U.S. Vice President Biden Outlines Strategic Plan, Progress On Cancer Moonshot Initiative; Funding Remains In Question

The Hill: Biden outlines five-year plan for ‘cancer moonshot’
“…Speaking at the White House on Monday, [Vice President Joe] Biden delivered a powerful plea to dozens of the nation’s top cancer doctors, urging them to strive for cures despite ‘skeptics’ and uncertainty. … Biden lost his oldest son to cancer last year and has led the White House’s ‘cancer moonshot’ push since January. The task force, which includes top government scientists and private researchers, released a long-awaited report Monday laying out five years’ worth of goals…” (Ferris, 10/17).

The Hill: Biden: ‘Trust me’ on Congress funding cancer research
“Vice President Biden on Monday hinted that GOP leaders in Congress have already agreed to ‘significant increases’ in cancer research funding later this year. ‘Congress is stepping up. Trust me,’ Biden told some of the nation’s leading cancer researchers at an event at the White House…” (Ferris, 10/17).

Reuters: White House report outlines push to bolster cancer research
“U.S. Vice President Joseph Biden’s cancer moonshot initiative to speed the develop of cancer treatments has made some important strides such as increased information sharing among researchers but still faces challenges in many areas, according to a report on Monday…” (Clark/Rascoe, 10/17).

Roll Call: Biden Presents ‘Moonshot’ Task Force Report
“…The program has yet to receive any federally appropriated money. Neither of the pertinent spending bills for next year that the Senate and House Appropriations committees approved included funding directly for the moonshot initiative. Both, however, did increase funds for the National Cancer Institute and the NIH more broadly…” (Williams, 10/17).

ScienceInsider: Biden’s moonshot cancer plan calls for more data sharing
“…Biden and his wife, Jill, have met with thousands of experts and patient advocates, they explain in a 17-page strategic plan submitted to President Barack Obama … Obama has requested $755 million to carry out the moonshot, including $680 million for NCI. That funding could be folded into the annual appropriations bill to fund the National Institutes of Health or be part of several measures aimed at speeding medical innovation that Congress may take up after the election…” (Kaiser, 10/17).

Washington Post: Biden’s final ‘cancer moonshot’ report outlines progress and hurdles
“…As for the moonshot’s future with a new administration, Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton has said that she would like to continue it and would welcome Biden’s advice. Donald Trump, the Republican nominee, hasn’t commented on the matter. Biden said recently that he’d like to remain active, but not from inside the government…” (McGinley, 10/17).

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