Indiana bill to expand pediatric cancer research passes unanimously out of committee

INDIANAPOLIS — On Wednesday, a Senate committee unanimously supported a bill that would expand pediatric cancer research and treatments in Indiana.

“I’m very optimistic that this will be the year that we can make this idea a reality,” State Rep. Ryan Lauer (R-Columbus), one of the bill’s co-authors, said.

If passed, the bill would establish an IDOH grant program to support organizations in the space of cancer research.  

“There’s some amazing research going on here in Indiana, and we want to support that,” Lauer said.

“That fund can accept state dollars or philanthropic dollars,” State Sen. Fady Qaddoura (D- Indianapolis), one of the bill’s sponsors, said.

Many parents who gave testimony in committee said the bill would give children currently fighting cancer more options than their children never had. Kevin and Heather Garvey co-founded the Mighty Mason Foundation in honor of their 9-year-old son, Mason, who died of pediatric cancer in 2020.

“Help us fulfill a promise we made to each other and that we made to him as well, that there are not going to be more kids and more families that are going to have to deal with what we’ve had to deal with,” Kevin Garvey said.

The Garveys said their foundation and several other organizations fighting pediatric cancer have committed to contributing to the bill’s grant program if lawmakers pass it.

“Every year, an average of 12 new drugs are approved for the treatment of adult cancers,” Heather Garvey said. “The number of drugs treating childhood cancers? Eleven. Not per year. In total. Our priorities are backward.”

The Indiana Cancer Consortium says pediatric cancer is the second leading cause of death among children ages 1-14 in the Hoosier State.

“My niece passed away at the age of 4,” Qaddoura said. “To me, this is a commonsense piece of legislation that can empower families.”

“These are terribly challenging, difficult circumstances for these families to go through, and we want to help these families,” Lauer said.

A statement from the bill’s author, State Rep. Tim O’Brien (R-Evansville) reads in part:

“…By establishing a dedicated grant program, this legislation would support innovation and improve outcomes for children and women battling cancer, giving more Hoosier families hope. I’m grateful for the strong bipartisan support and look forward to seeing this legislation move forward.”

The bill now heads to Senate Appropriations for consideration.