Advocacy in Action:
Funding Research. Improving Patient Lives.
There is nothing more powerful than your voice when it comes to influencing members of Congress. Federal funding for lifesaving cancer research is the key to unlocking breakthroughs to increase survival.
Although plenty still needs to be done, we have accomplished so much thanks to the determination of our advocates.
Here is a list of some of the many accomplishments our advocates have achieved over the years:
2011: We secured the inclusion of pancreatic cancer in the Department of Defense's (DoD) Peer-Reviewed Cancer Research Program, and retained pancreatic cancer in the program every year since – resulting in 40 pancreatic cancer research grants for a total of $15 million to date.
2012: We led the efforts for Congress to pass the Recalcitrant Cancer Research Act, which resulted in a greater focus on pancreatic cancer at the National Cancer Institute (NCI). This critical law required the NCI to develop and implement a national framework for advancing key research strategies to improve patient outcomes.
2014: In the first year that the Recalcitrant Cancer Research Act was implemented, NCI funding for pancreatic cancer increased by $20 million to $122 million.
2016: Congress passed the 21st Century Cures Act, which authorized Congress to create a new funding stream for the National Institutes of Health (NIH), specifically $4.8 billion in new funding for the NIH over the next 10 years – with $1.8 billion for the National Cancer Moonshot Initiative over the next seven years.
2017: Our advocacy efforts resulted in Congress increasing funding for the DoD's Peer Reviewed Cancer Research Program from $50 million to $60 million – a 20 percent increase from the prior year.
2017: For the second year in a row, we secured a $2 billion increase in funding for the NIH in FY17. After years of flat funding or decreases, Congress approved the first $2 billion increase for FY16.
Our grassroots network increased tenfold since 2007 and continues to grow year after year. Congress knows we are national force with passionate advocates that take their message directly to their government officials.
2018: For the fourth year in a row, Congress worked in a bipartisan manner to provide a robust increase for medical research funding. For FY18 Congress passed a $3 billion increase for the NIH and in FY19, $2 billion – and passed the funding for the agency on time! The continued investment in Congress to fund lifesaving cancer research is a testament to the power of advocacy!
Special Thanks To
