Statement From PCF CEO Charles J. Ryan, MD on the Relaunch of the “Cancer Moonshot”

President Biden has announced the bold and ambitious relaunch of the “Cancer Moonshot” initiative, aiming to reduce the death rate from cancer by 50 percent in the next 25 years. The Prostate Cancer Foundation (PCF) applauds this “all-hands-on-deck” approach to mobilize foundations, patient organizations, healthcare providers, and all Americans to defeat cancer.

“PCF fully supports the goals of the Cancer Moonshot and is prepared to do what is needed to accelerate progress,” says PCF CEO Charles J. Ryan, MD. “To reduce death and suffering we need to dive deep into the biology and as deeply into the barriers that patients face when seeking screening, diagnosis and care.”

PCF AND THE CANCER MOONSHOT
  • PCF forged a first-of-its kind partnership with the Department of Veterans Affairs to commit $50 million to establish 13 VA centers of excellence deliver innovative, best-in-class prostate cancer research and care to Veterans.
  • Additionally, PCF partnered with NIH to support the RESPOND study, which is helping the cancer community understand and address prostate cancer disparities for Black men and their families. Funding for this project was in part made possible through full funding for the 21st Century Cures Act and the Beau Biden Cancer Moonshot Initiative at the NCI.
  • PCF supported the Blood Profiling Atlas in Cancer (Blood PAC) in partnership with the Breast Cancer Research Foundation. Founded in 2016, Blood PAC is a database for liquid biopsies with the aim of improving understanding of metastatic disease, sharing crucial data to streamline clinical research, and accelerating drug development.

This announcement aligns with PCF’s mission to end all death and suffering from prostate cancer. For nearly three decades, PCF has worked closely with the United States government to end deaths from prostate cancer and improve the lives of millions of men who are battling this disease. Since 1993, PCF has raised close to $1 billion in support of cutting-edge research by nearly 1400 scientists at 245 leading cancer centers in 28 countries around the world.

As the world’s leading philanthropic organization dedicated to funding life-saving prostate cancer research, PCF had the privilege to answer the call to forge new partnerships and launch new programs six years ago when then-Vice President Biden challenged the cancer community to step up and double the rate of progress for cancer patients. On behalf of three million patients battling prostate cancer, and thousands of researchers working to end cancer as we know it, we are excited to continue our work and build upon those efforts.

We join President Biden and the cancer community with the shared goal of reducing the death rate by half and helping patients and their families live well, beyond cancer. By doing this and more, together, we will end not just prostate cancer, but all cancer as we know it today.

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Charles J. Ryan, MD
President and Chief Executive Officer

PCF AND THE CANCER MOONSHOT
  • PCF forged a first-of-its kind partnership with the Department of Veterans Affairs to commit $50 million to establish 13 VA centers of excellence deliver innovative, best-in-class prostate cancer research and care to Veterans.
  • Additionally, PCF partnered with NIH to support the RESPOND study, which is helping the cancer community understand and address prostate cancer disparities for Black men and their families. Funding for this project was in part made possible through full funding for the 21st Century Cures Act and the Beau Biden Cancer Moonshot Initiative at the NCI.
  • PCF supported the Blood Profiling Atlas in Cancer (Blood PAC) in partnership with the Breast Cancer Research Foundation. Founded in 2016, Blood PAC is a database for liquid biopsies with the aim of improving understanding of metastatic disease, sharing crucial data to streamline clinical research, and accelerating drug development.