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Virtual Hill Day Participants Present Unified Voice in Support of Cancer Research

On Wednesday, June 9, AACI co-hosted the 2021 Virtual Hill Day with the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR). Ninety-three cancer center directors, researchers, oncologists, survivors, and other advocates, representing 26 states, attended meetings with legislators and staff to present a unified voice in support of stable funding increases for the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the National Cancer Institute (NCI).

Participants requested funding for medical research in the regular appropriations process and asked legislators to provide $46.1 billion (a $3.2 billion increase) for the NIH in Fiscal Year (FY) 2022. Additionally, advocates asked for a provision of at least $7.6 billion ($1.1 billion increase) for the NCI in FY 2022. They also called for at least $10 billion for the NIH in emergency supplemental funding to restart research and clinical trials that were put on hold due to the pandemic. Messaging emphasized the importance of continued growth above inflation to support medical research and promising science.

The day of advocacy included a virtual program that began with remarks from AACR President and Cold Spring Harbor Cancer Center Director David A. Tuveson, MD, PhD, FAACR, and AACI President and USC Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center Director Caryn Lerman, PhD.

Dr. Tuveson noted, “As you all know, we are in an era of unprecedented progress against cancer including advances in immunotherapies and targeted anti-cancer therapies that have led to spectacular decreases in cancer mortality. Thanks to investments in the NCI we have new tools at our disposal that could only be dreamed of decades ago.”

“2021 is a significant year for cancer research as we mark the 50th anniversary of the National Cancer Act of 1971,” said Dr. Lerman. “Federal funding for the NIH and NCI is the lifeblood of the cancer research and training programs implemented by the cancer centers, our continued progress against cancer depends heavily on these investments, and that is why it is so important for you all to be here today advocating for the future of cancer research.”

The program also included the presentation of the Cancer Research Ally Award to Representatives Brian Higgins (D-NY) and Gus Bilirakis (R-FL). The awardees were introduced by Candace S. Johnson, PhD, president and CEO of Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center; and Patrick Hwu, MD, president and CEO of Moffitt Cancer Center, respectively.

The event concluded with remarks from patient advocates, including Nicole Robinson, EdD, founder of the Hatz 4 Hearts Foundation; Heidi Nafman-Onda and Pierre Onda, MD, founders of the White Ribbon Project; and Chris Draft, retired NFL football player and founder of the Chris Draft Foundation.

Dr. Robinson, a Stage 2 breast cancer survivor, started Hatz 4 Hearts initially to help collect new hats and headwear for cancer patients affected by chemotherapy. “As a cancer patient I’m here to use my voice as an empowerment tool for advocacy because it’s so crucial and so needed,” Dr. Robinson said, “I can’t stress enough that cancer research is absolutely saving lives, saving my life.”

Nafman-Onda, a lung cancer survivor, launched the White Ribbon Project with her husband, Dr. Pierre Onda, to bring awareness to lung cancer and change public perception of the disease. “Anyone who has lungs can get lung cancer and no one deserves it.” Nafman-Onda said. “The White Ribbon Project is an example of the power of collaboration between survivors, caregivers, medical providers, researchers and cancer centers.”

Draft concluded the program with remarks inspired by his wife, who passed away from lung cancer in 2011. “The whole goal of this Hill Day is to let people know and scream out, go to the mountain top and yell that ‘research matters,’” Draft said. “Research saves lives. Research matters.”

Stream the Hill Day Program