Rathmell: A tough budget is an opportunity to make sure NCI is “doing what is best for the American public”

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

In Brief

UCLA researchers receive $7M NIH grant to launch trial for immunotherapy-related diabetes

UCLA researchers have received a grant worth up to $7 million over five years from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases to launch a first-in-human clinical trial evaluating whether drugs already used to treat autoimmune diseases can prevent or reverse immune checkpoint inhibitor-induced type 1 diabetes, a rare but often permanent complication of cancer immunotherapy.

September 18, 2026

Vol.52 No.34

Rathmell: A tough budget is an opportunity to make sure NCI is “doing what is best for the American public”

YOU MAY BE INTERESTED IN

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

UCLA researchers receive $7M NIH grant to launch trial for immunotherapy-related diabetes

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Rathmell: A tough budget is an opportunity to make sure NCI is “doing what is best for the American public”

YOU MAY BE INTERESTED IN

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

UCLA researchers receive $7M NIH grant to launch trial for immunotherapy-related diabetes

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.