About
Mission
Kids v Cancer promotes pediatric cancer research by identifying structural impediments at key junctures in the research process — new drugs, pediatric studies of adult drugs, tissue donation and access to funding — and developing strategies to address them.
Impact
Pediatric Priority Review Voucher Program
Over 65 new drugs for kids with cancer and other life threatening illnesses
Vouchers with valuations of $150 million
Multiple new biotechs formed to develop drugs for children’s cancers
RACE for Children Act
New cancer drugs relevant to children’s cancers are being studied in children
Climb the HiIl Day
Over 600 kids and adolescents have Climbed Capitol Hill, in person or by zoom, to share their pediatric cancer experiences and ask Congress to care
Mikaela Naylon Give Kids a Chance Act
Congress passed the Give Kids a Chance Act to reauthorize the PRV program and enable scientists to study new drugs in kids in combinations with other drugs so that they may find cures.
Expanded Eligibility Requirements for Adult Cancer Trials
2 FDA guidances encouraging companies to include in their adult cancer studies children when possible
Recognition
We are proudest of the increased number of innovative trials and drugs for seriously ill kids .
In addition to that, the following is a select list of our awards:
Peter Drucker Prize for Most Innovative Nonprofit in 2015
Fast Company #4 Top 10 Most Innovative Nonprofit in 2016
Nancy recognized by AACR for Distinguished Public Service in 2019
KVC honored by the Pacific Pediatric Neuro-Oncology Consortium (PNOC), Band of Parents, Rare Disease Legislative Advocates
Nancy invited to guest lecture at the Broad Institute, MSKCC, UConn, Yale, CHOP, MGH, St Jude
Nature published an editorial in support of the Creating Hope Act voucher program
Nature Medicine published an opinion piece by Nancy on her work.
Leadership
Nancy Goodman
Founder and Executive Director
nancygoodman@kidsvcancer.org
646-361-3590
Selected Honors
2026: Honorary doctorate awarded by Baylor College of Medicine
2019 AACR Distinguished Advocacy Award
2016 Fast Company Magazine as top ten most innovative nonprofits
Linkedin
https://www.linkedin.com/in/nancy-goodman-a3600467/
Jennifer Flynn
Outreach Director
jenn@kidsvcancer.org
Jenn is Director of Kids v Cancer’s CLIMB THE HILL youth advocacy days, Youth Board, social media, events, and internship programs. Under Jenn’s leadership, Jenn has built the CLIMB THE HILL Day program:
— CLIMB THE HILL remote summer internships
— CLIMB THE HILL after school zoom program
— CLIMB THE HILL day in September for over 140 kids who are patients, survivors and siblings to go to Capitol Hill
— Email Campaigns and media prep by and for kids
Jenn knew and loved Jacob from the time he was a very little boy until his death.
Scientific Advisory Board
Lee Helman, MD, OSI
Richard Gorlick, MD, MD Anderson
Andrew Kung, MD, MKSCC
Crystal Mackall, MD, Stanford
Robbie Majzner, MD, Dana Farber
Duane Mitchell, MD PhD, University of Florida
Giselle Sholler, MD, Pennsylvania State
Kim Steigmeier, MD, Dana Farber
Nancy Goodman founded Kids v Cancer, a think tank, to develop and further pediatric cancer drug development policy.
Kids v Cancer’s efforts have resulted in three federal pediatric drug development laws.
The Rare Pediatric Priority Review Voucher Program (PRV) creates an incentive for private industry drug development for with a first FDA approval for kids. The PRV program has resulted in over 65 new drugs for kids with life-threatening illnesses and over $9 billion in incentives.
The RACE for Children Act provides for pediatric studies of new adult cancer drugs. Since the implementation of RACE for Children Act, 80% of new cancer drugs relevant to pediatric cancer are evaluated in pediatric trials.
The Mikaela Naylon Give Kids a Chance Act provides for pediatric studies of combinations of new adult cancer drugs: combinations are the most likely path to new cures. This Act also reauthorizes the PRV program and provides FDA enforcement authority when companies fail to company with pediatric drug development obligations.
Kids v Cancer has also addressed compassionate use, age eligibility for cancer trials, and innovations in pediatric cancer trial designs.
Goodman received her JD from the University of Chicago Law School and her MPP from the Harvard Kennedy School of Government. Her son, Jacob died of medulloblastoma when he was 10. Jacob would be 28. She has two surviving children, Ben (24) and Sarah (15).
Jacob Froman
Kids v Cancer was founded in memory of Nancy’s and Michael's son, Jacob Froman.
Jacob was a spectacular, funny, bright, sweet and earnest eight year old boy. He loved all sports, performing rock music (he played keyboard and sang) and his little brother Ben. He would have loved his new sister, Sarah.
Jacob was diagnosed with medulloblastoma, a rare form of brain cancer, when he was eight. At various stages, Jacob suffered serious impairments, including an inability to speak, eat and walk. He was in-patient for a total of nine months over two years. Still, he was determined to return to school, spend time with his brother, family and friends and live as close to a normal life as possible. He never complained and had an unfailingly positive attitude.
During the course of his treatment, he underwent several surgeries, six weeks of daily radiation and multiple rounds of chemotherapy – standard, metronomic, high-dose, experimental and finally palliative.
None of these efforts eliminated the disease. Each round took its toll on his body, ultimately shutting down his systems and making it impossible for him to receive further treatment. The disease spread throughout his brain and spine, and he died on January 16, 2009, at the age of 10.
Throughout Jacob’s treatment, Nancy and Michael contacted pediatric brain cancer researchers and clinicians at more than 35 different hospitals across more than a dozen countries. They worked with dedicated scientists and physicians who were hampered by a lack of new drugs with which to treat children, a lack of tissue samples with which to study pediatric cancers (and ultimately design new drugs), and a lack of access to funding which would enable them to carry on their research.
Jacob’s story can be found at www.caringbridge.org/visit/jacobfroman