With Year One metrics in hand, Letai is ready to “bring it home” in Year Two “I hope I don’t see any more reports of NCI cutting funding, because it just is not consistent with the facts”

The Directors: Two Gulf Coast cancer center directors on why NCI designation matters—and why they want it
Lucio Miele and Raghu Kalluri: Science and technology have changed what an aspiring cancer center must accomplish

What should a cancer center look like in an era of AI, genomics, complex patient populations, rising costs, and declining public trust in science?

September 25, 2026

Vol.52 No.35

By Claire Marie Porter and Paul Goldberg

Cancer Policy

NCI launches AI tool to help match patients to clinical trials

NCI Director Anthony Letai announced the development of TrialMatch, an AI tool that helps oncologists identify clinical trials for their 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”

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

Cancer Policy

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

UCLA researchers receive $3.9M NCI grant to boost the effectiveness of cancer immunotherapy

Cristina Puig-Saus, an associate professor of microbiology, immunology and molecular genetics and surgical oncology at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA and an investigator at the UCLA Health Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center, and her research team have received a five-year, $3.9 million grant from NCI to develop drug-based strategies that could enhance cancer immunotherapy for patients with melanoma and potentially other types of cancer.

August 07, 2026

Vol.52 No.31

With Year One metrics in hand, Letai is ready to “bring it home” in Year Two

“I hope I don’t see any more reports of NCI cutting funding, because it just is not consistent with the facts”

YOU MAY BE INTERESTED IN

The Directors: Two Gulf Coast cancer center directors on why NCI designation matters—and why they want it
Lucio Miele and Raghu Kalluri: Science and technology have changed what an aspiring cancer center must accomplish

NCI launches AI tool to help match patients to clinical trials

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”

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

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

UCLA researchers receive $3.9M NCI grant to boost the effectiveness of cancer immunotherapy

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With Year One metrics in hand, Letai is ready to “bring it home” in Year Two

“I hope I don’t see any more reports of NCI cutting funding, because it just is not consistent with the facts”

YOU MAY BE INTERESTED IN

The Directors: Two Gulf Coast cancer center directors on why NCI designation matters—and why they want itLucio Miele and Raghu Kalluri: Science and technology have changed what an aspiring cancer center must accomplish

NCI launches AI tool to help match patients to clinical trials

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”

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

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

UCLA researchers receive $3.9M NCI grant to boost the effectiveness of cancer immunotherapy

Never miss an issue!

Login

The Directors: Two Gulf Coast cancer center directors on why NCI designation matters—and why they want it
Lucio Miele and Raghu Kalluri: Science and technology have changed what an aspiring cancer center must accomplish

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”