(20 ILCS 2310/2310-349)

Sec. 2310-349. The Childhood Cancer Research Board.

(a) The Childhood Cancer Research Board is created as an advisory board within the Department. The Board shall consist of 11 members as follows: 2 members appointed by the President of the Senate; one member appointed by the Minority Leader of the Senate; 2 members appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives; one member appointed by the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives; 2 members appointed by the Governor, one of whom shall be designated as chair of the Board at the time of appointment; and 2 members appointed by the Director. The Director, or his or her designee, shall serve as an ex officio member of the Board. Members appointed under this Section shall be experts in pediatric cancer or members of the General Assembly; however, no appointing authority may appoint more than one member of the General Assembly to serve during the same term. For the purposes of this Section, an "expert in pediatric cancer" is defined as a physician or scientist who (i) holds a position of leadership in an internationally recognized program of pediatric cancer research at the time of his or her appointment, or (ii) is a fully tenured professor at an institution of higher education. In addition, an expert in pediatric cancer must possess at least one of the following qualifications:

(1) a strong track record of publication;

(2) participation in a federally-funded pediatric cancer research program;

(3) a leadership role in a national cancer research society, including the American Society of Hematology, the American Association of Cancer Research, or the American Society of Clinical Oncology; and

(4) participation in a National Cancer Institute or American Cancer Society study section.

The Board members shall serve one 2-year term. If a vacancy occurs in the Board membership, the vacancy shall be filled in the same manner as the initial appointment.

(b) Board members shall serve without compensation and shall not be reimbursed for necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their duties unless funds become available to the Board. The Department shall provide staff and administrative support services to the Board.

(c) The Board must review grant applications, make recommendations and comments, and consult with the Department of Public Health in making grants from amounts appropriated from the Childhood Cancer Research Fund to public or private not-for-profit entities for the purpose of conducting childhood cancer research in accordance with Section 6z-93 of the State Finance Act.

(d) Grants shall be awarded to research projects that fall within the following categories:

(1) understanding the basic biology of specific pediatric cancers using cellular and animal models;

(2) pre-clinical studies that translate basic observations into novel diagnostics or therapeutic agents specific to pediatric cancer; or

(3) support of Phase I clinical trials of new agents developed at Illinois institutions.

(e) The Board shall make its recommendations to the Department no later than March 1 of the year after the application is received.

(Source: P.A. 98-464, eff. 1-1-14.)