NCI Gets Stimulus Funds

"Moving Ahead with the Stimulus Funds
Dr. John E. Niederhuber

With President Barack Obama’s signing of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) on February 17, 2009, came newfound hope in many circles that our economy can start down the road to recovery. As the President himself has said, it will not be easy. This recovery package is just the first step and, undoubtedly, just one of many interventions.

The economic stimulus package presents a tremendous opportunity for the biomedical research establishment. Under the new law, NIH will receive approximately $10.4 billion for use in fiscal years 2009 and 2010, $8.2 billion of which is specifically tagged for research.

Of that $8.2 billion, approximately $1.26 billion will go to NCI. The total funding for cancer research could increase if NCI grantees successfully compete for “challenge grants,” comparative effectiveness research monies, and other infrastructure funds administered by the NIH Office of the Director and the National Center for Research Resources. I believe this sizable figure is a profound affirmation from President Obama and the American people of the importance of tackling the cancer burden and a sign of their confidence that we are well suited to meet that challenge. As you are well aware, I continually remind our leaders in the executive and legislative bodies of our government that an investment in cancer research, whether in basic scientific discovery or behavioral studies of populations, is an investment in a model for gaining an understanding of all diseases.

As I wrote recently, an investment in research does more than just create new scientific knowledge and advances in clinical medicine. That investment also translates into support for research projects at institutions large and small across the country, and those projects in turn create jobs and a plethora of new business opportunities by generating patents, products, and biotechnology start-up companies. In fact, on average, a single NIH research grant supports seven jobs. And according to one analysis, for every $1.00 spent on research in a given community, $2.25 in local economic activity is generated.

The White House is requiring an unprecedented, but certainly appropriate, level of transparency and accountability with regard to how ARRA funds are used. These funds will be kept separate from our general operating budget secured via the standard appropriations process.

To help achieve this transparency, new NCI reporting mechanisms are being developed for the grantees and institutions that receive funds from the stimulus package. These 2-year awards will be supported via three primary mechanisms:

* Already reviewed, highly meritorious R01 applications that make scientific sense to fund for only 2 years, as well as new R01 applications that have a reasonable expectation of making progress in 2 years
* Administrative and competitive supplements to current grants
* Challenge grants, which are intended to provide jumpstart funds for projects that address defined health and science challenges, and where it is believed reasonable
progress is feasible in a 2-year time frame

NCI’s leadership is working under an accelerated timetable to create a spending plan that meets the stimulus package goals, while striking an all-important balance between increases in the number of grants for individual investigators, where there are long-term financial obligations, and a greater commitment to solicited, team-science projects—such as IT-related efforts like caBIG, BIG Health, and efforts related to the development of electronic medical records.

We will widely report—via the NCI Web site, the NCI Cancer Bulletin, teleconferences, professional meetings, and other avenues—on the research opportunities created by these funds, the specific projects they support, the scientific knowledge and advances they generate, and the number of jobs they provide. NCI is committed to ensuring that the cancer community and general public can easily trace the return on this unprecedented investment.

The bottom line is this: NIH and NCI leadership are prepared to do our part toward the economic recovery of this great country by quickly distributing stimulus funds via a science- and merit-driven process and, in so doing, supporting not just new science but crafting new approaches that alter the course of cancer while preserving and creating jobs.

It’s rewarding to witness members of Congress—particularly Senator Arlen Specter, who championed the need for these funds—and the President’s confidence in the potency of biomedical research in the recovery process. Many in the cancer community toil behind the scenes, in basic research laboratories, community clinics, and the offices of advocacy organizations. But we are all committed to reducing the cancer burden, and this influx of funds recognizes the remarkable work we have done and the important achievements the American people believe we can accomplish.

Indeed, during the signing ceremony last Tuesday, while talking about the support for scientific research in the stimulus package, President Obama said that he hoped “this investment will ignite our imagination once more, spurring new discoveries and breakthroughs.” I am confident that we as a community have the people and strategies in place to live up to that hope, to achieve important progress that will better the lives of millions in the process.

Dr. John E. Niederhuber
Director, National Cancer Institute"

http://www.cancer.gov/ncicancerbulletin/022409/page4

By sbender3
Posted August 27, 2009 at 5:58 pm
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it is really sad that they have to spend 10 billion dollars to find a cure for cancer, and i do not care what kind it is. because, i am a firm believer that the lord, our father in heaven put everything on this earth for us to survive, to fight disease, to maintain our health. but, unfortunately, since there is no money in alternative medicine, there is no money in what cannot be patented, they are not even trying to find the REAL cure for cancer, and i mean any kind of caner, for diabetes, for any dind of disease. if there is not a buck to be made, their is no money to research it....we all need to stand up for that. i have gone to an alternate health doc in conjunction with chemo for almost 2 years. i have never needed transfusion, growth hormones, etc, well i wonder why, because i take supplements to make my body healthy and restore the healthy cells that cancer treatment destroys!!! insurance should have to pay for it, but, no, pharmaceutical companies go after the alternate health care docs and try to shut them down, so people will continue to get their poisin. if you are fortunate enough to get well from the poison and survive, good for you, but what about the rest of us. sorry to rant, but i do not believe one bit in modern medicine for the general public. we are an overweight society, because of bad lifestyle choices in most cases, that is of our own doing, and we take prescription drugs that docs shove down our throats, well i don't, but alot do, and that is not healthy...fresh food, fresh air, vitamins, etc, make for a healthy mind body and soul, and first and foremost, never forsake our father in heaven! sherry

By Shamrock2009
Posted August 28, 2009 at 11:13 am
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The NCI has information and clinical trial results along with the FDA info regarding some but not all Alternative and Complementary Treatments. Since most of us with OvCa have been or are currently being treated with Chemotherapy that has been--tested, recommended, approved --- by the NCI and FDA I think it is worth a visit to the NCI site to read the information they have compiled about Alternative and Complementary treatments that we might be interested using.
Information is both positive and negative about these treatments.

Topics:
714-X
Acupuncture
Antineoplastons
Aromatherapy and Essential Oils
Cancell/Cantron/Protocel
Cartilage (Bovine and Shark)
Coenzyme Q10
Essiac/Flor•Essence
Gerson Therapy
Gonzalez Regimen
Hydrazine Sulfate
Laetrile/Amygdalin
Milk Thistle
Mistletoe Extracts
Newcastle Disease Virus
PC-SPES
Saw Palmetto Fails to Improve Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia
Selected Vegetables/Sun's Soup
Spirituality in Cancer Care
http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/treatment/cam

Also:
http://www.nci.nih.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/therapy/CAM

By sbender3
Posted August 28, 2009 at 12:37 pm
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i do not see standard process products on your list. it does not cure cancer-it makes you body heal, so it can fight cancer. my doctor has already told me on more than one occasion, that he has never, i repeat never, had a patient be drained as many times as i have, 28 times, and still be here. i have been beein drained for almost 2 years. i work every day, have my chemo, which my alternate doc does not recomend me stopping, and i eat right, exercize and take my supplements. my cancer center is now putting in for a research trial because of me, and what they see in me. more effort needs placed on healing without poisin. every has their opinion, but i know many pepole waling around today, free of diabetes, cancer and free of other illnesses, and they did not do it with cheom, or standard modern medicine alone, they did it thru faith, guided by god, and were led to the vessels of their healing. i will take a look at the info you provided, thankyou, but i do not put alot of faith in what i read on the internet.

By momanderson920
Posted September 1, 2009 at 8:10 pm
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Sherri, I am very interested in some of the things you are doing since you are remarkable. I do believe your incredibly strong faith in God is foremost. I would be most interested in the natural things you are using that seem to help you. Thanks, Cindy

By sbender3
Posted September 3, 2009 at 9:36 pm
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hello momma-i will give you all the info of what i take, but i get it thru my alternate health care doc, and my surgical gyno oncologst is now keeping track of everything i take, and until this past year, he just said keep doing what you are doing. it is important to find an alternate health care professional that can know your body and e in sink with you-standard process and mediherb products, which are only available thru a lic doc, are what i take, so here goes-and keep in mind, my numbers change up and down, the number of each supplement i take-per day i take 3 silymarin-which is milk thistle, this is new, i take 6 sesame see oil, 4 tuna oil, 6 cal amo, 6 renafood, 6 arginex, 6 thymex, 6 fortil b12, 4 zymex II, 6 catalyn-these are all standard process-1/2 tsp ginger 1:2 liquid in juice or cool coffee, also take garlic pearl, coq10, ultra oil, cinnamon, each 1 per day, these are not standard process, they are origin and ultra oil is by county line or country lift or carlson, i forget. i also drink tahitian noni juice. my labs, hemoglobin, white blood cell count and the llike, astronomical-last hemoglobin was 12.4, and i have had over 84 chemotherapy treatments since may of 2007, and been drained(paracentisis) 28 times since jan of 2008. i just had my first avastin yesterday, and it was easy- i am scheduled or approved for 26 treatments, so lets pray it works for me as well as my navelbine did in 2008, or even better, and makes the ascites go away, that is what my doc is hoping for. and of course, i should have said before my list of god led supplements, first and foremost, i spend my time with our prescious father in heaven, each and every morning, praise him every chance i get, and give him thanks for everything. god bless. sherry

By momanderson920
Posted September 4, 2009 at 6:56 am
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Sherry, thank you so much for sharing that. I looked into a naturopath which I think is considered an alternative medicine doctor. I will definitely pursue seeing him. You are remarkable. I know that your faith has had a great deal to do with it, followed by the regime you are following. That is remarkable. Take care and I will keep you in prayer for the next round of chemo. Much love Cindy

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