MSK is a major research institution. At MSK Kids, your child may be able to take part in a clinical trial. Clinical trials are also known as research studies.

What is a clinical trial?

Clinical trials are research studies that test new treatments, procedures, or devices to see how well they work. They are an important part of helping to prevent, treat, and cure cancer. They want to find therapies that work better than current treatments. Nearly every pediatric cancer treatment used today exists because of a clinical trial.

Sometimes a clinical trial gives you access to new therapies that are not yet available at most hospitals.

The children, teens, and young adults we treat have access to the latest clinical trials. Some of these studies are available only at MSK Kids.

Learn about clinical trials at MSK Kids.

Access to national clinical trials for your child

We also take part in many national clinical trials as a founding member of the Children’s Oncology Group. We are the coordinating center and co-founder of the Pediatric Oncology Experimental Therapeutics Investigators’ Consortium. We are also members of other clinical trial networks across the county.

Joining a clinical trial is voluntary. It’s entirely up to you and your family whether you have your child treated through a clinical trial. It’s your choice. Whatever treatment your child gets, our goal is to give them the best care possible.