Committee backs bill to create commission funding pediatric cancer clinical trials

Ajani Graham explained that House Bill 2082 would establish the Childhood Cancer and Rare Childhood Disease Research Commission to award grants to providers and research institutions engaged in Phase I pediatric cancer or rare disease clinical trials, set membership and reporting requirements, and allow the fund to include license‑plate fees, legislative appropriations, federal funds, gifts and donations.

Three speakers told personal stories to urge passage. Shawnee Doherty described losing her son Hollis to DIPG and subsequent fundraising and research donations to TGen; Anderson Coy, a young adult living with diffuse midline glioma, and his mother Julianne Kwai described their clinical trial experiences and urged state support to expand research locally. Committee members praised the testimony and the bill was moved and returned with a due pass recommendation by unanimous roll call (12-0-0-0).

Proponents emphasized that HB 2082 would not initially cost the state general funds, instead using an underutilized license-plate fund and creating additional revenue paths to support grants for pediatric clinical trials.