Our Pediatric Cancer Research Institute, recognized as a Scientific Industrial Research Organisation (SIRO) by the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research, Government of India, aims to improve childhood cancer care in India by promoting, supporting and undertaking research to improve survival and other outcomes of children with cancer in India.
CanKids Pediatric Cancer Research Institute (CK PCRI) formerly known as Quality Care Research and Impact (QCRI) was set up as an operational unit at CanKids in the year of 2013. We promote and support research through our partnerships, advocating, sponsoring, providing manpower, facilitating capacity building and training materials. Through our projects, we focus on access to care, outcomes research, Shared care models, filling gaps by formulating childhood cancer policy, one cancer at a time focusing on disease specific interventions and enabling multi-centre, institutional, patient-led research, health systems and policy dimensions.
Aligning with its vision of attaining global health standards for the pediatric cancer patients, and improving patient outcomes, CanKids supports research protocols, as sponsor, participant and promotes awareness of research within the organization and with other Patient Advocacy Groups (PAG). As a PAG, it provides financial, social, and psychological support, along with patient navigation, education, and treatment support. CanKids is committed to ensure knowledge translation of all research into practice and policy thereby benefitting Pediatric cancer children. To safeguard the dignity, rights, safety, and well-being of all research participants it has set up its own first-of-its-kind patient-led organization Ethics Committee.
Areas of Research :
To identify the gaps to access to care of childhood cancer patients care.
Disease specific protocols to know the burden of a particular type of cancer. Disease specific project investigates the different types of cancer and drive better survival & other outcomes for that specific cancer.
Research to drive improvement in patient centered care and to measure quality of care among childhood cancer patients/caregivers through research studies.
Collaborative working and research in the pediatric oncology & the Patient Advocacy Groups spaces to improve programs outcomes, program, services and system.
Note: The patient support we provide for drugs/ diagnostics/ therapies / medical equipment and other holistic care to children with cancer across 141 hospitals we partner including ones where the research projects are being conducted , enables access to care , prevents abandonment and that families are able to participate in research.
Here are some of the research projects we supported / sponsored/ promoted :
- Multi-centre prospective cross-sectional study
- Aim: to investigate the pathways of access to care for children newly diagnosed with cancer in North India and East India, as well as the factors associated with these pathways.
- Identify how these pathways impact the child's disease and outcome.
Societal outcomes:
- Better understanding of access barriers, improved healthcare infrastructure, reduced disparities, enhanced treatment outcomes, informed policymaking, and increased awareness and advocacy.
- Outcomes collectively aim to improve the overall care for children with cancer in these regions
- Serve as a model for addressing similar challenges in other low and middle-income countries.
Aim:
- To determine the event free (by both, including and censoring abandonment of treatment) and overall survival of children with Hodgkin lymphoma in India when treated with a risk-stratified ABVD based therapeutic strategy.
- To establish the response rates at specified time-points of children with Hodgkin lymphoma in India when treated with a risk-stratified ABVD based therapeutic strategy.
Societal outcomes:
- This study ensures that the stage of your child’s disease and risk group category is properly assessed; that your child’s treatment is effectively given, according to a standard protocol; that the follow-up of your child is correctly done after completing the treatment. The long-term outcomes of this study will help doctors improve the treatment of patients in the future.
Aims :
To study the epidemiological and clinical features of retinoblastoma in India, and to evaluate outcomes for patients in all groups and stages following a standardized strategy.
Societal outcomes :
- The study prospectively studies the epidemiological and clinical features of retinoblastoma in India.
- The study evaluates event free and overall survival rates and ocular salvage as per a standardized treatment strategy.
- The study helps understand the reasons for delay in diagnosis, leading to advanced stage presentation in India.
- The study helps understand the reasons for and to limit treatment abandonment.
- The study provides an assessment of the visual outcomes of patients who achieved ocular salvage.
- By focusing specifically on girl childhood cancer patients and survivors.
- Recognizes and highlights gender disparities that may exist in access to care, treatment outcomes, and survivorship experiences.
- This recognition is crucial for acknowledging and addressing gender bias.
- Understanding the unique needs and challenges of girl childhood cancer patients can lead to more tailored and gender-sensitive healthcare interventions.
Societal Outcome:
- Advocacy tools to raise awareness about gender bias in Pediatric cancer care and survivorship.
- Mobilize advocacy efforts aimed at reducing disparities and promoting gender equality in healthcare access and outcomes. With the help of this study, we can potentially address and mitigate gender bias within the context of childhood cancer care and survivorship.
- Outcomes collectively contribute to – a more equitable and just healthcare system for all children, regardless of gender.
- Improved mental health awareness.
- Reduced stigma, policy development, enhanced quality of life, and support for vulnerable communities.
- It contributes to a more compassionate and supportive society that recognizes and addresses the mental health needs of individuals facing serious health challenges.
Total Number: 156
Details of the best:
I. Indian Pediatric Hematology Oncology Group
II. 141 Hospital Partnerships like All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India. III. Resonance Health
IV. APAR Health
V. Pfizer India
VI. SIOP-International Society of Paediatric Oncology
Total Number: 19
Details of the best five:
I. 2021 CSR Health Impact Award by IHW Council.
II. Shri Niranjan Parikh Humanitarian Award-20 Feb 2021-Ms. Sonal Sharma, Co-Founder Cankids.
III. iCongo Rex Global Karamveer Puruskar -Global Awards for Social Justice and Citizen Action – in November 2016- Ms Poonam Bagai, Founder Chairman Cankids.
IV. Indian Academy of Pediatrics Award 2015 for yeoman services to Child Health in India in January 2015- Ms Poonam Bagai, Founder Chairman Cankids.
V. Victor Award by V-Care Foundation to pay tribute to Cancer Survivors celebrating their fighting Sprit – Ms. Ritu Bhalla, Survivor Leader -2020- 2021.