Portage Biotech, NCI, Stimunity enter cooperative R&D agreement to develop STING agonists and anti-RAGE agents for cancer vaccines

George Sigounas named the first-ever chief science advisor at NCI

George Sigounas, an expert in bone marrow transplantation, was named to the newly created post of chief science advisor at NCI.

Success rates for RPGs at NCI would plummet from 13.4% to 8.3% if Trump’s FY2026 budget is enacted

Congressional Justifications displaying the details of the President Trump’s budget request for the fiscal year 2026 show that the success rates for Research Project Grants at NCI would plummet from 13.4% in FY2024 to 8.3% during the next fiscal year.

FDA booth stood empty at 2025 ASCO annual meeting

Booth 10025 became an unlikely crowd magnet at the exhibit hall at the annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology that ended earlier this week.

ALT GOV: The HHS “resistance” on social media

After a sequence of events that unfolded publicly on NCI’s Instagram feed May 28, RIFed and “retired” members of the NCI communications team took to the independent social media platform BlueSky, creating an alternative and anonymous social media presence.

June 06, 2025

Vol.51 No.22

By Claire Marie Porter

Clinical Trials & Tribulations

Surviving cancer is often not a patient’s most challenging battle

With advances in treatment and screening for earlier detection, oncologists have improved cancer survival rates dramatically. That is excellent news, but the surging number of survivors means it is increasingly important for providers to focus more diligently on what patients need to thrive after treatment.

A farewell post by an unidentified NCI employee triggers an accusation of “undermining the Trump administration”

In the morning of May 28, presumably before turning off the lights and closing the office door, someone at the now defunct NCI Office of Communications and Public Liaision decided to post a farewell message to the cancer community. The message, posted on multiple social media accounts, read: We’re taking a pause here - but...

May 30, 2025

Vol.51 No.21

By Jacquelyn Cobb