What is the Cancer Moonshot?

In his final State of the Union address President Obama announced what has become known as the “Moonshot” initiative to cure cancer. This initiative was headed up by Vice President Biden. The Vice President, who lost his son to brain cancer in 2015, was all too aware of the need for the federal government to step up its efforts to coordinate and financially support research that will lead to a cure.

The Cancer Moonshot’s objective is to make more therapies available to more patients, while improving the ability to prevent cancer and detect it at an early stage. Under Biden’s leadership a Blue Ribbon Panel of experts was established as a working group of the National Cancer Advisory Board to assist in the effort. The panel was charged with offering expert advice on the vision, proposed scientific goals, and implementation of the Cancer Moonshot.

The Cancer Moonshot is funded by a combination of private as well as public monies. The United States Congress passed the 21st Century Cures Act in December 2016 authorizing $1.8 billion in funding for the Cancer Moonshot over 7 years. An initial $300 million has been appropriated in fiscal year (FY) 2017 to fund Moonshot initiatives. However, for the Moonshot to be successful, funding will need to continue.