Project Search

Many children experience serious side effects from medications, but because pediatric diseases like cancer are rare, it is difficult to gather enough data to understand why. Over the past 20 years, the Canadian Pharmacogenomics Network for Drug Safety (CPNDS) has collected DNA and medical data from more than 12,350 patients, tracking their responses to over 100,000 medication uses and 10,000 severe adverse drug reactions. Some patients in this database have more than 40 years of medical history. This project will build on that work by adding a pediatric component to the Pan-Canadian Genomics Library (PCGL)—a national resource that makes genomic and clinical data accessible for research. 

The project will reconnect with previously enrolled patients to obtain their consent to add de-identified genomic and clinical data to the PCGL and continue recruiting new patients at 10 existing study sites across Canada. A key focus will be increasing diversity and accessibility to ensure the database better represents all populations. Researchers will also upgrade the data from genome-wide typing (GWAS) to whole genome sequencing (WGS), allowing for a more detailed investigation of drug-related harm. 

With these expanded resources, the team will use genomic data to identify biomarkers that predict harmful drug reactions in children with cancer. The insights gained will improve how medications are prescribed, making treatments safer and more effective for children in Canada and beyond.