House bill gives NCI $7.4 billion in FY 2027—$110 million above current budget

36 months to live, 29 months to wait. Why is Congress withholding lifesaving benefits from breast cancer patients?

In this episode of The Cancer Letter Podcast, Fran Visco, president of the National Breast Cancer Coalition, and Jacquelyn Cobb, managing editor of The Cancer Letter, discuss the Metastatic Breast Cancer Act, bipartisan legislation that would eliminate the waiting periods for Social Security Disability Insurance and Medicare for eligible people with metastatic breast cancer.

September 23, 2026

NCI

Letai takes a swipe at “ill-informed commentators,” as he lays out his scientific vision for NCI
“To my knowledge, 100% of grants that clear my desk get funded”

As of the end of August, NCI has selected 1,891 competing awards for funding this fiscal year, all of which will be funded by the year’s end, NCI Director Anthony G. Letai said to the National Cancer Advisory Board.

September 18, 2026

Vol.52 No.34

By Claire Marie Porter

The end of “more money, more people, more trials”
Cancer centers are being asked to grow their portfolios on flat budgets. Headcount is the wrong answer.

Congress settled the FY26 question in February, with NCI receiving $7.352 billion, an increase of $128 million over the prior year. After a year in which cancer center directors spent an extraordinary share of their leadership attention defending the research enterprise, that outcome deserves to be called what it was: a win.

Letai shares weekly musings in NCI’s new “Tuesdays with Tony” series

This summer, NCI launched a weekly social media series hosted by Director Anthony Letai.

September 18, 2026

Vol.52 No.34

In Brief

Senthil K. Muthuswamy named director of NCI’s Center for Cancer Research

Following a national search, NCI has selected Senthil K. Muthuswamy as the next director of the Center for Cancer Research. He assumed the role July 26.

September 18, 2026

Vol.52 No.34

In Brief

UNC researchers receive $40M grant to use AI to help develop cancer vaccines

UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center has received $40 million from the OpenAI Foundation, the non-profit parent organization that governs the for-profit company OpenAI Group PBC, to generate data that could make personalized cancer vaccines more effective.

September 18, 2026

Vol.52 No.34

House bill gives NCI $7.4 billion in FY 2027—$110 million above current budget

YOU MAY BE INTERESTED IN

36 months to live, 29 months to wait. Why is Congress withholding lifesaving benefits from breast cancer patients?

Letai takes a swipe at “ill-informed commentators,” as he lays out his scientific vision for NCI
“To my knowledge, 100% of grants that clear my desk get funded”

The end of “more money, more people, more trials”
Cancer centers are being asked to grow their portfolios on flat budgets. Headcount is the wrong answer.

Letai shares weekly musings in NCI’s new “Tuesdays with Tony” series

Senthil K. Muthuswamy named director of NCI’s Center for Cancer Research

UNC researchers receive $40M grant to use AI to help develop cancer vaccines

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House bill gives NCI $7.4 billion in FY 2027—$110 million above current budget

YOU MAY BE INTERESTED IN

36 months to live, 29 months to wait. Why is Congress withholding lifesaving benefits from breast cancer patients?

Letai takes a swipe at “ill-informed commentators,” as he lays out his scientific vision for NCI“To my knowledge, 100% of grants that clear my desk get funded”

The end of “more money, more people, more trials”Cancer centers are being asked to grow their portfolios on flat budgets. Headcount is the wrong answer.

Letai shares weekly musings in NCI’s new “Tuesdays with Tony” series

Senthil K. Muthuswamy named director of NCI’s Center for Cancer Research

UNC researchers receive $40M grant to use AI to help develop cancer vaccines

Never miss an issue!

Login

Letai takes a swipe at “ill-informed commentators,” as he lays out his scientific vision for NCI
“To my knowledge, 100% of grants that clear my desk get funded”

The end of “more money, more people, more trials”
Cancer centers are being asked to grow their portfolios on flat budgets. Headcount is the wrong answer.