Cancer Moonshot Offers Funding Opportunities
Since its initial announcement, the National Cancer Moonshot Initiative (https://voice.ons.org/topic/cancer-moonshot)—dubbed the Biden Cancer Initiative—has captivated the scientific, patient advocacy, and provider communities with possibilities for advancements in cancer treatments and cures. The cancer moonshot continues to maintain bipartisan support, as all involved are committed to making a decade’s worth of progress in just half the time.
Through an influx of federal dollars, government agencies like the National Institutes of Health and the National Cancer Institute (NCI) are working to address priority areas in cancer care. Recently, NCI published a list of categories for grants (https://www.cancer.gov/research/key-initiatives/moonshot-cancer-initiative/funding/upcoming) in response to the recommendations from the Blue Ribbon Panel (https://voice.ons.org/news-and-views/ncab-releases-blue-ribbon-panel-moonshot-report). These funding opportunities include:
- Immuno-Oncology Translational Network (https://www.cancer.gov/research/key-initiatives/moonshot-cancer-initiative/funding/upcoming#iotn)
- Pediatric Immunotherapy Discovery and Development Network (https://www.cancer.gov/research/key-initiatives/moonshot-cancer-initiative/funding/upcoming#pi-ddn)
- Mechanisms of Cancer Drug Resistance and Sensitivity Network Coordinating Center (https://www.cancer.gov/research/key-initiatives/moonshot-cancer-initiative/funding/upcoming#drug-resistance)
- Collaborative Research Network for Fusion Oncoproteins in Childhood Cancers (https://www.cancer.gov/research/key-initiatives/moonshot-cancer-initiative/funding/upcoming#childhood-oncoproteins)
- Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE) and Patient Reported Outcomes-CTCAE (https://www.cancer.gov/research/key-initiatives/moonshot-cancer-initiative/funding/upcoming#pro-ctcae)
- Improving Management of Symptoms Across Cancer Treatments (https://www.cancer.gov/research/key-initiatives/moonshot-cancer-initiative/funding/upcoming#impact)
- Approaches to Identify and Care for Individuals With Inherited Cancer Syndromes (https://www.cancer.gov/research/key-initiatives/moonshot-cancer-initiative/funding/upcoming#inherited-cancer-syndromes)
- Accelerating Colorectal Cancer Screening and Follow-Up Through Implementation Science (https://www.cancer.gov/research/key-initiatives/moonshot-cancer-initiative/funding/upcoming#accsis)
- Human Tumor Atlas Network (https://www.cancer.gov/research/key-initiatives/moonshot-cancer-initiative/funding/upcoming#hta)
As the cancer moonshot works toward its goal, ONS will continue to advocate and offer the insight and expertise of its nurse members. To date, ONS members have been involved in developing the Blue Ribbon Panel recommendations (https://www.ons.org/newsroom/news/ons-member-appointed-vice-president%E2%80%99s-blue-ribbon-cancer-moonshot-panel), informing the former Vice President Biden on important nursing priorities (https://voice.ons.org/news-and-views/six-months-later-how-ons-and-oncology-nurses-are-involved-in-the-national-cancer), and contributing to the work of the implementation sciences groups (https://www.ons.org/newsroom/news/ons-members-appointed-cancer-moonshot-working-groups).