Major Challenges as research funding is cut 25% by NCI

Today marked a major advocacy and research group announcement here at SWOG.  Our group chair, Dr. Charles Blanke, announced that SWOG is losing about 25% of it's federal funding from the National Cancer Institute as are all of the co-ops due to a federal pullback of cancer research funding.  Recent years already have seen a stagnant funding period as can be seen easily by no increases to the NCI budget in the last four  years.  Price adjustment for inflation show that as already less funding for more expensive trials and increased regulation to trials.  But a 25% funding cut is devastating and it will affect patient care immediately.  Dr. Blanke has said that for 2015 we are good as we have had a carry over for previous years.  But from 2016 on it will likely mean that we will need to get private funding or tough decisions will have to be made that could include staff reductions, less meetings, and less participation from the community centers in clinical trial research. ECOC, the east coast equivalent of WOG has announced to the feds that they may cease to exist unless the federal funding is increased, much less cut 25%.  

ASCO Chart and webpage of Federal Funding

From the NCI

ASCO Says 40% Cuts in Research


Dr. Blanke told us today that he felt that ASCO and ECOG misstepped by saying 40% cuts to research funding.  that the total is as I reported above.  Today a major advocates call was held discussing these new budgets with the NCI.  I was unable to make that call as my committee was in session.  But the call was recorded and I will post that call here when it becoes available.

Stay Tuned and prepare you pens.  The US government has acted irresponsibly by cutting the NCI budget.  Cancer research funding has increased around the world and not here.

This is unacceptable.