Reviewed by Amber Emerson Ginn, Research Program Manager
When a child is diagnosed with cancer, access to care close to home matters. As northern Nevada’s only Children’s Oncology Group (COG) institution, Renown Health connects eligible children, adolescents and young adults with pediatric cancer research and clinical trials here in our community.
Before Renown joined COG, families had to temporarily relocate outside the region for their child to participate in a COG trial. Today, eligible families can access available trials locally, helping them stay close to their support systems, schools, jobs and the routines of everyday life.
As part of the National Cancer Institute’s National Clinical Trials Network, COG brings research teams together to improve cancer treatment and outcomes for children, adolescents and young adults. Renown has been a participating member since 2020.
Families can receive care from a local team that follows the same level of excellence through national treatment protocols used at leading children’s hospitals across the country, giving them access to research-driven care close to home.
As of November 2026, Renown offers COG studies for:
These studies explore several important areas of pediatric cancer care, including targeted treatments, risk-based chemotherapy, less intensive treatment for children with a lower risk of recurrence, surgical approaches for cancers that has spread to the lungs, strategies to improve outcomes for higher-risk disease and a physical activity program for adolescent and young adult survivors.
“Renown maintains a portfolio of open studies covering diagnoses we anticipate for children in our community, so when a child is diagnosed, whenever possible, the right study is already open,” said Amber Emerson Ginn, Research Program Manager.
Renown participates in observational research like Project: EveryChild, which builds a long-term comprehensive dataset in childhood cancer, to conduct studies examining the biology and outcomes for patients.
Many childhood cancer treatments used today became available because families took part in earlier research. Clinical trials build on that progress, exploring ways to improve outcomes, reduce side effects and help the quality of life children live during and after treatment.
Clinical trials have helped dramatically increase survival rates for many childhood cancers over the past several decades. According to the National Cancer Institute, about 87% of children and teens diagnosed with cancer in the U.S. survive at least five years. Modern research is focused not only on curing cancer but also on improving quality of life during treatment and reducing the risk of long-term complications that survivors may experience later in life.
Many COG trials use established treatments while studying different combinations and new approaches.
Clinical trials can be an option at many stages of care. Some are offered when a child is first diagnosed, and children in pediatric cancer treatment trials receive active treatment. Other studies explore whether children with lower-risk disease can safely receive less treatment.
Taking part is always your family’s choice, and you can withdraw at any time. Before you decide, your care team explains the study’s purpose, potential benefits, risks, requirements and other treatment options. Choosing not to participate does not affect your child’s access to treatment or support.
Children also have a voice in their care. Depending on their age, they are invited to give their agreement, called assent, alongside parental consent. Patients are asked to provide their own consent when they turn 18 years old.
Patient safety guides the research process. Clinical trials undergo regulatory and ethics review for care teams to closely monitor participants. Renown’s research program operates within an AAHRPP-accredited Human Research Protection Program, providing added oversight for participant’s safety and ethics.
“Clinical research is conducted with patients and families, not on them,” Ginn said.
Pediatric Hematologist-Oncologist Dr. Seema Rao leads Renown’s COG program as Principal Investigator, building on the foundation established by Founding Principal Investigator, Dr. J. Martin Johnston, as well as Dr. Jacob Zucker, who helped bring COG membership to Renown and is currently serving as a Sub-Investigator.
Working together, physicians, nurses, pharmacists, research coordinators and regulatory staff help families explore studies, navigate enrollment and understand what to expect.
Community support helps make this work possible.
The William N. Pennington Foundation helped Renown recruit specialists needed to join COG, while the St. Baldrick’s Foundation and Pierce Phillips Charity grants supported a dedicated pediatric trials coordinator. You can help by raising awareness, supporting fundraising efforts and sharing research opportunities with families.
“To every family who has participated in research: thank you. Your contributions are helping children today and those who will be diagnosed tomorrow,” Ginn said.
Your child’s care team can help you understand available clinical trials and whether a study may be right for your child. Visit Renown’s Clinical Trials Directory for the most current studies.
At Renown Health, our goal is to make it easy for patients to explore clinical research alongside standard treatment options for their health condition. For more information about available clinical trials or to ask questions, contact the Renown Research Office at Renown-CRD@renown.org or 775-982-5050.
