On Wednesday, the White House announced a $240 million investment in the fight against cancer as well as a plethora of new health resources to advance the administration’s “Cancer Moonshot” project.
Researchers working on cancer prevention, detection, treatment, and survival projects will receive funding through the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health, which was established last year based on a proposal from President Joe Biden. Projects funded under this program include efforts to detect cancers earlier, better see cancer cells during surgery, and “design devices that may deliver treatments straight to cancer cells to treat tumors more efficiently” according to the White House.
On Wednesday afternoon, Biden met with his “Cancer Cabinet” advisory committee, which he established last year, to go over the most recent initiatives.
In statements made prior to the meeting, Biden stated that fighting cancer brings people together no matter where they are, whether they are meeting with people at local events or meeting with foreign leaders.
Nearly two dozen members of the administration attended the conference, including Shalanda Young, the director of the Office of Management and Budget, and secretaries from the Departments of Energy, Health and Human Services, and the Office of Management and Budget. Jill Biden, the first lady, spoke to the cabinet after the president.
The first lady stated during her remarks, “For Joe and for me, this is the purpose of our lives, and we look forward to discussing with all of you the ways I may assist advance and lift up your work.”
In addition to the $240 million investment, the White House unveiled fresh initiatives for smoking prevention and cessation.
The White House has described SmokeFreeNative as a text messaging program to aid “American Indian as well as Alaska Native adolescents and adults in quitting smoking while honoring the importance of traditional tobacco.” The National Cancer Institute will launch SmokeFreeNative in collaboration with the Indian Health Service and other partners.
The White House announced that the National Cancer Institute will also collaborate with the Department of Veterans Affairs to figure out how to effectively involve veterans in tobacco treatment programs.
Joe Biden is adamant about running for president on behalf of all Americans. That is why his Unity Agenda, regardless of party, focuses on advancing solutions to the most pressing problems we all confront, according to a statement from White House Deputy Chief of Staff Bruce Reed. The entire federal government is working together like never before to put an end to cancer as we know it under his supervision.
The Obama administration’s Cancer Moonshot plan was updated by Biden in 2022 with the aim of halving the cancer death rate by the year 2047.
The Biden family has been intimately impacted by the battle against cancer. 2015 saw the passing of Biden’s son Beau following a battle with brain cancer.