Cancer research and care is advancing at a stunning pace. More people survive malignancies today than ever before, and each year brings less taxing and more effective treatments for a growing list of cancers. Yet for far too many cancer patients the disease poses an insurmountable challenge, and it remains a leading cause of death in most regions of the world. In recognition of this reality, the White House today announced the launch of a $1 billion National Cancer Moonshot initiative that will provide dedicated funding for research to improve the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of cancers.
The President and Vice President’s support for this cause is gratifying to scientists at Ludwig Cancer Research, who are themselves dedicated to transforming prevention and treatment for the many forms of this deadly disease. Many of the fields highlighted by the initiative—immunotherapy, cancer vaccines, genomics, early detection and prevention—are areas in which Ludwig has long played a leading, and even pioneering, role.
The Administration’s initiative is important, and deserves to be sustained for the long term. Furthermore, it is also critical that the funds be dispersed in a manner that gives researchers the reliable support they require to refine, assess and apply their insights to cancer prevention and care.
We applaud President Obama and Vice President Biden for their commitment to this cause.