John Burklow replaced by Seana Cranston as NIH chief of staff

George Weiner: Cancer centers are special, as are site visits in CCSG review

The cancer center program of the NCI is a success that is admired not only within the NIH but worldwide. This is due, in large part, to the cancer center review process that has evolved and strengthened over the years.

Cyber-iconoclast Vinay Prasad named head of FDA’s CBER
An oncologist, Prasad has criticized accelerated approval, next-gen sequencing, and targeted therapies

Vinay Prasad, a MAHA-aligned hematologist-oncologist with an avid cyber following, was named director of the FDA Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, where he will be responsible for the agency’s regulation of vaccines and biologics, including cell and gene therapies.

May 09, 2025

Vol.51 No.18

By Claire Marie Porter

Cancer Policy

Bhattacharya cancels NIH all-hands meeting

In an interview with Science, NIH Director Jay Bhattacharya said that his time at the NIH has been a “tough period”—especially for him.

NIH to update policies and practices, halting subawards to foreign entities

In a statement issued on May 1, NIH said it’s immediately halting most new grant awards to foreign partners working in US-led research consortia.

May 09, 2025

Vol.51 No.18

By Claire Marie Porter

Cancer Policy

AACR calls on Congress to reject Trump’s FY2026 budget request for NIH

The American Association for Cancer Research called on Congress to stand up in unified opposition to President Trump’s FY2026 budget proposal for NIH, and to instead allocate a robust funding increase to $51.3 billion for the NIH (The Cancer Letter, May 2, 2025).

May 09, 2025

Vol.51 No.18

By Jacquelyn Cobb