Dr. Avram Denburg is a staff oncologist and clinician-scientist in the Division of Hematology/Oncology at the Hospital for Sick Children. He has a Master of Science in Health Policy, Planning and Financing from the London School of Economics, and a PhD in Health Policy from McMaster University. Dr. Denburg’s research centres on the analysis and strengthening of childhood cancer care systems, with specific focus on issues related to pharmaceutical policy and drug access for children in Canada and internationally. His lab at SickKids Research Institute is engaged in projects on cancer drug access in various health system contexts globally. Current priority areas of research include: development of novel approaches for value-based assessment of pediatric health technologies, including precision cancer therapies; incorporation of societal values and public preferences into health technology assessment and pharmaceutical policy; comparative analysis of policy approaches to cancer therapy regulation and reimbursement; and analysis of cancer drug availability, cost, and access dynamics in a range of low- and middle-income countries.

These research endeavours are supported by ongoing collaborations with a range of national and international partners, including the World Health Organization, the Pan-American Health Organization (PAHO), Health Canada and the Canadian Agency for Drugs and Technologies in Health (CADTH). Dr. Denburg is Past Chair of the Essential Medicines Committee for the International Society of Pediatric Oncology and co-founder of Access to Childhood Cancer Essentials, a global initiative to improve access to essential medicines and therapeutics for children with cancer. He is a member of CADTH’s Board of Directors, an expert member of the Ontario Steering Committee for Cancer Drugs, and serves as Chair of the Drugs & Therapeutics Committee at the Hospital for Sick Children.

In this session of Grand Rounds, Dr. Denburg discusses the global disparities in access to essential cancer medicines for children. He also reviews existing evidence on the nature and determinants of cancer medicine access in a range of low- and middle-income country contexts and explores potential health systems and policy interventions to improve equitable and sustainable access to essential childhood cancer medicines.