I just got this in my email:
| DoD Ovarian Cancer Research Program Receives an Increase in Appropriations Advocates’ work leads to 100% increase in Ovarian Cancer Research Program |
|
OCTOBER 1, 2008 (WASHINGTON, DC): On September 30, President Bush signed a funding measure which included $20 million for the Department of Defense (DoD) Ovarian Cancer Research Program. This is an amazing accomplishment for the advocates and partners who have been fighting for an increase in federal funding for the past six years. Earlier in 2008, the House of Representatives draft bill contained $25 million in Fiscal Year 2009 (FY09) to the DoD Ovarian Cancer Research Program to help maintain current research and expand innovative investigations into early detection and screening tools. While $20 million is not the full $25 originally requested, the ovarian cancer community is pleased that Congress has recognized the importance of the DoD program and the need for increased funds for ovarian cancer research.
Since 1997, the DoD has had a Congressionally Directed Medical Research Program to eliminate ovarian cancer – the Ovarian Cancer Research Program. The Ovarian Cancer Research Program is a peer-reviewed and highly competitive bid program. In 2008, the DoD program was only able to award approximately 17 of the 250 scored grants on the $10 million appropriation. Since 2004, this program has received $10 million per year to fulfill its goal of eliminating ovarian cancer by stimulating and supporting innovative, multidisciplinary research efforts that will lead to better understanding, detection, diagnosis, prevention and control of ovarian cancer. The accomplishments of this fund include:
- Researchers discovered biomarkers for early stage ovarian cancer
- Development of animal models to study ovarian cancer
- Discovery of biomarkers that predict survival
- Establishment of tissue repository and registry
- Published 164 papers in gynecology oncology
- Discovery of the type of cells that control ovarian cancer
- Understanding of platinum drug uptake, which will be used to address chemotherapy resistance
“The Ovarian Cancer National Alliance is very pleased with the $20 million appropriation,” says Karen Orloff Kaplan, Sc.D. Chief Executive Officer of OCNA. “This money serves as a life line to ovarian cancer research and provides medical scientists and professionals the resources they need to help find an early detection test and eventually, a cure.”
More research and funding for ovarian cancer are essential because diagnosing the disease is so daunting; only 20% of women diagnosed are in Stage I. In the more than 30 years since the War on Cancer was declared, ovarian cancer mortality rates have not significantly improved. About 22,000 American women will be diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 2008 and 15,000 women will die from the disease.
Congress plays an integral role in the DoD program by maintaining the structure of the Ovarian Cancer Research Program as an independent, site-specific, dedicated research. Furthermore, Congress determines the appropriations level each year.
“The DoD’s $20 million dollar appropriation comes at a time when the House and Senate just passed Awareness Resolutions officially proclaiming September as ovarian cancer awareness month,” says Cara Tenenbaum, Senior Policy Director of OCNA. “Capitol Hill is making large and small milestones toward the fight against ovarian cancer and we look forward to working with Congress to keep the momentum going.”
