Overview
Join the Childhood Cancer Data Initiative (CCDI) Symposium on September 18, 2026, to reflect on our progress and shape what comes next in childhood cancer research. At this hybrid event, offered both in person at the National Cancer Institute (NCI) Shady Grove Campus in Rockville, MD and online, we will highlight the foundational work accomplished by CCDI so far and work together with members across the cancer research community to explore opportunities to accelerate discovery and improve outcomes for children, adolescents, and young adults through an interoperable data ecosystem and innovative use of AI.
Register today!
Date and Time
Friday, September 18, 2026, from 8:45 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. ET
Venue
NCI Shady Grove
Joseph F. Fraumeni Conference Room (TE-406/408/410)
9609 Medical Center Drive
Rockville, MD 20850
Registration Deadline
Registration is complimentary and required to attend, either in person or online.
- In-person attendance:
- Non-U.S. visitors: Register by August 18, 2026.
- Go to the Venue page for more information.
- U.S. visitors: Register by September 11, 2026.
- Non-U.S. visitors: Register by August 18, 2026.
- Virtual attendance: Register by September 16, 2026.
Please note that onsite registration will not be available.
Abstract Deadline
Attendees interested in presenting a poster should complete the Abstract Submission Form by September 5, 2026.
Questions
- If you have questions about submitting abstracts for poster presentations, contact NCIChildhoodCancerDataInitiative@mail.nih.gov.
- For any other questions about the symposium, contact CCDIevents@mail.nih.gov.
Virtual Workshops
NCI will also be holding two virtual workshops over the summer to collect feedback and input from the community on topics critical to the priorities of CCDI.
How Do We Effectively Use AI to Improve Pediatric Clinical Trials, and How Can AI Accelerate Cancer Research and Treatments?
Friday, August 14, 2026, 11:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Watch Recording
AI has the potential to continue transforming many aspects of the clinical trial process and drive innovation to expedite treatment discovery. During this interactive workshop, Dr. Warren Kibbe, NCI’s Deputy Director for Data Science and Strategy, and Dr. Jack Shern, NCI’s CCDI Scientific Director, will lead a discussion on how AI can be used to accelerate pediatric cancer research and improve pediatric clinical trials. Brief presentations will highlight challenges and emerging solutions, followed by an open discussion to gather community feedback. Input from participants will help inform CCDI priorities for use of AI in pediatric cancer research, to help guide CCDI as the program moves forward.
Patient Permissioning and Authorities Needed to Connect the CCDI Ecosystem Across Networks and Platforms
Monday, August 24, 2026, 11:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Multi-modal data from health care/EHRs, clinical and basic research, and public health surveillance are all required to make the discoveries that lead to better treatments and outcomes for pediatric cancer patients. At this workshop-style session, Dr. Jaime Guidry Auvil, NCI's Office of Data Sharing Director, will lead a discussion of patient permissions and the authorities that govern the use of patient data for research, how these affect data sharing, especially across different data ecosystems, and what the community needs to put in-place to facilitate the most effective use of data for discovery.