A group of more than 50 cancer research-focused organizations are urging Congress to include $10 billion in emergency funding to restart cancer research and clinical trials at the National Institutes of Health stalled by the coronavirus pandemic.
In a letter sent to lawmakers, members of the One Voice Against Cancer coalition say without the additional resources in the forthcoming American Jobs Plan, promising research will languish and potentially be lost entirely.
“The pandemic’s impact on cancer research has been severe. Early shutdowns forced research to come to an abrupt halt, and restarting trials has required implementing new protocols, procuring personal protective equipment and sometimes restarting work altogether that otherwise could not be resumed,” Lisa Lacasse, president of the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, said in a statement. “The cost of these disruptions has been significant and threatens to jeopardize progress in the effort to reduce our country’s cancer burden for years to come.”
“Clinical trials are often the best and sometimes only course of treatment for patients in need of care. On behalf of all cancer patients, survivors and their families, we urge Congress to include this additional NIH funding in the American Jobs Plan and ensure medical research can keep moving forward without delay.”
