Children’s Oncology Group Hosts Fall 2008 Group Meeting
More than 1,600 of North America’s leading experts in childhood cancer research convened October 21 – 25 in Denver, CO for the annual Fall 2008 Group Meeting of the Children’s Oncology Group (COG).
This conference is a semi-annual meeting of pediatric oncologists, basic science researchers, nurses, research assistants and other medical disciplines who review results and plan the future clinical trials and translational research of the COG.
The meeting was structured to allow disease and disciple committees to share with the COG membership their future agenda as well as to provide time for study committees and task forces to conduct face-to face meetings. During the meeting, there were more than 100 separate committee meetings, symposia, and breakout sessions to address aspects of pediatric cancer and related issues. This furthers the mission of the COG to cure and prevent childhood and adolescent cancer through scientific discovery and compassionate care.
Among the majors highlights and accomplishments of the 2008 COG Fall Meeting were the following:
- The ASCO/COG Ethics symposium, which focused on Ethnic and Cultural Diversity and its relevance for Childhood Cancer Research;
- The Translational Research Committee’s presentation of the work of the TARGET initiative in both the leukemias and solid tumors;
- The Developmental Therapeutics presentation of the cross disease research on the ALK gene and its relevance to future therapies;
- Success of the new format with its focus on vigorous discussion of the future direction of clinical trials in both our most successful disease therapies and in relapsed patients in accord with the aims presented to the NCI in our most recent grant proposal for the next six years of research.
The Group Meetings of the Children’s Oncology Group are crucial in the fight to battle childhood cancer. The focus of more than 6,000 members within the COG is greatly amplified in this setting; the clarity and intensity of these sessions ensures that every promising avenue will be pursued in the most effective way possible.
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