The following update is reported by CureSearch For Children's Cancer:
FY 12 Appropriations:
"On May 11 the Senate Health and Human Services Appropriations Committee convened a hearing on the FY12 budget for the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Francis Collins, MD, director of the NIH testified and was accompanied by four NIH institute directors, including Harold Varmus, MD, director of the National Cancer Institute. During the hearing, subcommittee member and childhood cancer advocate Senator Jack Reed (D-RI) asked a question regarding support for pediatric cancer research. Dr. Varmus indicated that children's cancer research receives approximately 4% of NCI funding and that findings from non-child specific cancer research can benefit the children's population as well. He went on to say that while the incidence of children’s cancer has increased approximately 30% in recent years, survival rates are also significantly increasing. While noting this is a positive trend, Dr. Varmus iterated the need to better understand, treat and eliminate effects of cancer and treatment, which includes a high incidence of secondary cancer in patients' when they are in their 20s and 30s."