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Behind every COG clinical trial are nurses who ensure treatments are safe, effective, and child-centered. In this Q&A, COG Nursing Committee Chair Sue Zupanec, MN, NP, explains how nurses shape protocols, educate families, and help deliver game-changing therapies like blinatumomab. She also highlights why donor support is vital to expanding education, innovation, and research — and what’s kept her involved with COG for more than 20 years.
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Jen Belle's life turned upside down when she took her then 3-year-old daughter Katie to the emergency room — and learned she had a baseball-sized neuroblastoma tumor. Now, Katie is 19. She’s an active swimmer getting ready to start college. Like many young cancer survivors, she lives with chronic health issues. Jen has volunteered with COG’s Patient Advocacy Committee since 2016 and became the committee chair in 2024. She shares insights about what the committee does and the important role patient advocates play in clinical trials.
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Michael Roth, MD, was initially planning to become a community pediatrician. But during his medical training, he developed an interest in pediatric oncology — specifically cancer in adolescents and young adults (AYAs), a group whose specific needs often fall through the cracks.
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From an early age, Nick Cost, MD, knew he wanted to be a physician with a focus on kids. And he can’t imagine a career more rewarding than being able to build relationships with his patients and collaborate with colleagues to improve outcomes for kids with kidney cancer. Read about the COG Renal Tumor Committee’s latest research and long-term goals.
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During residency, David Teachey, MD, met two physicians who impressed upon him the need to study childhood cancer at the bench, so better care could be delivered at the bedside. It didn’t take him long to dedicate his career to pediatric cancer. Today, he leads the COG’s acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) committee. Meet Dr. Teachey and read about how ALL researchers are taking on the most common childhood cancer at every level.
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When Philip Lupo, MD, MPH, was diagnosed with melanoma, it changed his life — and his career path. Now, he’s a genetic epidemiologist at Texas Children’s working to answer questions like what makes a child more likely to develop, and how a child’s genetics influences their treatment. Learn more about his COG committee’s exciting research.
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Dr. Todd Cooper has spent his career focused on refining the way pediatric leukemias are treated, especially for patients with a high-risk diagnosis. Now leading the COG’s Acute Myeloid Leukemia Committee, Dr. Cooper shares how the committee is making monumental progress toward improving survival rates for AML patients and what’s on the horizon for their strategic priorities.
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Dr. Maria Velez, chair of the COG's Diversity and Health Disparities Committee is leading a movement to scientifically document the impact of social determinants of health and diversity at every level of pediatric cancer research and care. We connected with Dr. Velez to learn about the innovative progress committee members are making and what gives her great hope.
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Dr. Brenda Weigel is on the front lines of developing new drugs for pediatric cancer. We caught up with her to learn about the latest developments in precision medicine — and how philanthropy makes a difference in her work.
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