Inclusion of Pediatrics

Another priority of the Coalition has been ensuring that child health initiatives are included within larger research priorities. Unfortunately, it has been challenging at times to achieve such inclusion. When major initiatives lack an appropriate focus on pediatric health, children lose out. While some programs may not be germane to pediatric health opportunities or may require that a child component come later on, the exclusion, diminution or delay of pediatric components in major research initiatives negatively impacts the field.

The Coalition has been actively working to ensure child health research is reflected in various research priorities. For example, The Coalition has met with the leadership of the Advanced Research Project Agency – Health (ARPA-H) on ways to ensure the structure of the agency does not deter a focus on child health research topics. The Coalition has also met with leaders of the  All of Us (precisions medicine) Research Program to urge that the program move forward in recruiting children as soon as possible.

The Coalition has supported other efforts focused around pediatric inclusion in research priorities, including ensuring that eligibility criteria and requirements are not biased against applications focused on child health proposals or from children’s hospitals or pediatric department applicants. We will continue focusing on this topic, including action opportunities.