Search Website
QUICK LINKS:
New funding fuels national effort to make medications safer for children
By Emily Leighton
A Canada-wide research initiative aimed at making medications safer for children has secured $17.4 million in funding through Genome Canada’s Precision Health Initiative.
The newly announced project, Longitudinal, Deep-Phenotyped Pediatric Databank of Medical and Drug Therapy Outcomes, will create one of the most comprehensive paediatric drug safety datasets ever developed in Canada – integrating genomic, clinical and long-term outcome data to transform how drugs are prescribed to kids.
Dr. Michael Rieder, professor at Schulich Medicine & Dentistry, is leading the Ontario arm of the initiative, alongside national collaborators from the University of British Columbia and Université de Montréal/CHU Sainte-Justine.
Over the next four years, the research team will expand an existing national drug safety network by re-engaging past participants and recruiting a new, diverse cohort of paediatric patients. The project will also generate a large volume of high-quality genomic data through whole-genome sequencing, enhancing the ability to detect genetic variants linked to adverse drug reactions.
The research team’s goal is to identify genetic biomarkers that can predict severe adverse drug reactions, particularly in children undergoing cancer treatments, and to enable more personalized, effective prescribing for Canada’s youngest patients.
“This work is about reducing harm and improving outcomes,” said Rieder. “By building a more complete picture of how children respond to medications, we can guide safer treatment decisions across the country.”
Funding for the initiative comes from Genome Canada and regional partners including Genome British Columbia, Genome Alberta, Génome Québec and Ontario Genomics. Additional support is provided by the Quebec Ministry of Economy, Innovation and Energy, the BC Children’s Hospital Foundation and Michael Smith Health Research BC.