NCI Annual Plan & Budget Proposal for Fiscal Year 2023
Director’s Message
Thanks to the progress we have achieved since the National Cancer Act of 1971 was signed into law, the hope of ending cancer as we know it may finally be within our reach—not just for a few, or even many, but for all people. Achieving this goal will require robust and sustained investments in cancer research.
Driving Discovery
NCI enables advances in cancer by investing in a broad portfolio of research, supporting the cancer research workforce, and sustaining the infrastructure that enables cutting-edge research to succeed.
Clinical Trials
Ending cancer as we know it means reimagining the clinical trial enterprise so that clinical research is available to participants wherever they are. With additional investments, NCI can support more research to expand telemedicine into clinical trials, increase access to trials for underserved communities, and incorporate methods that simplify enrollment and data collection.
Computer-Based Drug Design
A future with safe and effective cancer medicines that are available for every patient would end cancer as we know it. Additional investments in computational methods that rapidly screen billions of molecules for targeted interactions could speed drug discovery dramatically. This approach could produce a greater number of cancer drugs that work more effectively to save lives with fewer toxic side effects.
Precision Prevention
A precision approach to prevention could end cancer as we know it by limiting suffering and death for those at risk and helping others avoid unnecessary tests and treatments. Imagine determining a person’s cancer risk by assessing their genetic makeup, family history, environmental exposures, and behaviors and then tailoring personalized prevention approaches based on these factors. Accomplishing this goal requires a deeper understanding of the causes of cancer and cancer biology.
Tumor Dynamics
Ending cancer as we know it includes a future in which we can predict a tumor’s trajectory based on a detailed profile of each patient’s disease and develop personalized approaches to care. Addressing the complexity of cancer will require additional investments in basic research, coupled with resources including tumor atlases and advances in computer science and molecular techniques.