Letai: Perceptions aside, money is flowing and the cancer research infrastructure is sturdy NCI expects record-breaking spending on extramural research

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.

April 24, 2026

Vol.52 No.16

By Sara Willa Ernst

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).

Health groups urge Bhattacharya, in his position of acting CDC director, to restore staff in the Office on Smoking and Health

A coalition of public health groups sent a formal letter to NIH Director and Acting CDC Director Jay Bhattacharya April 15 highlighting the need for the immediate restoration of full staffing and resources to the CDC’s Office on Smoking and Health.

Cancer Center at Illinois is recognized as NCI Basic Cancer Center, becoming the first new institution to earn this designation in 40 years

The Cancer Center at Illinois was designated as a Basic Cancer Center by NCI.

April 17, 2026

Vol.52 No.15

In Brief

Sen. Susan Collins and patient advocate Jill Feldman are recognized with AACR Distinguished Service Awards

The American Association for Cancer Research will honor leaders from government and the advocacy community with awards for distinguished service in support of cancer research at the AACR Annual Meeting 2026 to be held April 17-22 in San Diego.

April 17, 2026

Vol.52 No.15

Letai: Perceptions aside, money is flowing and the cancer research infrastructure is sturdy

NCI expects record-breaking spending on extramural research

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 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

Health groups urge Bhattacharya, in his position of acting CDC director, to restore staff in the Office on Smoking and Health

Cancer Center at Illinois is recognized as NCI Basic Cancer Center, becoming the first new institution to earn this designation in 40 years

Sen. Susan Collins and patient advocate Jill Feldman are recognized with AACR Distinguished Service Awards

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Letai: Perceptions aside, money is flowing and the cancer research infrastructure is sturdy

NCI expects record-breaking spending on extramural research

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.”

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

Health groups urge Bhattacharya, in his position of acting CDC director, to restore staff in the Office on Smoking and Health

Cancer Center at Illinois is recognized as NCI Basic Cancer Center, becoming the first new institution to earn this designation in 40 years

Sen. Susan Collins and patient advocate Jill Feldman are recognized with AACR Distinguished Service Awards

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