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| In The News |
| Friends Press Releases |
| Cancer Policy News |
| Monthly Newsletter |
NEWS/PRESS RELEASE ARCHIVE
2007
AACR-AACI-FOCR Hill Day (5-9-07)
The American
Association for Cancer Research (AACR) is joined in its Centennial
Celebration this month by the Association of American Cancer Institutes (AACI)
and Friends of Cancer Research (Friends) for a Hill Day on May 9th
to educate members of Congress on the importance of a strong federal
commitment to biomedical and cancer research.
Building on
AACR’s Centennial Celebration, the Hill Day theme reflects on “A Century
of Progress Against Cancer.” More than 60 participants representing
leading cancer centers and research laboratories from 23 states will meet
with their respective Members of Congress to explain how cancer research
benefits their district and state, and why we need to capitalize on the
opportunities for advancing the science of cancer...
University of Michigan Town Hall
(4/15/07)
Can a simple blood
test tell you if you have cancer or are at high risk of developing cancer
– long before any symptoms or signs of disease appear? Research happening
today at the University of Michigan and other leading cancer centers is
bringing us to that point. New genetic markers and proteins are being
discovered that can identify early signs of cancer and predict who is most
at risk. But what does this progress mean to the average person who has
never been told “You have cancer”? And what barriers do we face in
pursuing these new advances?
The University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center and the non-profit
Friends of Cancer Research will host a special town hall open to the
public on Wednesday...
Drug Safety (03/12/07)
With Congress
considering a number of bills on enhancing drug safety and strengthening
the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), an independent committee of
leading medical experts and patient advocates released a report on drug
safety today titled, “Drug Safety and Efficacy: Two Sides of the Same
Coin,” to ensure the voices of scientists, physicians, and patients are
heard in this important debate. The report, available online at
www.focr.org/drugsafetyreport.htm, emphasizes the importance of a
systemic approach to simultaneously evaluating drug safety and efficacy
that supports science and innovation...
Revolution Health: Friends to work with Steve Case's newest venture (01/2007)
Friends of Cancer Research is excited to be working with Revolution Health, a new web-driven health resource created by fellow cancer community advocate and business leader, AOL Founder Steve Case. The site uses a multitude of tools ranging from expert medical information from sources like the Mayo Clinic to community web channels discussing various topics, a search tool to find and rank medical care in your area, as well as a ‘my revolution’ customizable page that allows you to manage your health and insurance information in one place.
White House Releases FY 2008 Budget (02/05/2007)
On Monday, February 5, President George W. Bush announced his Administration’s fiscal year (FY) 2008 budget proposal. Overall, the $2.9 trillion spending plan calls for increased spending on military programs, while squeezing many domestic discretionary programs in health care and education.
Friends Board Member Sherry Lansing to Receive Honorary Oscar (02/10/2007)
Friends Executive Committee and Board Member, Sherry Lansing, will be honored with the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award at the upcoming 79th Academy Awards on February 25, 2007. Friends of Cancer Research will be sending out a special tribute email highlighting Sherry's contributions to Friends and the cancer community as the event draws near.
Friends Participates in PDUFA Public Hearing (02/16/2007)
A public meeting was held on Friday, February 16th to provide comments on the upcoming reauthorization of the Prescription Drug User Fee Act (PDUFA). Conducted by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the meeting allowed stakeholders to speak and/or submit comments to the record. Friends of Cancer Research participated in the public meeting by providing testimony. To view the full written submission please visit <link to FOCR Written Statement pdf>
Friends Presents at AACR-Industry Roundtable (02/20/2007)
On February 20-21st the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) held the 2007 AACR-Industry Roundtable. The conference was entitled “Sustaining and Developing Partnership to Advance the Prevention and Cure of Cancer.”
Friends Board Member Sherry Lansing Receives Honorary Oscar, Friends Featured in Broadcast (02/25/2007)
Friends of Cancer Research was featured in the 79th Academy Awards on February 25, 2007 during the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award presentation in which actor Tom Cruise introduced this year’s recipient, Friends Board Member and former Paramount Pictures CEO Sherry Lansing. Ms. Lansing has been an active board member of Friends since its inception ten years ago, working tirelessly not only for our organization but for the entire cancer and greater medical community.
Drug Safety Report Released...over 24 organizations have expressed their support (03/2007)
With Congress considering a number of measures to enhance drug safety, an independent committee of leading medical experts and patient advocates convened by Friends of Cancer Research released a report on drug safety this past month to ensure the voices of scientists, physicians, and patients are heard in this important debate. The report, titled “Drug Safety and Drug Efficacy: Two Sides of the Same Coin,” is available online and emphasizes the importance of a systemic approach to simultaneously evaluating drug safety and efficacy that supports science and innovation. focr.org/drugsafetyreport.htm
2006
(10-5-06) Biomarker Consortium Announcement
WASHINGTON, DC, Oct. 5--The Foundation for the National Institutes of Health (FNIH), the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA) today announced the launch of a major public-private biomedical research partnership, The Biomarkers Consortium, to search for and validate new biological markers ─biomarkers─ to accelerate dramatically the delivery of successful new technologies, medicines, and therapies for prevention, early detection, diagnosis, and treatment of disease.
Ellen Sigal, Ph.D., Chairperson, Friends of Cancer Research and Chair of the public-private partnership committee of the FNIH describes the collaboration as, "The Biomarkers Consortium is a seminal public-private partnership that is bringing together multiple sectors of the health enterprise as never before to work together on the development and qualification of biomarkers. The financial and logistical challenges of this work require a truly multi-sector approach that includes all relevant stakeholders, including government, private industry, and advocacy and non-profit organizations. This collaboration will accelerate the scientific discovery of new technologies, medicines and therapies that can be used to better detect, diagnose, and treat disease. The public health impact of this consortium will be enormous."
Biomarkers are molecular, biological, or physical characteristics that indicate a specific, underlying physiologic state. Biomarkers can be used to identify risk for disease, to make a diagnosis, to assess severity and identify the organs that are involved, and to guide treatment. Biomarkers can also be used in clinical research studies to assess whether a drug is safe and effective as well as studies to learn more about health and disease. Moreover, biomarkers can help the FDA judge whether drugs are safe and effective at treating disease.
The initial focus of the consortium will be the validation and advancement of promising new imagining techniques in non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma and non-small cell lung cancer. It will also support studies to identify treatment response biomarkers in depression and diabetes.
The Foundation for NIH will manage The Biomarkers Consortium under direction of the consortium executive committee, with guidance from leading scientists within and outside the member organizations, plus input from a public representative and funding partners. The foundation actively seeks additional funding partners to both help support the consortium’s operational activities and for individual research projects, each of which has the potential to emerge as a distinct scientific initiative under the consortium’s administrative umbrella.
For more information please contact Ellen Sigal at Friends of Cancer Research at 202-944-6710, or see following links:
Audio Release
(7-11-06)
(6-28-06) AACR/AACI/FOCR Host “Cancer Research – Benefiting All Americans” Capitol Hill Day on June 28th
Cancer center leaders, board members, patients and researchers, representing 29 institutions from 21 states, gathered in Washington, D.C. on Wednesday, June 28 to educate Members of Congress and their staffs about the need to seize current scientific opportunities to maximize progress against cancer. The day’s events, titled “Cancer Research: Benefiting All Americans,” included a breakfast briefing, luncheon and reception co-sponsored by AACI, the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) and Friends of Cancer Research (FOCR), in partnership with the House Cancer Caucus and Senate Cancer Coalition.
(5-2-06) Boston Globe Publishes Letter to the Editor from Friends Chair Dr. Ellen Sigal
On May 2nd The Boston Globe published a letter to the editor from Friends Chair Dr. Ellen Sigal [Link to Letter on Boston.com] or [Link to letter to the editor pdf]. Dr. Sigal’s letter was in response to an April 25th editorial that called for increased FDA authority to mandate post market studies [link to editorial]. However, the editorial did not fully acknowledge the needs of the patient. The editorial followed the release of the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) report that reviewed FDA’s handling of drug safety. In regards to this important matter, Friends is in the process of convening a Benefit-Risk Working Group of expert academic advisors to address concerns specific to the cancer community and formulate recommendations for improvement.
(4.5.06) Stopping Cancer Before It Starts, FOCR Co-Hosts Hill Briefing for
Congressional Staffers
On April 5 Friends of
Cancer Research hosted a town hall style meeting on cancer prevention and
early detection for congressional staffers entitled “Stopping Cancer
Before It Starts: Issues on Cancer Prevention for Policy Makers.”
Conducted in partnership with the American Association for Cancer Research
(AACR), the event was held in the Rayburn House Office Building and drew
over 70 people. The discussion panel featured Anna Barker, Ph.D. (NCI),
Gary Gordon, M.D. Ph.D. (Abbott Labs), Amy Muhlberg, Ph.D. (Senate HELP
committee), Bill Nelson, M.D., Ph.D. (Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center at Johns
Hopkins), Tom Sellers, Ph.D. (H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research
Institute), and was moderated by Susan Dentzer of the NewsHour with Jim
Lehrer.
[Click for full article.]
(3.15.06)
Friends of Cancer Research Supports Nomination of Dr. Eschenbach to head FDA
(Washington) - Friends of Cancer Research (Friends) is
pleased to support the nomination of Andrew C. von Eschenbach, MD, as Commissioner of the Food and Drug
Administration (FDA). “As an accomplished
physician-investigator and three-time cancer survivor, Dr.
von Eschenbach will bring a proven background of knowledge
and experience on clinical research, clinical practice,
and patient care to the FDA,” Friends Chair Dr. Ellen
Sigal said of the announcement.
(1.6.06) White House Releases FY 2007 Budget—Proposal Freezes NIH Funding at FY 2006 Level [read more]
2005
(12.21.05) Senate approves FY 2006 Labor-HHS-Education Appropriations bill, which included a less than 1% increase for the NIH [read more]
(11.14.05) FOCR
Participates in Public Meeting on PDUFA
On
November 14th, 2005, Friends’ Chair Dr. Ellen Sigal
provided an advocacy perspective on the Prescription Drug
User Fee Act (PDUFA) at a public meeting held at the
National Institutes of Health. This legislation is set to
expire in September of 2007, and a concerted
reauthorization effort is expected.
(10.24.05)
FOCR Participates in
Deloitte and Touche's Women's Initiative Seminar on Breast
Cancer
As part of
FOCR’s efforts to educate about the importance of research
this past breast cancer awareness month, FOCR coordinated
a web seminar with Deloitte and Touche in New York that
brought in renowned doctor and researcher Dr. Larry
Norton, Medical Director of the Evelyn H. Lauder Breast
Center at Memorial Sloan-Kettering in NYC. The event,
which was part of a larger series put together by
Deloitte’s Women’s Initiative (WIN), reached thousands of
Deloitte and Touche employees nation-wide through
‘web-nar’ enabled technology.
(6.9.05) FOCR Announces
Scientific Advisory Board
Friends of Cancer Research, a
(501)(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to raising
awareness and providing public education on the importance
of cancer research, announced the formation of a
Scientific Advisory Board after a Board of Director's
meeting in June, 2005. Composed of leading
scientists and doctors from around the country, the newly
formed Scientific Advisory Board will provide independent
scientific advice and recommendations to the organization
on issues relevant to the advancement of cancer research.
(4.5.05)
FOCR and AACI Host Day on
Capitol Hill for Cancer Centers
On
April 5th, Friends of Cancer Research joined with the Association of
American Cancer Institutes to host a day of activities on Capitol Hill
that focused on the importance of cancer centers to advancing research,
patient care, and economic infrastructure. Featuring directors and senior
representatives from 24 cancer centers representing 15 states and the
District, the events included congressional office meetings, a lunch
briefing for health staffers, and an evening reception for members and
special guests.
(3.1.05)
FOCR Partners with NPAF to Testify
on The Hill
On March
1st, 2005, Friends of Cancer Research and the National Patient Advocate
Foundation
(NPAF)
partnered to present testimony on patient safety issues and the FDA before
the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
(HELP)
Committee.
(2.7.05) FOCR Co-Hosts Town
Hall with Moffitt Cancer Center featuring Congressman Michael Bilirakis
On February 7th, 2005 in
Tampa, Florida, Friends of Cancer Research together with the H. Lee
Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute presented an interactive
symposium on fulfilling the promise of cancer research.
(1.1.05)FOCR President and
Chair named "Washingtonians of the Year" by Washingtonian
Magazine
Friends of Cancer Research
President, Marlene Malek, and Chairperson , Ellen
Sigal, were honored with the Washingtonian Magazine's "2004 Washingtonians
of the Year" Award in
the January 2005 issue.
2004
Town Hall features
Congresswoman Sue Myrick
Friends of
Cancer Research would like to thank the House Cancer Caucus, the Senate
Cancer Coalition, Congresswoman Sue Myrick, Senator Ted Stevens, our
wonderful panel of guests and all those who attended our recent town hall
on July 13th "From Bench to Bedside: Defeating Cancer through Prevention
and Early Detection."
FDA Announces Oncology Office
On July 16th
the FDA announced plans to consolidate aspects of its oncology activities.
Once implemented, these actions will be a positive step in an on-going
effort to enhance the efficiency, predictability, and consistency of the
clinical development path for state of the art cancer research.
Defeating
Cancer through Prevention and Early Detection
Friends of Cancer Research
is proud to announce its second town hall of 2004 to be held on July 13th.
This event will be the first in a series of interactive symposia to be
held across the country.
Transforming
Medicine
Senator Judd
Gregg, NIH Director Elias Zerhouni, NCI Director Andrew von Eschenbach
and Pfizer VP Peter Corr Discuss Future Directions for Cancer Research,
Patient Care and the Future of NIH.
Cancer
Symposium a Huge Success
Friends
of Cancer Research in conjunction with the Division of U.S. Studies at
the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars hosted a forum entitled,
"Confronting Cancer Now."
Confronting
Cancer Now
Friends
of Cancer Research and the Division of United States Studies at the Woodrow
Wilson International Center for Scholars are collaborating on a unique
interactive health policy forum.
Joint
Oversight Hearing on Managing Biomedical Research
Friends
of Cancer Research submits letter for the record regarding the Institute
of Medicine (IOM) and National Research Council (NRC) report.
| html version: | [Letter to the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee] |
| [Letter to the House Energy and Commerce Committee] |
| pdf version: | [Letter to the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee] |
| [Letter to the House Energy and Commerce Committee] |
The
Fight to Ace Cancer
Cancer
survivor Corina Morariu returns at full-strength to US Open competition.
Council
of Public Representatives Appointment
Ellen
V. Sigal, PhD, Appointed to Council of Public Representatives (COPR).
Overcoming
Barriers to Early Phase Clinical Trials
NIH -Pharmaceutical
Industry Partnership Announces First Grants For Overcoming Barriers to
Early Phase Clinical Trials
Confronting
Cancer Today
Friends of Cancer Research, Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars
Organize May 8 Event in Los Angeles.
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