U.S. Government Accelerates Pediatric Cancer Research with AI: $50 Million added to the Program

On September 30, 2025, President Donald Trump signed an executive order aimed at enhancing pediatric cancer research through the use of artificial intelligence (AI). The initiative builds upon the Childhood Cancer Data Initiative (CCDI), a decade-long, $500 million program launched in 2019 to collect and share data on childhood cancers. The new executive order allocates an additional $50 million in research grants to further this effort.

Michael Kratsios, Director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, highlighted that pediatric cancer remains the leading cause of chronic disease-related deaths among children in the United States. The incidence of these cancers has increased by more than 40% since 1975. The data gathered through the CCDI now enables researchers to apply AI to improve clinical trials, enhance diagnoses, refine treatments, and develop preventive strategies.

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) will match the new $50 million grant, doubling the investment to further enhance existing data resources. The funding aims to attract scientific teams through competitive research grants, fostering innovation in the field of pediatric cancer research.

Despite these advancements, challenges remain in pediatric cancer AI research, including data limitations and ethical concerns, particularly due to the rarity and diversity of child cancers. Nevertheless, this initiative marks a significant step forward in leveraging AI to combat pediatric cancer and improve outcomes for affected children.