We will find out shortly if Friends has been given an opportunity to testify before Chairman Ralph Regula (R-OH) and his Labor-HHS-Education Appropirations Subcommittee. Regardless of whether we are granted a slot, Ohio physician Dr. Ken Moss, who testified with his wife Anita a year ago, is willing to come to Washington once again to share his story with key Members and senior Administration officials. Unfortunately, this time Ken will be coming alone. Tragically, Anita died from cancer just days shy of the first anniversary of her daughter’s death to the same disease.

It’s time for Friends to go back on the road. As we have in years past, Friends will visit some of the nation’s premier cancer institutes where we will conduct town hall meetings with key policymakers, local survivors and luminaries. We will provide you with a schedule once it is hammered down.

Since the NIH doubling effort is slated to be completed this budget cycle, the question many are asking is: what’s next? A significant federal investment in innovative research is absolutely critical. Without the pressure of a very public bipartisan commitment over a set a period of years, what is the President likely to include as a benchmark in his FY04 budget for the NIH? Friends will work in the coming months with senior officials in the Bush Administration to discuss why a continued strong investment is vital. Our message is simple: the doubling effort was not only politically smart, there is real science behind the numbers. A continued strong investment is vital.

This week California Senator Dianne Feinstein introduced the National Cancer Act of 2002. Friends issued the following letter to the Senator:

In addition, Friends will be reviewing legislation introduced two years ago by Reps. Deborah Pryce (R-OH) and Lois Capps (D-CA), which authorized a five-year demonstration project designed to increase the flexibility, effectiveness and creativity of the nation’s cancer research program. The measure made recommendations that would allow the NCI to more easily enter into strategic partnerships and collaborations with the private sector. Currently there are no mechanisms that work, creating enormous frustration and bureaucracy in a time of great need.

There may be an opportunity in the coming months to identify key provisions that address public-private partnerships and ask Reps. Pryce and Capps to consider introducing a streamlined version of their previous bill. Partnerships such as those that Friends is pursuing now, which make the most of valuable resources available in government and in the private sector, are not only smart, but hold tremendous promise for finding a cure for cancer sooner rather than later.