Today, the President’s budget request (PBR) was released, and while the PBR is just that – a request – it signals the administration’s priorities for the coming fiscal year 2027, and once again, it demonstrates that biomedical research funding is not a priority for the administration.

We are disappointed to see a proposal that would cut funding for the National Institutes of Health (NIH), which funds the National Cancer Institute (NCI), by more than $5 billion or 12%, threatening the pace of lifesaving cancer research.

Like last year, the administration’s budget does not prioritize cancer research funding. However, last year, we raised our voices, and in the recently passed FY26 spending bills, Congress, in a bipartisan manner, prioritized patients – rejecting cuts and instead providing increases for overall biomedical research and cancer research. That action demonstrated a shared commitment to strengthening the medical research field and delivering hope to families facing pancreatic cancer and other deadly diseases.

We are grateful that last year Congress worked to protect and advance research funding. So, once again we will call on them to prioritize patients as they work through the FY27 appropriations process. Your voice matters!

PanCAN firmly believes the backbone of the research ecosystem – and a key to making advances in pancreatic cancer – is the NCI, which funds 80% of pancreatic cancer research. Ensuring it has the workforce, policies and sustained funding necessary to fulfill its mission must remain a national priority.

We also urge Congress to continue using its oversight and leadership roles to ensure appropriated dollars are fully and effectively spent and that policy changes do not unintentionally undermine the number of funded research proposals.

The PanCAN community will rise to the occasion once again. Together, we’ll work with Congress to ensure progress continues – and that hope is never put on hold.