Paediatric Oncology
Dr. Victor Lewis, Division Head
The academic Division includes seven physician members with cross appointments in the Department of Pediatrics, and a pediatric neuropsychologist. The Division is housed at Alberta Children’s Hospital and is affiliated with the University of Calgary, Faculty of Medicine, and with Alberta Health Services. Division members help provide comprehensive, multiprofessional specialized services to children and young adults with oncologic disorders and to those treated with hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). These services extend from diagnosis through long-term survivorship or end-of-life care. Dedicated nurse practitioners, pediatricians and family practitioners help provide care to inpatients and to long-term survivors. Outreach programs extend care delivery options to Red Deer, Medicine Hat and Lethbridge.
The program is an active participating member of the Children’s Oncology Group (COG). Division members hold various levels of leadership positions in the COG, and two faculty members are designated COG Young Investigators. The Division participates in research through C17 (the consortium of the 17 pediatric hematology oncology centers in Canada). We are also the sole Canadian member institution of POETIC (Pediatric Oncology Experimental Therapeutics Investigators Consortium), a North American Phase I clinical trials consortium. Our researchers provide translational laboratory support to the Phase I trials and we accept patients for clinical trials from across Canada.
The pediatric HSCT program serves the Province of Alberta and is part of the Alberta Blood and Marrow Transplant Program. The Program utilizes matched, matched-unrelated and partially matched related / unrelated sources of hematopoietic stem cells to provide allogeneic and cord blood transplants to children with oncologic, hematologic, metabolic and immunologic disorders. Autologous stem cell rescues offering high-dose chemotherapy are provided for patients with solid tumors and various brain tumors.
Highlights
The academic Division includes seven physician members with cross appointments in the Department of Pediatrics, and a pediatric neuropsychologist. The Division is housed at Alberta Children’s Hospital and is affiliated with the University of Calgary, Faculty of Medicine, and with Alberta Health Services. Division members help provide comprehensive, multiprofessional specialized services to children and young adults with oncologic disorders and to those treated with hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). These services extend from diagnosis through long-term survivorship or end-of-life care. Dedicated nurse practitioners, pediatricians and family practitioners help provide care to inpatients and to long-term survivors. Outreach programs extend care delivery options to Red Deer, Medicine Hat and Lethbridge.
The program is an active participating member of the Children’s Oncology Group (COG). Division members hold various levels of leadership positions in the COG, and two faculty members are designated COG Young Investigators. The Division participates in research through C17 (the consortium of the 17 pediatric hematology oncology centers in Canada). We are also the sole Canadian member institution of POETIC (Pediatric Oncology Experimental Therapeutic Investigators Consortium), a North American Phase I clinical trials consortium. Our researchers provide translational laboratory support to the Phase I trials and we accept patients for clinical trials from across Canada.
The pediatric HSCT program serves the Province of Alberta and is part of the Alberta Blood and Marrow Transplant Program. The Program utilizes matched, matched-unrelated and partially matched related / unrelated sources of hematopoietic stem cells to provide allogeneic and cord blood transplants to children with oncologic, hematologic, metabolic and immunologic disorders. Autologous stem cell rescues offering high-dose chemotherapy are provided for patients with solid tumors and various brain tumors.
Strategic Plan
The Division has implemented an ambitious growth plan that will increase the depth and breadth of clinical and laboratory research activity and service dedicated to pediatric oncologic disease. Through this plan we are establishing links with the various University Institutes and building thematically linked research programs. Our goal is to translate not only bench research, but also the family cancer experience, into better and more effective clinical practices.
Education
The Program is a Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada certified training site for pediatric hematology oncology subspecialty residents. We also provide education to medical students, pediatric and radiation therapy residents.
Research
Whenever possible, patients are enrolled in biology and treatment clinical trials conducted through the COG, C17 or POETIC. Division members are active in several COG trials committees. Abundant clinical research opportunities are available. Collaborative research is undertaken with the Southern Alberta Cancer Research Institute. Ongoing bench research projects involve neuroblastoma stem cells, new therapies for brain tumors and target validation of new agents.
Other
In addition to the support of Alberta Health Services, activities of the Division receive generous support from the Alberta Children’s Hospital Foundation and the Kids Cancer Care Foundation of Alberta.