Oncothon is a telethon spanning 24 hours, dedicated to gathering donations for childhood cancer research. Peter Adamson who is global head, senior vice President at Sanofi will introduce us pediatric cancer drug development key aspects.

Speakers

Peter Adamson currently holds the position of Global Head of Oncology Development and Pediatric Innovation at Sanofi, while also serving as Emeritus Professor of Pediatrics and Pharmacology at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. Previously, Dr. Adamson chaired the Children’s Oncology Group (COG), a collaborative effort supported by the National Cancer Institute, comprising over 200 centers worldwide conducting clinical-translational research, including extensive clinical trials for pediatric cancer.

His primary research focuses on  pediatric cancer drug development, with a particular focus on early-phase clinical trials and clinical pharmacology investigations. In recognition of his significant contributions to the field, Dr. Adamson, was honored with the 2023 ASCO Pediatric Oncology Award, celebrating his outstanding scientific achievements and impact in pediatric oncology research.

Douglas S. Hawkins serves as the Group Chair of the Children’s Oncology Group (COG), a collaborative effort involving over 10,000 childhood cancer experts from more than 200 top children’s hospitals, universities, and cancer centers across North America, Australia, and New Zealand. In addition to his leadership role, Dr. Hawkins works as a clinician at Seattle Children’s Hospital and is a Professor of Pediatrics at the University of Washington School of Medicine.

Before his role of COG Group Chair in 2020, Dr. Hawkins chaired the COG Soft Tissue Sarcoma Committee, where he supervised research studies and clinical trials focused on rhabdomyosarcoma and other soft tissue sarcomas across North America. He also contributed to the COG Bone Tumor Steering Committee. Throughout his academic career, Dr. Hawkins has dedicated himself to clinical research, particularly in advancing treatment strategies for pediatric sarcomas.

Moderator

Ricardo García is the Co-Founder, Chief Executive Officer, and a Member of the Board of Directors at Oncoheroes Biosciences. Ricardo has a diverse background in computer engineering, management, and business administration. His journey into entrepreneurship began early, leading to the successful sale of his first company when he was just 22 years old. This led Ricardo to start and grow multiple tech-focused companies, all driven by a passion for innovation.
In 2011, his son Richi was diagnosed with a brain tumor. This challenging experience prompted Ricardo to uproot his life and relocate to Boston to support his son’s treatment journey. During this period of time Ricardo discovered significant gaps and challenges in the support system for childhood cancer patients and their families.
Motivated by his personal journey, Ricardo founded the Richi Childhood Cancer Foundation, a non-profit organization with a global outreach. The foundation aims to address the unmet needs in childhood cancer care and support, leveraging Ricardo’s passion for making a meaningful difference in the lives of children and families affected by cancer.