WASHINGTON, D.C. – July 27, 2023 –The Senate Appropriations Committee on Labor Health and Human Services advanced legislation today that increases spending levels for federal cancer research funding, continuing our nation’s bipartisan investment in the space.
The Senate spending bill allocates $47.8 billion for the National Institutes of Health (NIH) that includes $12.5 million for a new palliative care research program, a critical aspect of the Palliative Care and Hospice Education Act (PCHETA). The bill also includes $7.38 billion for the National Cancer Institute (NCI), maintaining the $216 million funding for the Cancer Moonshot and increasing funding by $60 million, and includes $1.5 billion for the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H) and and $409.6 million for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) cancer screening programs, in line with FY23 levels.
“In light of existing budget caps, we recognize and appreciate the Committee’s bipartisan efforts to commit to an increase in our nation’s critical investment in cancer research and are pleased to see new funds dedicated to palliative care research. To truly prioritize cancer discovery to end cancer as we know it for everyone, Congress must provide robust and increased funding for cancer research to continue our trajectory to continue to drive down the cancer death rate,” said Lisa Lacasse, President of the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN). “Scientific demand has far outpaced the budget for our leading research institutions. Only by increasing funding for these lifesaving institutions can we continue to save lives and protect our nation’s status as a leader in global research.”
Cancer research in particular is one of the most dynamic areas of scientific research within NIH. Between FY 2013 and FY 2022, the number of unique RO1/R36 grant applications to NCI rose by 45% while rising by 20% for all other Institutes.
“To truly yield the much needed cancer treatments of tomorrow, we must adequately support the research of today,” added Lacasse. “It’s critical we grow funding to accelerate a lasting, tangible impact in the fight against cancer – both through investment in cancer research and in evidence-based cancer prevention and early detection programs. We urge Congress to build on the Committee’s funding levels to $51 billion for NIH, $9.9 for NCI and $472.4 million for CDC cancer programs.”