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It’s time for more medical research funding
As an almost 24-year cancer survivor, I know the value of medical research which is why I’m making sure Rep. Brad Schneider knows how important it is that he increase funding to the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and National Cancer Institute (NCI).
Federal funding for cancer research is the bedrock of medical discoveries, and has played a role in every major breakthrough in prevention, detection and treatment of the disease for more than 50 years. That progress is quickly accelerating; researchers are on the cusp of even greater discoveries. Of all the Institutes that comprise NIH, funding requests for promising new research at NCI has increased more than 50% in the last few years — it has only risen about 5% at the other Institutes. Now is the time to make the investment in cancer research and prepare to save lives in years to come.
Of all the competing priorities before Congress these days, increasing funding for cancer research seems like the one that everyone should agree on. I ask Rep. Schneider to support a $9 billion increase for NIH, and fund NCI at $1 billion. We can take advantage of this scientific momentum and accelerate progress to the point where, eventually, no one has to hear the words, “You have cancer,” ever again.
Maggie Powell, Waukegan, American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network volunteer