According to a recent survey commissioned by Research!America, 92 percent of Americans across the political spectrum believe that faster medical progress should be a key priority of the president and Congress. Yet hundreds of millions of dollars in grant funding are being slashed from the budgets of American research institutions, stalling progress against cancer and other chronic diseases.
Our nation has demonstrated its commitment to medical research for more than a century through its support of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Since President Nixon and Congress passed the National Cancer Act in 1971, American cancer research has been fortified by strong bipartisan congressional support of both the NIH and the National Cancer Institute (NCI). But in a matter of weeks, drastic funding cuts have decimated our national research infrastructure.
NIH and NCI funding fuels discovery and empowers our country’s 72 NCI-Designated Cancer Centers to deliver high-quality care nationwide—from hard-to-reach rural and frontier areas to densely populated urban neighborhoods—enabling Americans to live longer, healthier lives. In fact, advancements in cancer prevention, screening, and treatment supported by robust federal funding have led to a 34 percent decline in cancer mortality between 1991 and 2022. But despite decades of progress, cancer remains a formidable challenge. Half of all men and one-third of all women in the U.S. will be diagnosed with cancer in their lifetime – and over 2 million Americans will receive a cancer diagnosis this year.
These statistics represent real people: our family members, our friends, our neighbors – and ourselves. Disruptions and cuts to cancer research funding waste precious time as breakthroughs—and even cures—are delayed. For patients with cancer, these delays could mean the difference between life and death.
But they are not the only Americans who will suffer. Cancer programs affiliated with universities and research centers educate future scientists and employ laboratory technicians, custodians, cafeteria workers, and other staff whose jobs are at risk or have already been eliminated. Conversely, recent data from United for Medical Research show that every dollar invested in NIH research funding generates $2.56 in local economic activity. Early detection even saves money, as cancer diagnosed at later stages is 2 to 4 times more expensive to treat than the same cancer detected at an earlier stage. While funding cuts stifle economic growth and innovation, investment in cancer research pays dividends in economic prosperity, increased survivorship, and improved quality of life.
The Association of American Cancer Institutes (AACI) urges the swift restoration of federal grant funding to U.S. cancer programs and research institutions. The future of cancer research is at stake – and so are the lives and livelihoods of millions of Americans.
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