Washington, D.C., June 27, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Amid proposed federal government budget cuts, more than 250 cancer researchers, medical professionals, policymakers, patients, caregivers, survivors, and advocates will convene in Washington, D.C. today for Cancer Moonshot: One Year Later. The Summit is jointly hosted by seven of the leading cancer organizations: Cancer Support Community (CSC), American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN), CancerCare, Friends of Cancer Research, LIVESTRONG Foundation, National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship (NCCS), and the National Patient Advocate Foundation (NPAF). Following the launch of the Biden Cancer Initiative yesterday, the summit will celebrate the Biden Cancer Moonshot Initiative’s first year of progress, identify gaps, define opportunities for ongoing and new collaborative action, and continue to build momentum around the national effort to end cancer as we know it.
“This second gathering of such a large and varied group of stakeholders is proof of the far-reaching impact of Vice President Biden’s call to action,” remarked Kim Thiboldeaux, CEO of CSC. “In the face of proposed government budget cuts, the non-profit and corporate sectors are stepping up to carry the Moonshot forward, demonstrating a collective unwavering commitment to reaching its goal. Cancer Moonshot: One Year Later is an opportunity for the cancer care community to come together, announce new initiatives, examine previous ones and, stay the course towards accelerating the rate of cancer discoveries.”
The Cancer Moonshot aims to dramatically accelerate progress toward cures—to make a decade's worth of advances in cancer prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and care in just five years. In his final State of the Union address in January 2016, former President Barack Obama tasked former Vice President Joe Biden with leading the Cancer Moonshot. At the June 2016 Cancer Moonshot Summit, Vice President Biden called on stakeholders to publicly pledge commitments to ensure the Cancer Moonshot, an unprecedented collaboration between researchers, oncologists, care providers, philanthropists, data and technology experts, advocates, patients, and survivors, would reach its goal by 2020.
“The Cancer Moonshot Initiative, led by Vice President Biden, really galvanized people to work together. CSC is helping maintain our collective sense of optimism by convening various groups to identify opportunities for progress. We urge Congress and the current administration to build on this momentum and continue to make fighting cancer a top national priority,” said Chris Hansen, President of the ACS CAN.
"Despite the current turmoil in health care policy and funding, it's critical to maintain the Cancer Moonshot momentum behind collaboration, discovery, and keeping patients at the center of all our efforts," said Patricia J. Goldsmith, CEO of CancerCare.
“In its first year, the Cancer Moonshot has been a great success by priming the research community to discover revolutionary new treatments for patients,” said Ellen Sigal, Chairperson and Founder of Friends of Cancer Research. “Despite the incredible progress, it is imperative that we remain vigilant in ensuring our scientists and researchers continue to receive the crucial funding they need to make new therapies a reality for patients.”
“The Cancer Moonshot Initiative sparked a renewed national commitment to fight cancer. While so much work is left to be done, this event marks the progress made since the historic announcement a year ago. LIVESTRONG remains dedicated to advancing its moonshot pledge and working alongside others in the cancer community to improve services for cancer survivors,” said Greg D. Lee, President of LIVESTRONG.
"Too many cancer patients today face the dual tragedies of fearing the science won't save them, and they wouldn't be able to afford it even if it could. We need initiatives like the Cancer Moonshot to keep us focused, as a nation, on bringing innovation to all those who need it,” said Alan Balch, CEO of NPAF.
Updates from major initiatives announced by the Cancer Moonshot Blue-Ribbon Task Force will be presented. The summit’s goal is to help maintain, foster, and support the efforts, pledges, and goals made in 2016 moving forward.
Featured speakers and panelists include:
- Greg Simon, President, Biden Cancer Initiative
- Doug Lowy, MD, Acting Director, National Cancer Institute
- Chris Draft, former NFL star, President and Founder, The Chris Draft Family Foundation
- Lauren Belive, Senior Federal Government Relations Manager, Lyft
- Lyft commits to expanding its Boston-based "Treatment Transport" partnership to all 200+ cities Lyft currently serves by 2020.
- Ramy Ibrahim, VP & Head of Research and Development, Parker Institute for Caner Immunotherapy
- Alicyn Campbell, MPH, Global Head, Patient-Centered Outcomes Research for Oncology, Genentech
- Debbie Saslow, Ph.D., Director, Cancer Control Intervention for HPV Vaccination & Women’s Cancer, American Cancer Society.
Cancer Moonshot: One Year Later is taking place on Tuesday, June 27, 2017, from 10:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. at the JW Marriott, Washington, D.C.
For more information about Cancer Moonshot: One Year Later, please visit: http://bit.ly/2sKFO9s
Watch the Summit live starting at 10 a.m ET: www.facebook.com/CancerSupportCommunity
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About Cancer Support Community
As the largest professionally led nonprofit network of cancer support worldwide, the Cancer Support Community (CSC), including its Gilda’s Club affiliates, is dedicated to ensuring that all people impacted by cancer are empowered by knowledge, strengthened by action, and sustained by community. CSC achieves its mission through three areas: direct service delivery, research, and advocacy. The organization includes an international network of Affiliates that offer the highest quality social and emotional support for people impacted by cancer, as well as a community of support available online and over the phone. The Research and Training Institute conducts cutting-edge psychosocial, behavioral, and survivorship research. CSC furthers its focus on patient advocacy through its Cancer Policy Institute, informing public policy in Washington, D.C. and across the nation. For more information, please call the toll-free Cancer Support Helpline at 888-793-9355, or visit www.CancerSupportCommunity.org. So that no one faces cancer alone®
Attachments:
A photo accompanying this announcement is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/90051f2e-2fc0-487f-a9f8-a1b1abc702d8
Attachments:
A photo accompanying this announcement is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/2da41aff-59ac-4721-8c3f-0d56958bf8b8