Economic Modeling in Pediatric Oncology

Exciting and promising novel strategies are being developed for the diagnosis, screening and management of pediatric cancers. Due to their novelty, the evidence base around these strategies mostly centers around short term clinical effectiveness while their cost-effectiveness is largely unknown. Clinical and policy makers require some understanding of the long term effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of such strategies to decide on their use in clinical practice and for reimbursement purposes. Our research program develops simulation methods to estimate such long-term effects and costs associated with pediatric oncology strategies using a wide evidence base (clinical trials, registry data, expert opinion etc.). This talk will i) outline the methods used in economic modeling, ii) provide some examples of applied work in pediatric oncology and iii) discuss future directions and ways to streamline economic modeling within pediatric oncology.