Trump’s HHS doubles funding for childhood cancer data initiative, accelerating research and treatment
(Background) President Trump speaks before signing executive orders in the Oval Office at the White House on September 30, 2025 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images) /(R) The Department of Health and Human Services building. (Photo by SAUL LOEB/AFP via Getty Images)
OAN Staff Brooke Mallory 2:24 PM – Tuesday, September 30, 2025
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has announced a major increase in funding for the Childhood Cancer Data Initiative (CCDI) at the National Institutes of Health (NIH), effectively doubling its financial support.
The HHS, under the Trump administration, doubled funding from $50 million to $100 million.
According to President Donald Trump and the HHS, the boost in funds will accelerate the development of improved diagnostics, treatments, and prevention strategies for childhood cancers.
Launched in 2019 by the National Cancer Institute (NCI), the CCDI is a comprehensive, data-driven initiative designed to improve the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of pediatric cancers.
President Trump engaged with young cancer patients during the event at the White House. In the Oval Office, he signed an executive order aimed at leveraging artificial intelligence (AI) to advance pediatric cancer research. Surrounded by children, including cancer survivors, Trump emphasized the urgency of combating childhood cancer.
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“We’re going to defeat childhood cancer once and for all,” Trump asserted.
The White House also declared that “President Trump is committed to reversing the chronic disease crisis and building a healthier future for America, starting with our youngest generation.”
"I've had a brain tumor since I was 4 months and I'm doing great. I'm 15 now and I'm going to 10th grade."@POTUS: "And you're going to be a football player — offensive lineman!" ❤️ pic.twitter.com/BSMRYjlFG8
A nine-year-old leukemia survivor tells @POTUS: "Thank you, Mr. President, for making everything happen today so kids like me… can still be living today and speaking." ❤️ pic.twitter.com/yynrlRuLro
16-year-old Carolyn Hendrix, a pediatric bone cancer survivor, on the Executive Order unlocking cures for pediatric cancer:
"What you're doing today, Mr. President, means that kids like me will get better options and so much more hope for the future." ❤️ pic.twitter.com/j0p7Twzur9
According to reports, the program focuses on three goals:
Data Collection – Gathering clinical and molecular data from every child, adolescent, and young adult diagnosed with cancer — regardless of where they receive treatment.
Data Integration – Developing a strategy for clinical and molecular characterization to expedite diagnosis and inform treatment decisions.
Data Sharing – Creating a centralized platform that integrates clinical care and research data, enhancing preventive measures, treatment options, and overall quality of life for young cancer patients.
The CCDI also supports several specialized programs, including Molecular Characterization Initiative (MCI), and it provides advanced testing to better understand the molecular underpinnings of childhood cancers.
The Rare Cancer Initiative targets research for rare pediatric cancers, which often lack sufficient data and treatment options.
The Data Ecosystem refers to the integrated network and collaborative framework the HHS uses to manage, share, and leverage health data to advance public health, innovation, and healthcare delivery — while protecting patient privacy.
Since the announced surge in funding is expected to enhance AI integration, meaning it will accelerate the use of AI to analyze complex pediatric cancer datasets, it will also expand data resources and increase the volume and diversity of data collected — improving the comprehensiveness of research findings.
Regarding health official collaboration, the initiative will encourage partnerships among researchers, clinicians, and institutions to share insights and resources.
According to leaders at the HHS, this will lead to more personalized and effective treatment strategies.
This funding increase aligns with broader efforts to advance pediatric cancer research, including initiatives like the Gabriella Miller Kids First Research Act, which supports pediatric studies through the NIH Common Fund.
According to HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., NIH Director Jay Bhattacharya, and National Cancer Institute (NCI) Director Anthony Letai, by combining cutting-edge technology, data-driven insights, and collaborative research, the CCDI gives parents a major step forward in the fight against childhood cancer, offering hope to families and young patients across the U.S.
“For too long, families have fought childhood cancer while our systems lagged behind,” said Kennedy. “President Trump is changing that. We will harness American innovation in artificial intelligence to find cures for pediatric cancer.”
“Our efforts have helped us learn from every child and better understand childhood cancer, reduce its risk, develop better treatments, and improve survivorship for children, teens and young adults with cancer,” said Letai, M.D., Ph.D., who was sworn in on September 29th. “I cannot think of a better way to begin my tenure at NCI than to redouble our efforts to support our youngest patients and their families facing rare leukemias and other cancers. We will not stop until childhood cancer is a thing of the past.”
“We are dedicated to using every innovative method and technology at our disposal in our fight against childhood cancer,” said Bhattacharya, M.D., Ph.D. “By doubling down on this mission with AI, we are ensuring that state-of-the-art science is being leveraged to provide answers about these diseases that would otherwise be out of reach.”
President Trump signs Executive Order to “massively accelerate pediatric cancer research and harness the extraordinary potential of Artificial Intelligence.”
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