Health
Childhood brain cancer trial was delayed after federal funding cutoff, report says
CNBC reports that the National Cancer Institute ended funding for a pediatric consortium, delaying clinical trials.
The short version
- The National Cancer Institute ended funding eligibility for the Pediatric Brain Tumor Consortium in August 2025, according to its chair.[CNBC]
- The cutoff shut down two trials and delayed a planned pediatric mRNA brain cancer trial by at least a year, researchers stated.[CNBC]
- A spokesperson for the Department of Health and Human Services denied cost-cutting was the reason, stating trials are being transitioned to a larger network to accelerate treatment development.[CNBC]
Key facts
- The National Cancer Institute notified the Pediatric Brain Tumor Consortium in August 2025 that it could no longer apply for funding.[CNBC]
- The funding decision resulted in the shutdown of two clinical trials and a 13-month delay during which patients could not enroll in four transferring studies.[CNBC]
- A planned mRNA clinical trial for DIPG was delayed by at least a year due to the loss of consortium infrastructure.[CNBC]
- HHS stated that transitioning studies to a larger hospital network is intended to accelerate treatments and was not a cost-cutting measure.[CNBC]
- Between February and August 2025, more than $2 billion was frozen or withdrawn across thousands of federally supported research projects.[CNBC]
What remains uncertain
- Consortium researchers reported that the funding cutoff caused significant trial shutdowns and enrollment halts, whereas HHS asserted that shifting to a larger network will accelerate treatments.[CNBC]
Sources
Outlet counts describe coverage, not independent confirmation. Reports may share a wire service or original source.