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Presentation Description: 
Sequencing a tumour, identifying molecular targets and pinpointing the appropriate drug or clinical trial, is merely step one of a complex and intense process for health teams and patients/families. Once a drug has been identified, what are the practical considerations that health teams need to consider in order to deliver optimal care to the patient? This session, led by a Social Worker and Patient Navigator of the SickKids NAIT (New Agents and Innovative Therapy) Program and a Nurse Practitioner in the Neuro-Oncology division at SickKids, will provide a thorough dissemination and discussion of the many challenges that need to be anticipated and addressed once a patient has been matched with a drug/trial.

Speakers:
Karen Fung, MSW, RSW
Social Worker
The Hospital for Sick Children

Karen Fung is a social worker in the solid tumour section of the Haematology/Oncology Program at SickKids, and works part-time as a patient navigator in the New Agent and Innovative Therapy (NAIT) Program. As a social worker, Karen provides assessment and counselling to children and youth, and their families, through the trajectory of the illness to enhance coping and capacity. In her role as the patient navigator in the early phase clinical trials program, Karen has been assisting in the development of the NAIT Program, as well as collaborating with the primary stakeholders and the children and their families from across Canada to help them gain better access to new and innovative clinical trials.

Tara McKeown, RN MN NP-Paediatrics
Nurse Practitioner Neuro-Oncology Team
The Hospital for Sick Children
Adjunct Lecturer, Lawrence S. Bloomberg, Faculty of Nursing
University of Toronto

Tara McKeown completed a Bachelor of Science degree at the University of Western Ontario and then went on to complete a Bachelor of Science in Nursing at the University of Toronto. She worked at the Hospital for Sick Children inpatient Haematology/Oncology inpatient ward as a Registered Nurse for five years and during that time completed a Master of Nursing with Nurse Practitioner in the child stream. Tara has worked as the Nurse Practitioner with the Neuro Oncology team at the Hospital for Sick Children since Jan 2013. She also retains adjunct appointment as an Adjunct Lecturer for the Lawrence S. Bloomberg Faculty of Nursing at the University of Toronto. Tara has worked closely with the New Agents and Innovative Therapy team at Sick Kids as new drugs, treatments and side effect management is emerging for the Neuro Oncology population.

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* Josh Silvertown’s presentation slides not included

Presentation Description:
Clinical trial design is complex and not without challenges, particularly in the pediatric context. This workshop brings together medical and industry experts to share their unique perspectives on the challenges and opportunities of designing molecularly targeted clinical trials in Canada. This interactive workshop will feature a case study on larotrectinib, a selective TRK inhibitor that is showing early promise in the treatment of pediatric solid tumours.

Speakers:
Rebecca Deyell, MD, MSc, FRCPC
Pediatric Oncologist /Hematologist and Clinician Investigator
BC Children’s Hospital and Research Institute

Dr. Deyell is a pediatric oncologist/hematologist and clinician investigator at BC Children’s Hospital and Research Institute. She is a co-leader of the BC Pediatric Precision OncoGenomics Study (PedsPOG) and of the Clinical Node for the national PRecision Oncology For Young peopLE (PROFYLE) program. She leads the Developmental Therapeutics Program in pediatric oncology/hematology in BC, and participates in the national C17 DVL network.

Josh Silvertown, PhD, MBA, MSM (slides unavailable)
Senior Manager, Medical Affairs Strategist (Oncology)
Bayer Canada

Josh Silvertown is the Senior Manager, Medical Affairs Strategist (Oncology) for Bayer Canada, leading medical affairs for TRK fusion cancer therapies. Prior to this role, Josh was Medical Scientific Advisor (Hematology) for Bayer Canada, leading medical affairs for the hemophilia portfolio.

Before joining Bayer, Josh worked in executive roles for Toronto-based companies focused on the development and commercialization of drug (Armour Therapeutics) and diagnostic device (Quantum Dental Technologies) products. Josh also worked at AXON Clinical Research, Manhattan, as the Director of Scientific Affairs and Business Development. He spent three years as an NSERC Post-Doctoral Fellow conducting prostate cancer research at the Ontario Cancer Institute in Toronto. He holds a PhD in Biomedical Sciences and an Honours BSc in Molecular Biology and Genetics from the University of Guelph. Josh is a graduate of the Richard Ivey School of Business at Western University where he completed an MBA as a Canadian Institutes of Health Research “Science to Business” Fellow.

Josh is an Action Canada Fellow (2004), a “Top 40 Under 40” by the Medical Device and Diagnostic Industry (2012), and a Meritorious Service Medal recipient from the Governor General (2017). Josh is the author of over 30 scientific journal publications and an inventor on 23 issued and pending patents.

Patrick Sullivan
Childhood Cancer Advocate

Patrick Sullivan is a passionate childhood cancer advocate, the President and a Founder of the Team Finn Foundation, and Co-Founder of Ac2orn. Patrick became an advocate after his twin son Finn was diagnosed with rhabdomyosarcoma in 2007 and heard the word “incurable” for the first time in May 2008. His desire to make a change in cancer research is in part an effort to pay an un-payable debt to his son Finn and to “change the stories” of other Finns.

Patrick participates in several national and international initiatives. His roles include Founder of Ac2orn (Advocacy for Canadian Children Oncology Research Network), Chair of the Bio-CanRX Cancer Stakeholder Alliance, member of the AACR Pediatric Cancer Working Group, Director of Childhood Cancer Canada, Director of Coast to Coast Against Cancer Foundation, Director on the Canadian Cancer Research Alliance, Co-Lead of the Terry Fox Research Profyle initiative, member of the CTCG Lay Representative Committee, and Lead Advocate on the St. Baldrick’s/Stand Up to Cancer Immunogenomics Dream Team.

By profession, Patrick is a securities and corporate-commercial litigator and one of the founding partners of Taylor Veinotte Sullivan Barristers. Patrick is the proud father of three remarkable children, Baird, Sarah and Finn, and would do almost anything for the simple pleasure of holding Finn’s hand again.