ISSUE 1: MARCH 21, 2025

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Dear Cancer Center Colleagues,


Cancer centers are facing new challenges at every turn. Guided by your concerns, the Association of American Cancer Institutes (AACI) has been speaking out against funding cuts and workforce reductions that are impeding cancer research. But we need to do more.


Through our Defending Cancer Research Digest, below, we hope to keep our members informed about what is happening at other cancer centers and around the country, and how we can mobilize our communities to act. With our accompanying social media campaign, we aim to educate people outside the cancer center network on the very real benefits of research funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and National Cancer Institute (NCI) – and on what all Americans stand to lose.


We hope you'll read through the stories collected here and share them widely on social media, through your institutions' communication channels, and in your communities. Please send us stories from your cancer centers and local media. We are especially seeking stories focused on patients, which resonate with legislators and the public. Thank you to the Public Affairs & Marketing Network for helping coordinate submissions, and to the cancer centers that submitted stories to our first digest.


If you haven’t already, please follow AACI on social media and tag us in your posts. Use our hashtag, #DefendingCancerResearch, to help amplify our messages. And please see AACI's latest Commentary and recent statements and press releases, under the Defending Cancer Research Digest.


AACI exists to connect our network of over 100 academic cancer centers through collaboration and communication. We believe there is strength in numbers, and, as we’ve said many times before, we’re better together.


Sincerely,


Jennifer W. Pegher

Executive Director

Association of American Cancer Institutes

DEFENDING CANCER RESEARCH DIGEST

United States

NIH Grants Terminated by the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services

Tracking Accountability in Government Grants System (TAGGS)


TAGGS maintains a database of terminated NIH grants, including recipient names, award titles and topics, and specific actions taken by the president. Read More

Alabama

Cancer Advocate Urges Alabama Senators to Protect Research Funding

Alabama Political Reporter



One Voice Against Cancer, a coalition of public health advocacy organizations dedicated to securing greater federal investment in cancer research, held its annual lobby day on March 6. In Alabama, the cap on indirect costs has raised concerns regarding the research and treatment capabilities of NIH-funded health systems, such as the University of Alabama at Birmingham. Read More

California

UC Davis Launches ‘From Labs to Lives’ to Highlight Federally Funded Research

University of California, Davis



The University of California, Davis, has launched a website and video series titled, “From Labs to Lives,” to highlight federally funded research, describe how the research benefits the public, and share the consequences to the public if funding is reduced or eliminated. Read More

Colorado

Sen. Hickenlooper to Visit CU Anschutz Cancer Center in Aurora, Discuss Possible Medical Research Funding Cuts

CBS News Colorado



Last year, the NIH also awarded over $566 million in grants to Colorado researchers to find cancer treatments, study infectious diseases, and research many other illnesses. Read More

District of Columbia

Amid Funding Concerns, Promising Lung Cancer Vaccines Could Be Available in Next Few Years

WTOP



Ongoing clinical trials to develop a lung cancer vaccine to treat or prevent the most deadly form of cancer in the U.S. could be available to patients in “the next few years,” [said] Dr. Stephen Liu, who works at Georgetown University’s cancer center. “I’m optimistic that in the next few years, we’ll see one that’s ready for patients,” Liu told WTOP, amid ongoing concerns about funding cuts and research priorities of the new Trump administration. Read More

Hawai'i

Federal Funding in Jeopardy for Hawai'i Cancer Research Programs

Island News

Susan Hirano is in the fight of her life, battling stage 4 breast cancer. After exhausting many different types of treatments, she's now considering a clinical trial that could save her life. "That's our hope right now," Hirano said. "So to have that cut, you're cutting our future." Read More

Iowa

Iowa Has High Cancer Rates. Trump's Cuts to CDC and NIH are Already Hitting the State 

NPR-WCMU

[T]he Iowa Cancer Affiliate Network, which connects Mahaska Health [a 25-bed hospital in Oskaloosa] to a group of medical specialists, is funded by federal grants that face immediate, drastic cuts. Read More

Kentucky

One on One: Dr. Mark Evers – Director of UK Markey Cancer Center

Lane Report


Lane Report: How do the NCI designations improve Markey’s situation in treating cancer? Is there more money for research? Is recruitment better? How significant are the NCI designations? 

Mark Evers: Quite significant. It is considered the gold standard for academic cancer centers to be NCI designated. It’s a rigorous process. You submit the over 1,000-page application and on-site reviewers come from across the country who are cancer researchers, epidemiologists, etc. They spend the day making sure everything is within lines. It’s difficult and rigorous to become NCI-designated. But patients understand what the value is and that's a reason for a lot of our increase in volume. Read More

Michigan

A Kindergartner’s Hopes for Beating Cancer are Tied to Federal Grants Now on the Chopping Block

CNN


The discovery of the disease [cancer] in Cailen’s ear canal upended the Vela family’s lives. After Cailen got through the initial treatment of chemo- and protontherapy, the cancer came back last fall in a rare relapse. And now—on top of all of that—money that helps doctors and scientists across the country figure out a path forward for Cailen appears to be at risk. Read More

New Hampshire

NCI-Designated Cancer Centers Worry About Their Future

MedPage Today



"Back in July, we received notification that we had met all the requirements for renewal and were being recommended for renewal by NCI, which is essentially the announcement of a successful renewal," [Steven Leach, MD, director of Dartmouth Cancer Center] said. "It has always been the case that the funding follows that notification." However, the center's formal funding ended on Dec. 1, he explained. While it's normal to have some delay in receiving the next funding notice—he should know, as Dartmouth has had this designation for nearly 50 years—the gap has never been this long before. Read More

NIH Funding Cuts Could ‘Severely Hinder’ Research at Dartmouth

The Dartmouth



Scaling back research would also impact patients at [Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center], according to Dartmouth Cancer Center director Steven Leach. “At any given time, our cancer center, like all [NIH-funded] comprehensive cancer centers, have hundreds of clinical trials that are actively enrolling patients, providing them access to current state-of-the-art therapy but also promising future treatment options,” Leach said. “All of this is at risk with the proposed reductions of funding.” Read More

Pennsylvania

Jeremy Berg is Helping Keep Researchers Nationwide Up to Date

University Times

Jeremy Berg says he’s never worked harder in his life. And that’s a big statement for someone who has been editor in chief of Science magazine; director of the NIH’s National Institute of General Medical Sciences; and founding director of Pittsburgh Institute for Precision Medicine. Read More

Utah

‘Imminent Threat’: University of Utah Could Lose $43.5M for Research Expenses Under Trump Admin Cut

The Salt Lake Tribune


Just before the discussion started Tuesday, the U.’s renowned Huntsman Cancer Institute had announced groundbreaking research that found patients with endometrial cancer responded equally as well when radiation was done fewer times in higher doses — which could mean fewer hospital visits for those traveling long distances. Those researchers have received funding that would be scaled back under the new directive.Jeremy Berg says he’s never worked harder in his life. Read More

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AACI COMMENTARY - MARCH 2025

The Urgent Need for Continued Innovation in Cancer Research: Patients Can’t Wait

By Loriana Hernández-Aldama


Disruptions to cancer research—whether due to political decisions, financial barriers, or shifting priorities—threaten to stall the progress we’ve made. But cancer doesn’t wait for funding debates to resolve. Patients need solutions now. Every minute, every day, every breakthrough matters. Research funded by the National Institutes of Health fuels innovation and keeps the momentum going, ensuring that new therapies move quickly from lab to clinic. Without this vital funding, patients are left in limbo, waiting for a breakthrough that may come too late. Read More

AACI STATEMENTS AND PRESS RELEASES

AACI Letter Urges Secretary Kennedy, HHS to Protect Federal Funding for Cancer Research

March 20, 2025


Read the Letter

AACI Statement on Widespread Termination of Federal Funding

March 17, 2025

AACI Statement on Mass Firings at Government Health Agencies

February 19, 2025

AACI Statement on Indirect Cost Rates

February 8, 2025

AACI Statement on Federal Funding Freeze

January 28, 2025

AACI Press Room

About AACI


The Association of American Cancer Institutes (AACI) represents over 100 premier academic and freestanding cancer centers in the United States and Canada. AACI is accelerating progress against cancer by enhancing the impact of academic cancer centers and promoting cancer health equity.

Copyright 2025 | Association of American Cancer Institutes

PO Box 7317

Pittsburgh, PA 15213

412-647-6111

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