Teenager Advocated for Pediatric Cancer Research
Nashville teen Caroline Lantz has shared her medical journey to call for increased pediatric cancer research funding.
Updated on Sept. 26, 2026 in Cancer
Thirteen-year-old Caroline Lantz, a Nashville resident currently receiving treatment for recurring neuroblastoma, has become a vocal advocate for more federal research funding. She has navigated a decade of complex medical interventions since her initial diagnosis at age four.
Why it matters
The advocacy highlights that federal funding for pediatric cancer research remains limited to just 4 percent of the national total. Supporters argue this allocation is insufficient to develop the new drugs and treatments necessary to cure neuroblastoma.
Federal funding for pediatric cancer research is currently capped at 4 percent of total federal cancer research spending. Caroline Lantz has endured four separate neuroblastoma diagnoses and a 9-hour surgery as part of her treatment history.
The players
Caroline Lantz
A 13-year-old patient who has been diagnosed with neuroblastoma four times and is advocating for research funding.
Monroe Carell Jr. Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt
A prominent pediatric medical center in Nashville, Tennessee, where the patient receives her ongoing care.
The details
Caroline Lantz has undergone extensive medical procedures including chemotherapy, radiation, stem cell transplants, and multiple clinical trials while battling stage four solid tumor neuroblastoma. She is currently treated at the Monroe Carell Jr. Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt in Nashville.
Timeline
Caroline Lantz was first diagnosed with neuroblastoma in 2017.
This reporting on her advocacy and treatment occurred in September 2026.
Health Landscape
Current pediatric research advocacy challenges the long-standing allocation priorities established by the National Cancer Act of 1971. This shift reflects a broader push to prioritize rare childhood diseases within the federal biomedical research framework.
The push for higher funding levels aims to expand access to clinical trials and accelerate the development of new pediatric oncology drugs. For patients, this could eventually translate into more effective, targeted treatment options compared to existing standards.
The takeaway
Advocates emphasize that persistent federal funding gaps underscore the urgent need for more specialized resources for childhood cancer. Families facing similar diagnoses are encouraged to explore clinical trial databases to remain informed about experimental treatment options.
Further reading
Learn more about advancements in treatments at the Cancer research center.
Source note: This article includes information reported by News Channel 5 Nashville (WTVF).
