52. How do laws, funding, and advocacy shape the future of childhood cancer research?

About this episode

This episode discusses how laws, funding, and advocacy impact childhood cancer research with expert Dr. Susan Weiner.

In this episode of Game Over: c*ncer, hosts Dana Nichols and Val Solomon welcome Dr. Susan Weiner, founder of Children's Cancer Cause, pediatric cancer advocate, and national leader in childhood cancer policy. For more than 25 years, Dr. Weiner has worked alongside families, researchers, legislators, and advocacy organizations to improve childhood cancer treatment, survivorship care, pediatric drug development, and federal cancer research funding. This conversation explores the legislative victories that have transformed pediatric oncology, including the STAR Act, the RACE for Children Act, and efforts to improve survivorship resources for childhood cancer survivors. Dr. Weiner also shares how parents, survivors, and advocates can influence public policy and help secure funding for life-saving childhood cancer research. If you're interested in pediatric cancer research, childhood cancer advocacy, cancer survivorship, healthcare policy, rare disease research, clinical trials, federal research funding, or how families can create change, this episode is essential viewing. For more information on Children's Cancer Cause, visit https://www.childrenscancercause.org . There you will…

People in this episode

Hosts: Dana Nichols, Val Solomon

Guest: Dr. Susan Weiner

Topics covered

• childhood cancer research
• advocacy
• healthcare policy
• pediatric oncology
• federal research funding
• survivorship care

Keywords

• childhood cancer
• advocacy toolkit
• legislative victories
• clinical trials
• pediatric drug development
• survivorship resources

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Children's Cancer Cause, Cannonball Kids' cancer Foundation, Pediatric Cancer Action Network, STAR Act, RACE for Children Act

More episodes of Game Over: c*ncer

• 51. The Human Side of Pediatric Cancer Research with Dr John Prensner · May 26, 2026 · 37 min
• 50. The Internship That Made Me Rethink My Career · May 12, 2026 · 28 min
• 49. New Treatment Hope for Rare Childhood Leukemia · April 28, 2026 · 32 min
• 48. The Hidden Work Behind Fundraising for Pediatric Cancer Research · April 14, 2026 · 28 min
• 47. How Poverty Impacts Childhood Cancer Survival | Dr. Kira Bona · March 31, 2026 · 43 min
• 46. Diagnosed at 4, 13, and 18: Tayler’s Relentless Fight · March 10, 2026 · 37 min