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Children’s Oncology Group’s 2023 Blueprint for Research: Behavioral Science
  • +6
  • Leanne Embry,
  • Kristin Bingen,
  • Heather Conklin,
  • Steven Hardy,
  • Lisa Jacola,
  • Jordan Marchak,
  • Iris Paltin,
  • Wendy Pelletier,
  • Katie Devine
Leanne Embry
The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio Department of Pediatrics

Corresponding Author:embryl@uthscsa.edu

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Kristin Bingen
Medical College of Wisconsin Department of Pediatrics
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Heather Conklin
St Jude Children’s Research Hospital
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Steven Hardy
The George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences
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Lisa Jacola
St Jude Children’s Research Hospital
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Jordan Marchak
Children's Healthcare of Atlanta Inc Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center
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Iris Paltin
The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences
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Wendy Pelletier
University of Calgary Department of Oncology
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Katie Devine
Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey
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Abstract

As survival rates for childhood cancer have improved, there has been increasing focus on identifying and addressing adverse impacts of cancer and its treatment on children and their families during treatment and into survivorship. The Behavioral Science Committee (BSC) of the Children’s Oncology Group (COG), comprised of psychologists, neuropsychologists, social workers, nurses, physicians, and clinical research associates, aims to improve the lives of children with cancer and their families through research and dissemination of empirically supported knowledge. Key achievements of the BSC include enhanced interprofessional collaboration through integration of liaisons into other key committees within COG, successful measurement of critical neurocognitive outcomes through standardized neurocognitive assessment strategies, contributions to evidence-based guidelines, and optimization of patient-reported outcome measurement. The collection of neurocognitive and behavioral data continues to be an essential function of the BSC, in the context of therapeutic trials that are modifying treatments to maximize event-free survival, minimize adverse outcomes, and optimize quality of life. In addition, through hypothesis-driven research and multi-disciplinary collaborations, the BSC will also begin to prioritize initiatives to expand the systematic collection of predictive factors (e.g., social determinants of health) and psychosocial outcomes, with overarching goals of addressing health inequities in cancer care and outcomes, and promoting evidence-based interventions to improve outcomes for all children, adolescents, and young adults with cancer.
29 Jun 2023Submission Checks Completed
29 Jun 2023Assigned to Editor
29 Jun 2023Submitted to Pediatric Blood & Cancer
29 Jun 2023Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
29 Jun 2023Editorial Decision: Accept