Who are we?
The U-Link.care website was launched to improve access to clinical trials of new and innovative cancer therapies for Canadian childhood cancer patients. Given that Canada is an expansive country, patients and families may be required to travel great distances to access clinical trials. Recognizing this unique challenge, U-Link.care also functions as a resource to help decrease the financial burdens on patients and their caregivers when travelling for treatment.
U-Link.care includes:
- A database of clinical trials for pediatric oncology patients available in Canada with a double entry: one for health care professionals (which is also open to the everyone), and the other in an easy to understand format for patients and their families
- Access to the U-Link Patient and Family Fund, a financial program available to families across Canada who must travel to access early phase clinical trials
- A listing of provincial, national and international resources that are available to Canadian childhood cancer families who may need help with costs associated with travelling for treatment
- Answers to commonly asked questions that patients and families might have when considering participation in a clinical trial
Three main organizations have partnered to make U-Link.care happen for Canadian chilhood cancer patients.
The C17 Council is an organization composed of the institutionally appointed heads of the sixteen pediatric hematology, oncology, and stem cell transplant programs across Canada. It represents the interests of children and adolescents with cancer and blood disorders and act as an authoritative Canadian voice . The C17 Council has a strong record of accomplishment and has developed a clear strategy for continuing its mission to improve health outcomes and quality of life for children and adolescents in Canada with cancer and blood disorders. Its goal is to improve outcomes and quality of life for children and adolescents with cancer and serious blood disorders in Canada.
Advocacy for Canadian Childhood Oncology Research Network (Ac2orn) is made up of parents and patients who live across Canada, who have experience with different types of cancers and have the immense desire to help researchers break down barriers and build bridges when conducting research in hopes of finding a cure for childhood, adolescent and young adult cancers. Ac2orn was founded in 2014.
Childhood Cancer Canada is the primary charitable funder of clinical trials and childhood cancer research for C17. Foundation programing includes: the COVID-19 Emergency Fund provides financial support to childhood cancer families who have been impacted by the pandemic; EmPower Packs provided to children newly diagnosed with cancer; Survivor Scholarships for childhood cancer survivors with post-secondary academic aspirations; and, the Benevolent Fund that provides financial assistance to help a family cover the costs of their child's funeral.
Special thanks to Faisal Abdul Razzaq, Dr. Sarah Cohen-Gogo, Dr. Lucie Pecheux, Dr. Cielle Wachnian, Dr. Daniel Morgenstern, Dr. Jim Whitlock, Kathy Brodeur-Robb, Leah Young, Antonia Palmer and Patrick Sullivan, without whom U-Link could not have come to life!