Peer-reviewed publications and official health statistics reports

Biden Allocates $150 Million for Cancer Moonshot Initiative, Highlights ARPA-H Role in New Orleans

Aug 13, 2024, 08:39 PM

President Joe Biden is dedicating $150 million in federal funding to his 'Cancer Moonshot' initiative, aiming to significantly reduce cancer fatalities in the United States. The funding will be directed towards developing advanced technologies for more effective tumor-removal surgeries, with the goal of cutting U.S. cancer deaths by 50% over the next 25 years. This initiative, launched during the Obama administration and re-launched in 2022, is a personal mission for Biden, whose son Beau died of brain cancer in 2015. The funding will support eight research centers, including Tulane University, to pioneer new methods in precision cancer surgery. The administration recently awarded nearly $9 million to improve access to cancer screenings and follow-up treatments in underserved communities. Biden's efforts are part of a broader strategy to mobilize the entire country in the fight against cancer. The Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H) is playing a key role in fast-tracking these advancements. Biden and the First Lady announced this funding during their visit to New Orleans.