Over the past 5 years, funding to the National Cancer Institute (NCI) has been cut by 15.6%, when adjusted for inflation. These cuts are having real consequences on cancer research, both in the short and, more importantly, the long term. As a researcher studying cures and treatments for colorectal cancer, I know this firsthand. In addition to my work as a physician at the Lineberger Cancer Center at UNC-Chapel Hill, I also oversee gastrointestinal cancer research for the clinical trials group Cancer and Leukemia Group B (CALGB).
Here’s the bottom line: decreased federal support for clinical research puts us further away from a cure and will translate directly to more lives lost to colorectal cancer. These cuts are being felt by researchers all over the country. With each round of cuts, it becomes increasingly difficult to do our jobs. For example, earlier this year, I was directed by the NCI to cut the number of patients being studied by 10%. In order to accomplish this, I had to halt the start up of new clinical trials and close existing studies. The impact of this action is tremendous—not only for me and my colleagues, but for countless patients searching for new treatment options.
Because of tightening budgets, reimbursement from the NCI for patients enrolled in clinical trials is about half the cost of providing the required oversight. This reimbursement is needed to make sure that protocol is followed and the data accurately reported. That funding has not increased in many years, so the resource is dwindling with the passage of time. Cancer centers like mine must then cover the rest of the cost, but since they are also dealing with falling or flattening budget levels, this is becoming increasingly difficult. Oftentimes, we must turn to the pharmaceutical industry to help fund our studies, which comes with a unique set of issues and potential conflicts of interest.
Another concern: My colleagues and I aren’t getting any younger, but it’s getting harder and harder to attract the best young minds into cancer research. If you were graduating with a doctorate degree, bringing with you the large sums of debt that comes from years of schooling, would you want to embark on a career where funding is scarce, and getting worse? I work with many very smart, young faculty members who cannot get research grant funding because the money simply is not there. Many of the brightest minds who could choose to spend a lifetime in cancer research are being forced to make other choices.
Continuing the federal investment in cancer research will provide returns in new discoveries, better outcomes, and meaningful careers for our best and brightest young people. This is why I am happy to support the work of C3 [Colorectal Cancer Coalition] as it fights for more money for cancer research. I urge you to log on to C3’s Action Center (http://advocacy.fightcrc.org/site/PageServer) and send a message to your legislators that cancer funding must be increased. The price we are paying is too high to do anything less.