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NEW – Time for Senators to Support Dedicated Pancreatic Cancer Research Funding
Today, our champions in the Senate launched a letter gathering support for renewed and continued dedicated funding for the Pancreatic Cancer Research Program (PCARP) at the Department of Defense (DoD).
We have just a few weeks to get as many senators as possible to sign that letter.
On Friday, the President’s Budget Request was released. You can find PanCAN’s response here. Like last year, the administration’s budget does not prioritize cancer research funding, which underscores why your advocacy is needed more than ever.
Every message sent and every voice raised to Congress helps move us closer to better treatments, earlier detection and more lives saved. Because of advocates like you, we’ve seen unprecedented momentum for pancreatic cancer research – and together, we won’t stop.
3/26/2026-A Record-Breaking Show of Support
Thanks to the relentless efforts of PanCAN advocates across the country, this year’s House Dear Colleague letter, supporting $25 million for the Pancreatic Cancer Research Program (PCARP) at the Department of Defense, garnered a record-breaking 127 signatures – thank you to the representatives who signed in support.
Even more powerful, this milestone reflects strong bipartisan support – a clear signal that improving outcomes for patients with pancreatic cancer is a shared priority.
To every advocate who took action and shared their story – thank you. Your voices are driving momentum at a critical time in the FY27 budget process. This achievement builds on the success we saw in FY26 and reinforces a simple truth: advocacy – your advocacy – works.
But our work isn’t over.
A strong, bipartisan House Dear Colleague letter is a major step forward, but it is only one part of a long process. We must continue to connect with lawmakers at every stage to ensure this support turns into the full $25 million appropriation for PCARP.
Next, we turn our focus to the Senate.
Soon, a Senate Dear Colleague letter will begin circulating, and we will once again call on our community to take action. Sustaining – and growing – this momentum is essential. Every connection and every story shared keeps pancreatic cancer top of mind for decision-makers.
This is a marathon, not a sprint. Progress takes persistence, and the stakes are too high to slow down now.
Together, we’ve proven what’s possible. Now, let’s keep going – for patients, for families and for the future we’re building.
3/05/2026-When We Act Together, We Change the Story
The federal government funds nearly 80% of all pancreatic cancer research. For pancreatic cancer — one of the deadliest cancers with a five-year survival rate stuck at 13% — federal investment is the backbone of progress.
Sustained, predictable and robust support for the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the National Cancer Institute (NCI), and the Pancreatic Cancer Research Program advance quality science that saves lives as these investments focus on research in earlier detection tools, innovative clinical trials and desperately needed treatments for patients.
We know our advocacy works.
In FY26, the PanCAN community — that’s you! — raised its voice and Congress listened. Lawmakers rejected proposed cuts and instead delivered increases for cancer research funding. That victory was not accidental. It was the direct result of passionate people contacting their members of Congress and demanding action.
It’s a new fiscal year for the federal government. So now, we must do it again.
In addition to protecting and increasing NIH and NCI funding, there is something we can do now. We are urging strong support for a bipartisan Dear Colleague letter circulating in the House that calls for $25 million for the Pancreatic Cancer Research Program at the Department of Defense.
Securing signatures on this letter is critical to ensuring continued, dedicated investment in pancreatic cancer research — and that only happens when Congress hears directly from us.
The stakes are too high for silence.
We proved in FY26 that when we act together, we change the story. Let’s re-engage, reach out to our members of Congress and fight for the funding patients deserve.
Take action today.
