Children’s Oncology Group

The Children’s Oncology Group (COG), a National Cancer Institute supported clinical trials group, is the world’s largest organization devoted exclusively to childhood and adolescent cancer research. The COG unites more than 9,000 experts in childhood cancer at more than 200 leading children’s hospitals, universities, and cancer centers across North America, Australia, New Zealand, and Europe.

Five pillars form the foundation of the COG: science, ethics, collaboration, participation, and responsibility. COG is structured as a triumvirate organization composed of the Group Chair, the Executive Committee, and the Voting Body. The Voting Body is comprised of the principal investigator from each COG member institution. In addition, the Scientific Council, led by the Group Chair, has a central role in the overall scientific direction of the COG. COG’s leadership structure is fully defined in the COG’s Constitution and By-Laws.

Today, more than 90 percent of 14,000 children and adolescents diagnosed with cancer each year in the United States are cared for at COG member institutions. COG’s unparalleled collaborative efforts provide the information and support needed to answer important clinical questions in the fight against cancer.

The COG’s research has turned children’s cancer from a virtually incurable disease 50 years ago to one with a combined five-year survival rate of 80 percent today. Our goal is to cure all children and adolescents with cancer, reduce the short and long-term complications of cancer treatments, and determine the causes and find ways to prevent childhood cancer.