Cancer Moonshot Program
Cancer is one of the leading causes of death worldwide each year according to the National Cancer Institute, and more than 1 million people each year are diagnosed with the disease in the United States, and President Joe Biden wants to do something about it.
What is Cancer Moonshot?
Back in 2016, then Vice President, Joe Biden introduced Cancer Moonshot. The program’s mission is to accelerate the rate of progress against cancer. The cancer and patient community and medical researchers responded with tremendous energy and ingenuity.
When first launched six years ago, Cancer Moonshot outlined three lofty goals:
1.) Accelerate scientific discovery in cancer
2.) Foster greater collaboration
3.) Improve the sharing of data
Fast forward to current times; in February, now President, Biden announced a reignition of the Cancer Moonshot, highlighting some new goals: to reduce the death rate from cancer by at least 50 percent over the next 25 years and improve the experience of people and their families living with and surviving cancer—and, by doing these and more, to end cancer as we know it today.
By focusing on areas of cancer research that are most likely to benefit patients because of the new investment, the Cancer Moonshot aims to bring together a large community of investigators and clinicians who are dedicated to expediting research to improve the lives of people with cancer and their families.
In the years since Moonshot was launched, progress and numerous scientific accomplishments have been made; things such as improving immunotherapy, advancing childhood cancer research, tumor mapping, early detection, patient engagement, addressing drug resistance, and collecting and sharing cancer data.
At this time, it is still unclear what the details of the next ‘phase’ of Moonshot and its priorities are but during Biden’s statement in February included references to advancing technologies that can lead to earlier diagnosis of cancers, and harnessing mRNA vaccines to target tumors. It also reiterated a commitment to data sharing.
How is Moonshot being funded?
The Cancer Moonshot was originally authorized through the 21st Century Cures Act (P.L. 114-255) in December 2016, which included $1.8 billion for the Moonshot over seven years. The NIH’s National Cancer Institute received $195 million through the Moonshot in fiscal year 2021. Biden’s February announcement did not specifically mention any new funds.
For Biden, whose son, Beau, died of brain cancer in 2015 at the age of 46, the reason has been personal. The president has talked about ending cancer throughout his campaign and presidency to date, saying it is a priority for him.
Sources:
https://www.cancer.gov/research/key-initiatives/moonshot-cancer-initiative/progress
