Building Canada’s pediatric rare disease clinical trial and treatment network
RareKids-CAN accelerates the development and access to pediatric rare disease clinical trials and innovative treatments across Canada.
Only a small fraction of rare diseases have approved treatments and RareKids-CAN is working to change that by advancing clinical trial readiness and expanding opportunities to receive cutting-edge therapies.
Mission
Advancing pediatric rare disease research and treatment through cross-jurisdictional collaboration – strengthening trial readiness, connecting patients and sites, and driving regulatory innovation to improve access to advanced therapies for children and families across Canada.
Vision
To ensure that every child, adolescent, and young adult in Canada affected by rare diseases has access to effective and innovative treatments.
Our strategy
RareKids-CAN’s 2025–2029 Strategic Plan outlines a national approach to strengthening pediatric rare disease clinical trials and improving access to innovative therapies for children and families across Canada. The strategy is focused on three priorities:
1
Strengthening pediatric rare disease clinical trial capacity and advanced therapy medicinal product readiness
2
Optimizing participant, site, and trial matching
3
Driving regulatory reform and system innovation
What we do
Connect the community
We bring together researchers, healthcare teams, patients and families, and industry partners to simplify pediatric rare disease research across Canada.
Build research capacity
We strengthen Canada’s rare disease research ecosystem to improve health equity, reduce travel burdens, and accelerate access to promising therapies for children.
Make research easier to access
We connect patients, families, healthcare professionals, researchers, and sponsors through shared expertise, streamlined processes, and improved clinical trial support.
Advance research readiness
We improve research readiness, clinical trial matching, and policy frameworks to help more children access research opportunities sooner.
Our network
16
Pediatric research institutions
16
Clinical Trial Navigators
40+
Patient partners
180+
Research experts
Get to know the team
RareKids-CAN is powered by a national team of executive leadership, a coordinating hub, Clinical Trial Navigators, patient partners and sub-platform leads working collaboratively to support and advance pediatric rare disease clinical trials across Canada.
Join our network of collaborators
Learn more about the organizations, institutions, and partners working alongside RareKids-CAN to advance pediatric rare disease research across Canada.
