IMPACCT
Initiative for Multi-stakeholder Partnership to Accelerate Children’s Cancer Trials
What is IMPACCT?
IMPACCT (Initiative for Multi-stakeholder Partnership to Accelerate Children’s Cancer Trials) is a collaborative initiative dedicated to addressing delays in setting up and delivering clinical trials for children and young people (CYP) with cancer. Given that clinical trials are vital for advancing treatment and improving survival rates, IMPACCT focuses on removing barriers to trial accessibility and efficiency.
By bringing together key stakeholders—including research and healthcare professionals, Clinical Trials Units (CTUs), national research networks, research funders, and trial delivery experts—IMPACCT fosters collaboration to develop practical solutions and accelerate trial implementation.
The Role of Solving Kids’ Cancer UK
Solving Kids’ Cancer UK is the Secretariat for IMPACCT, ensuring that the initiative remains action-driven and patient-focused. By working closely with national bodies, clinical organisations, and policymakers, Solving Kids’ Cancer UK helps to create meaningful, systemic change, ultimately enabling children and young people to access life-saving treatments faster.
Meet the Chair
IMPACCT is led by Professor Pam Kearns, an expert in paediatric oncology with extensive experience in clinical trial research. Professor Kearns guides IMPACCT’s strategic direction, ensuring that the initiative remains focused on delivering tangible improvements in trial efficiency.
Pam Kearns is Emeritus Professor of Clinical Paediatric Oncology at the University of Birmingham, where she was Director of the University of Birmingham’s Cancer Research UK Clinical Trials Unit from 2011-2023 and Director of the Institute of Cancer and Genomic Sciences from 2021-2024. Her research is focused of drug development and innovation in the design and delivery of national and international clinical trials for childhood cancers.
She is a member of the Department of Health and Social Care's Children's and Young People Cancer Taskforce. She also chairs the Research Assessment Panel for Great Ormond Street Hospital Charity. She is Deputy Chair of the Board of Trustees for Cancer Research UK and also Chair of the Board of Trustees for A Child of Mine, a charity dedicated to supporting bereaved parents and is a Scientific Advisor to Children with Cancer UK and a Trusted Advisor to the Little Princess Trust.
Group structure
Executive: Professor Pam Kearns is the Independent Chair of the IMPACCT Initiative. Solving Kids' Cancer UK is the Secretariat for IMPACCT, facilitating and supporting its work.
Core Group: The Core Group consists of a small group of key stakeholders that agree the initiative's priorities and ways of working.
Task & Finish Groups: For each identified priority area, there is a Task & Finish (T&F) group made up of appropriate core group members, plus additional members with special expertise in the relevant area.
Stay tuned for more information on the membership of each of the IMPACCT groups.
IMPACCT's Priority Areas
In its first phase, IMPACCT has identified three key priority areas that contribute to delays in trial set-up. Each area is being addressed through multi-stakeholder Task & Finish (T&F) groups following a structured “Define, Understand, Propose” framework.
- Pharmacy
- Workforce
- R&D efficiency
Read more about each of the priority areas below.
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Objective: Streamline pharmacy processes to improve efficiency in trial setup and drug delivery.
- Address complexities in paediatric oncology trial protocols.
- Standardise trial pharmacy manuals and procedures.
- Improve integration of trial prescriptions into e-prescribing systems.
- Increase early pharmacy expert involvement in trial design.
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Objective: Reduce site-specific inconsistencies and delays in research and development approvals.
- Develop national guidelines for defining standard-of-care interventions in CYP cancer trials.
- Facilitate knowledge exchange between R&D teams and Clinical Trials Units.
- Implement a standardised NHS research costing tool to streamline approvals.
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Objective: Ensure sufficient and well-trained personnel to meet the demands of paediatric cancer trials.
- Conduct a workforce mapping exercise to identify staffing gaps.
- Define clear roles and responsibilities for trial personnel.
- Advocate for sustainable funding to support research staff.
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IMPACCT Interim Report
Looking Ahead
IMPACCT is committed to an iterative, action-driven approach. As progress is made in the initial priority areas, the initiative will continue to identify and address emerging challenges, ensuring ongoing improvements in the delivery of clinical trials for children and young people with cancer.
Contact Us
To find out more about the IMPACCT initiative and how to get involved, contact Emily Hall, Public Affairs & Advocacy Lead at Solving Kids’ Cancer UK via email emily.hall@solvingkidscancer.org.uk.