Merck Raises Growth Outlook, Targets $70 Billion Revenue From New Drugs by Mid-2030s 
SpaceX’s Starship Completes 11th Test Flight, Paving Way for Moon and Mars Missions 
RFK Jr. Overhauls Federal Autism Panel, Sparking Medical Community Backlash 
NASA and SpaceX Target Crew-11 Undocking From ISS Amid Medical Concern 
Trump Orders DHS to Avoid Protests in Democratic Cities Unless Federal Assets Are Threatened 
Trump Signs “America First Arms Transfer Strategy” to Prioritize U.S. Weapons Sales 
Hims & Hers Halts Compounded Semaglutide Pill After FDA Warning 
U.S. Justice Department Removes DHS Lawyer After Blunt Remarks in Minnesota Immigration Court 
Jack Lang Resigns as Head of Arab World Institute Amid Epstein Controversy 
Faith Leaders Arrested on Capitol Hill During Protest Against Trump Immigration Policies and ICE Funding 
CDC Vaccine Review Sparks Controversy Over Thimerosal Study Citation 
Japan Election 2026: Sanae Takaichi Poised for Landslide Win Despite Record Snowfall 
Trump Lifts 25% Tariff on Indian Goods in Strategic U.S.–India Trade and Energy Deal 
Nvidia, ByteDance, and the U.S.-China AI Chip Standoff Over H200 Exports 
Novo Nordisk Stock Surges After FDA Approves Wegovy Pill for Weight Loss 
TrumpRx.gov Highlights GLP-1 Drug Discounts but Offers Limited Savings for Most Americans 
U.S. President Donald Trump has signed an executive order aimed at expanding the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in pediatric cancer research. The order provides an additional $50 million in research grants to accelerate progress in finding cures for childhood cancers, according to White House officials.
This move builds on the National Cancer Institute’s (NCI) Childhood Cancer Data Initiative, a decade-long, $500 million program launched in 2019 to collect and share vital data on pediatric cancers. Michael Kratsios, director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, highlighted that childhood cancer remains the leading cause of disease-related deaths among children in the United States, with cases rising more than 40% since 1975.
Kratsios noted that advances in AI can now be harnessed to sharpen diagnoses, improve clinical trials, fine-tune treatment strategies, and enhance prevention methods. Data gathered through the NCI initiative is expected to empower researchers with new tools to tackle the complexity and diversity of pediatric cancers.
In addition to the $50 million in grants, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) will double its commitment by investing another $50 million. This funding aims to attract leading scientific teams through competitive research opportunities. Further investments are also anticipated to strengthen ongoing initiatives.
The announcement comes despite Trump’s 2026 budget proposal, which suggested a 37% cut to the NCI budget. Lawmakers in both the House and Senate, however, have pushed back against these cuts, and budget negotiations remain ongoing.
Globally, the World Health Organization reports that around 400,000 children and adolescents are diagnosed with cancer each year. While advances in adult cancer research have surged with AI, pediatric cancer research has lagged due to challenges like cancer rarity, diversity, and ethical concerns over patient data protection.
By reinforcing funding and leveraging AI, the administration aims to close this gap and accelerate life-saving innovations in childhood cancer treatment.
