Developmental Therapeutics Program

The mission of the Developmental Therapeutics Program, at the Alabama Center for Childhood Cancer and Blood Disorders, is to identify and develop new therapies for children and young adults with cancer. Our ultimate goal is to improve the cure rate of pediatric cancers while also decreasing immediate and long-term side effects experienced by children undergoing treatment. Patients referred to the Developmental Therapeutics Program typically have recurrent or refractory malignancies that have failed standard therapies. Other patients may be diagnosed with rare tumors for which no effective therapies have been established.

As one of only 21 premier pediatric oncology programs in the country that were selected through a peer review by the Children’s Oncology Group Phase 1 and Pilot Consortium, we are able to provide patients access to innovative therapies not widely available. The Developmental Therapeutics Program is also a member of the Neurofibromatosis Consortium, the Head Start Consortium, and Sarcoma Alliance for Research through Collaboration (SARC). Additionally, we work with the pharmaceutical industry and with the diverse scientific community at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB). Studies currently open and accruing patients are listed below.

Ongoing collaborations include bench to bedside clinical trials of promising new agents or combinations of agents to treat pediatric cancers including brain tumors, neuroblastoma, osteosarcoma, rhabdomyosarcoma, and leukemia. By combining the innovation and expertise of the UAB Division of Pediatric Hematology-Oncology, Children’s of Alabama, and researchers from UAB and around the world, the Developmental Therapeutics Program offers cutting-edge therapies and state-of-the-art care while helping to advance the treatment of pediatric cancers for generations to come.

For more information, contact: Developmental Therapeutics Research Nurse Manager Bridget Tate, RN MSN at 205-638-2984 or btate@peds.uab.edu