It’s been a year since President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden, EdD, reignited the Cancer Moonshot. The goal, set at that time, was to end cancer as we know it today. More specifically, to reduce the death rate (by at least 50% over the next 25 years) and improve the lives of people living with cancer.
The President determined five key priority areas: (1) close the screening gap, (2) understand and address environmental exposure, (3) decrease the impact of preventable cancers, (4) bring cutting-edge research through the pipeline to patients and communities, and (5) support patients and caregivers.
Now, the White House is announcing new actions to bring that goal into better focus. Here, we have provided a summary. For more information on each action, please read the White House’s Fact Sheet.
The Cancer Cabinet is taking the following new actions:
- National Cancer Institute (NCI) is launching a first-of-its-kind, public-private partnership to bring clinical and patient navigation support to families facing childhood cancer.
- Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) is awarding $10 million to improve access to lifesaving cancer screenings and early detection including patient navigation support services.
- HHS is launching “CancerX,” a Public-Private Partnership developed as a national accelerator to boost innovation in the fight against cancer.
The public and private sector is stepping up with the following new actions:
Promoting cancer prevention
- National Minority Quality Forum (NMQF) is launching local community-based activities to increase cancer screenings in at-risk communities.
- Supergoop! is committing to donating SPF sunscreen to schools and communities across the country to encourage children to start protecting their skin at a young age.
Supporting patients and caregivers through their cancer fight
- American Cancer Society and the Richard M. Schulze Family Foundation launched a $10 million challenge grant to benefit five American Cancer Society Hope Lodges.
- Colorectal Cancer Alliance is launching BlueHQ, the first-of-its-kind comprehensive support hub for patients, survivors, and caregivers to navigate colorectal cancer.
- New coalition launches to address the obstacles rural patient communities face accessing care.
Bringing cancer screening to more communities
- Prevent Cancer Foundation to launch “Early Detection = Better Outcomes” campaign to improve knowledge and completion of recommended cancer screenings.
- Siemens Healthineers is committing to addressing cancer screening disparities in underserved regions.
Driving research advances through data sharing and clinical trial expansion
- CancerLinQ and Owkin are pursuing a new research collaboration to improve the care of patients with metastatic non-small cell lung cancer.
- Hyundai Hope On Wheels is awarding nearly $15 million to accelerate pediatric cancer research and treatments.
- Susan G. Komen is committing resources to improve outcomes and expanding services for the breast cancer community.
