Vision for Impact

To promote early clinical trials with an emphasis on drug development specifically for children

To expedite translation of scientific advancements into clinical research, leading to novel treatments and improved standard of care

To leverage new research technologies to advance pre-clinical and clinical research

To increase the availability of new, precise, or tailored therapies for pediatric cancers

To provide novel therapies to underserved as well as a diverse population of children across North America

To target a broad spectrum of cancers

To enhance the quality of life for children with difficult to treat cancers

Who We Are

We’re working towards better treatment options by evaluating new drugs and identifying their most appropriate applications.

The POETIC consortium was formed in 2003 to provide wider access to early phase studies to children in the United States. After 16 years at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC) the POETIC Research Development and Management Center (RDMC) transferred to Stanford University effective 2020.

The transfer to Stanford provides an opportunity to renew the consortium mission and vision to leverage academic expertise to develop new diagnostic platforms and clinical trials infrastructure to enhance collaboration of pediatric oncology clinical centers, other Consortia and POETIC sites, with the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries to benefit children.

In addition to state-of-the-art Phase I trials at POETIC sites, we seek to develop networks, aligned with POETIC institutions, for innovative processes and mechanisms to bring safe and efficacious unique Phase II therapies to children at their medical home; and to improve fair and equitable access to novel treatments with less psychosocial and financial toxicity.

Dr. Norman Lacayo

Strengths of POETIC

POETIC has a dedicated and talented group of pediatric oncology experts who deeply care and are committed to advancing novel pediatric oncology treatments and who are experienced in executing varied studies nimbly.

Our patient population:
  • Large pediatric population
  • Geographically and ethnically diverse population
  • Includes underserved pediatric population
Our extensive network of participating sites contributes to POETIC’s advanced resources in:
  • Pre-Clinical Scientific Research
  • Clinical research
  • Patient Outreach
  • Study Data Collection
We have streamlined:
  • Protocol review and management system
  • Budgeting and contracting process
  • Centralized tools and systems
  • Flexibility to include non-POETIC Member Institutions in POETIC Studies

Research Development and Management Center

The RDMC ensures that POETIC successfully achieves its goals, maintains it’s high quality of pre-clinical and clinical research, and effectively manages resources and processes necessary for high overall performance.

Our Member Institutions are Hard at Work

Members of POETIC are motivated to help cure cancers in children and young adults. Each member brings their expertise, vast knowledge, and commitment to the POETIC network.

Harnessing Expertise from Academia and Industry Leaders

We collaborate with various academia and industry leaders to foster growth, innovation, and success among our community of institutions.

History

The Pediatric Oncology Experimental Therapeutics Investigators’ Consortium (POETIC) was founded in February 2003 by Dr. Tanya Trippett at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center and Dr. Lia Gore at the University of Colorado Cancer Center to address the challenges related to accessing new therapies for children with cancer that has recurred. Using a think tank model to encourage innovative collaboration among physicians, scientists and other health care providers, a network specializing in treatment for children in North America whose cancer has failed to respond or recurred after standard treatment was created.

The consortium has evolved from a clinical trials network to a research enterprise with a strong infrastructure that drives the development of innovative therapeutic strategies based upon the biology of the patient’s cancer.