Cancer Cabinet Declares Updates to President Biden’s Cancer Moonshot Initiative 

U.S. President Joe Biden’s administration is following through on last year’s commitment to reignite the White House Cancer Moonshot initiative. President Biden and First Lady Jill Biden convened a meeting of the Cancer Cabinet on September 13 to declare new actions federal agencies are taking achieve the Cancer Moonshot’s ambitions.  

The venture, first announced early in 2016, shoulders the inspired goal of reducing the number of cancer deaths in the U.S. in half by 2047. In the process, the initiative would help to save over 4 million lives and improve patient outcomes for cancer survivors and comfort those touched by cancer.  

Since the Cancer Cabinet was established last year, the Biden administration has announced nearly 50 new programs, policies, and resources to help fully realize its goal. Additionally, private businesses, non-profit organizations, patient groups, and other entities constitute over 100 commitments to help eliminate cancer as we know it.  

Bringing focus and resources to bear against cancer is a critical aspect of President Biden’s Unity Agenda. At Wednesday’s Cancer Cabinet meeting, both President Biden and First Lady Jill Biden spoke with Cabinet leadership about the accomplished progress and what still needs to be done.  

When the Cancer Moonshot was first announced, CRI was invited to speak with then-Vice President Joe Biden’s staff in Washington, D.C., to discuss the Cancer Moonshot and its potential life-saving promise. The February 2016 meeting was initiated as part of the White House’s outreach with research and advocacy leaders – CRI was invited to share its expertise in immunotherapy research and voiced possibilities to help advance the field.  

Today, CRI Scientific Advisory Council Associate Director Elizabeth Jaffee, MD (Johns Hopkins) serves on the Cancer Moonshot’s panel. CRI is pleased to see the Biden administration’s continued dedication and action towards fighting all cancers. With this influx of attention and financial might, there is renewed hope that the Cancer Moonshot will help create a world immune to cancer.