this sandbox, new ideas, regulatory models, and collaborative frameworks can be trialed safely, refined iteratively, and scaled once proven effective.

The primary goals of the Innovation Sandbox are to:

1. Build a cohesive, sustainable structure that enables faster, more equitable access to innovative, safe, and ethical therapies for children, adolescents, and young adults (CAYA) with cancer in Canada.
2. Strengthen national and international collaboration to streamline the integration of cutting-edge treatments into the Canadian healthcare system.
3. Develop and refine processes that bridge early-phase research and standard clinical care, laying the groundwork for a more responsive, inclusive, and future-ready approach to introducing new therapies for CAYA with cancer.

The sandbox will identify and address access barriers, such as remote participation, language and cultural inclusivity, and regulatory inconsistencies. Patient advocates and Persons With Lived Experience will play a crucial leadership role ensuring the initiative remains grounded in patient-centered goals and equity.

By facilitating a sustainable, multi-stakeholder, and problem-solving approach, the Innovation Sandbox will serve as both a model and a mechanism to drive systemic, scalable change – one that reflects the urgency and complexity of pediatric cancer in Canada.

For more information, please contact Tricia Schneider.