Trump administration seeks to slash NIH by roughly 40% as 27 institutes and centers are whittled down to eight NCI to remain intact, but its finances are uncertain; FDA is spared big cuts

The Directors: UPMC’s Byrd and Jefferson’s Chapman speak about avoiding catastrophism and using bridge funding to keep labs open
“There’s a tightening of the belt, and when the belt gets tightened, it has downstream effects.”

In recent months, several directors of cancer centers, appearing on The Directors, a segment of The Cancer Letter Podcast, mentioned that their institutions are increasingly providing small grants—typically in the range of $50,000—to scientists to enable them to keep their labs open.

April 24, 2026

Vol.52 No.16

By Claire Marie Porter and Paul Goldberg

NCI

At AACR, Letai announces prevention and screening project for southern Appalachia, describes a future without paylines
There’s “clear evidence that funding is moving and the system is working.”

Tucked in at the end of a 20-minute talk that covered paylines, promising young investigators, and precision medicine, NCI Director Anthony G. Letai beefed up the alliteration with two more words that begin with a “p”: prevention and pilot.

Kennedy hints at intended USPSTF reforms at Senate Finance Committee hearing

At the Senate Finance Committee hearing on April 22, Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. hinted at how he intends to reform the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, a highly respected, independent organization that weighs evidence to make recommendations on screening for diseases.

April 24, 2026

Vol.52 No.16

By Claire Marie Porter

Cancer Policy

Senators press Kennedy to release details on Most Favored Nation drug deals

HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. testified before two Senate committees on April 22 as part of a final “blitz” of congressional budget hearings.

April 24, 2026

Vol.52 No.16

By Claire Marie Porter

Cancer History Project Editorial

Calabresi’s “Cancer at a Crossroads” report was the first step toward historic doubling of the NIH budget
Fox Chase’s Winn contemplates Crossroads 2.0

At a lecture at Yale Cancer Center recently, Robert A. Winn brandished a copy of a 32-year old booklet titled “Cancer at a Crossroads: A Report to Congress for the Nation,” using it as a show-and-tell prop in arguing that America’s cancer program is once again at a crossroads and therefore in urgent need of strategic thinking (The Cancer Letter, April 10, 2026).

ACIP charter is renewed as meetings remain on indefinite hold

The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, or ACIP, renewed its charter April 6. In an announcement in the Federal Register, new criteria for ACIP members were rolled out with a focus on “geographical balance” and a “balance of speciality areas.”

April 17, 2026

Vol.52 No.15

By Jacquelyn Cobb

Trump administration seeks to slash NIH by roughly 40% as 27 institutes and centers are whittled down to eight

NCI to remain intact, but its finances are uncertain; FDA is spared big cuts

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The Directors: UPMC’s Byrd and Jefferson’s Chapman speak about avoiding catastrophism and using bridge funding to keep labs open
“There’s a tightening of the belt, and when the belt gets tightened, it has downstream effects.”

At AACR, Letai announces prevention and screening project for southern Appalachia, describes a future without paylines
There’s “clear evidence that funding is moving and the system is working.”

Kennedy hints at intended USPSTF reforms at Senate Finance Committee hearing

Senators press Kennedy to release details on Most Favored Nation drug deals

Calabresi’s “Cancer at a Crossroads” report was the first step toward historic doubling of the NIH budget
Fox Chase’s Winn contemplates Crossroads 2.0

ACIP charter is renewed as meetings remain on indefinite hold

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Trump administration seeks to slash NIH by roughly 40% as 27 institutes and centers are whittled down to eight

NCI to remain intact, but its finances are uncertain; FDA is spared big cuts

YOU MAY BE INTERESTED IN

The Directors: UPMC’s Byrd and Jefferson’s Chapman speak about avoiding catastrophism and using bridge funding to keep labs open“There’s a tightening of the belt, and when the belt gets tightened, it has downstream effects.”

At AACR, Letai announces prevention and screening project for southern Appalachia, describes a future without paylinesThere’s “clear evidence that funding is moving and the system is working.”

Kennedy hints at intended USPSTF reforms at Senate Finance Committee hearing

Senators press Kennedy to release details on Most Favored Nation drug deals

Calabresi’s “Cancer at a Crossroads” report was the first step toward historic doubling of the NIH budgetFox Chase’s Winn contemplates Crossroads 2.0

ACIP charter is renewed as meetings remain on indefinite hold

Never miss an issue!

Login

The Directors: UPMC’s Byrd and Jefferson’s Chapman speak about avoiding catastrophism and using bridge funding to keep labs open
“There’s a tightening of the belt, and when the belt gets tightened, it has downstream effects.”

At AACR, Letai announces prevention and screening project for southern Appalachia, describes a future without paylines
There’s “clear evidence that funding is moving and the system is working.”

Calabresi’s “Cancer at a Crossroads” report was the first step toward historic doubling of the NIH budget
Fox Chase’s Winn contemplates Crossroads 2.0