The C17 Council (C17)
C17 is the national council composed of the institutionally appointed heads of the sixteen pediatric hematology, oncology, and stem cell transplant programs across Canada, acting as the authoritative voice for children and adolescents with cancer and serious blood disorders.
Quick facts
• Represents 16 academic programs across 17 centres nationwide, enabling coordinated clinical and research efforts in pediatric hematology/oncology.
• Administers a national Research Grant Competition; over $6.5 million awarded since 2005 to Canadian pediatric cancer research.
• The Developmental Therapeutics (DVL) Committee expands access to early phase (Phase I/II) trials through a participating network of 11 centres across Canada.
• C17 highlights U-Link.care, an early‑phase clinical trial information platform for Canadian families and clinicians.
What We Do
Research: C17 encourages, funds, and coordinates multi‑centre pediatric cancer and blood disorder research through a peer‑reviewed national grants program and networked collaboration across Canadian centres.
Education & Guidelines: C17 develops and promotes education, training, and evidence‑based clinical practice guidelines to support high‑quality pediatric hematology/oncology care across Canada.
Human Resources & Advocacy: C17 supports national workforce planning and engages with stakeholders to advance policies that improve outcomes and quality of life for children and adolescents with cancer and serious blood disorders.
Committee & Networks
C17 Research Network: Operates under the Council to catalyze collaborative, multi‑disciplinary research across Canadian pediatric oncology/hematology programs; runs an annual peer‑reviewed operating grant competition spanning trials, registries, sample banks, Quality of Life (QoL) research, outcomes studies, and translational science.
Developmental Therapeutics (DVL): Broadens access to Phase I/II studies across Canada, with 11 participating centres enabling investigational treatment options closer to home.
Guidelines & Education Committees: National committee promoting guideline development and training to standardize and elevate pediatric hematology/oncology practice Canada‑wide.
Research Grants
C17’s Research Grants: Publishes award details (investigators, institutions, project titles, amounts) and results across multiple rounds; cumulative awards exceed $6,500,000 since 2005, including projects in epigenetics, leukemia modeling, adolescent and young adult (AYA) supportive care, and precision diagnostics.
The 100% Fund: In partnership with national foundations, the 100% Fund targets hard‑to‑treat pediatric and adolescent cancers that have not responded to available therapies, aiming to fund research with potential to improve survival.
National Surveillance - CYPC
Cancer in Young People in Canada (CYP‑C): A national surveillance program led by the C17 Council in collaboration with PHAC and CPAC, collecting diagnosis, treatment, and short‑term outcomes (up to five years) for patients under 19 treated at Canadian pediatric centres.
How to apply for CYP‑C data: Researchers may request individual‑level or aggregate data via the official CYP‑C Research Applications process; proposals are reviewed by the CYP‑C Data Access, Use & Publications Committee and, where applicable, by POGO and the PHAC Privacy Office.
Clinical Trials Finder - U-Link
C17 highlights U‑Link.care, a Canadian portal that helps clinicians, patients, and families identify available early‑phase pediatric oncology trials, with practical information and support resources for travel and logistics.
Contact
For general inquiries, visit the C17 Contact page.
