Biden’s Final Cancer Moonshot Task Force Report

Follow and join the conversation with #Cancer Moonshot.

Last week Vice President Joe Biden delivered his final Cancer Moonshot Task Force report to President Obama. The report explains all that has been accomplished since the creation of the Cancer Moonshot Initiative last January, and lays out specific plans for year 2 and beyond. Five strategic goals are listed and explained along with the Cancer Moonshot Implementation Plan which breaks down the steps that need to be taken to achieve those goals. The report also includes the Cancer Moonshot Blue Ribbon Panel’s identified areas of scientific opportunity.

The #CancerMoonshot carries the hopes & dreams of millions praying we succeed. Read the report I just handed @POTUS: https://t.co/m3r4rw4aG3

— Vice President Biden (@VP) October 17, 2016

Who’s In?
Along with all of its findings and recommendations, the report also includes the announcement of new commitments toward the goals of the Cancer Moonshot from both the public and private sectors. These new commitments and public-private partnerships are just some of the over 70 commitments made this year as a result of the Cancer Moonshot. These commitments range from hundreds of millions of additional dollars toward research, to data sharing partnerships to make it easier for doctors, researchers and patients to access the data they need to make decisions about treatment, prevention and research toward cures. Below are some of the most recent collaborators:

• National Cancer Institute, Amazon Web Services, and Microsoft – working to build a sustainable model for maintaining cancer genomic data in the cloud
• The Department of Defense – establishing a groundbreaking new study to transform our understanding of the biological basis of cancer
• Lyft and Uber – expanding their support of affordable, reliable transportation for cancer patients

Why Now?
Members of the Cancer Moonshot Task Force were asked, “Why is now the right time for the Cancer Moonshot to happen?” The Cancer Moonshot Task Force Report details the action their respective agencies have taken, and will be taking, but it’s interesting to hear how these top executives answer this question. Read their answers and click on the biography link under each member’s picture to find out more about those in charge of Cancer Moonshot.

President Obama on CMS

The Next Administration
Biden fully believes in the mission of the Cancer Moonshot. When he announced that he would not be running for president he said he had only regret about that decision – that he wouldn’t be the president presiding over the end of cancer. In his words, “The Cancer Moonshot is a movement that lives in communities across the United States and the world — and it will live long after we leave office. Mr. President, we can’t afford for it not to, because the need is too great and the promise even greater.” Hopefully, the next administration takes on the task with as much fervor as the current vice president and sees the mission through.

We’ve been covering the Cancer Moonshot Initiative since its inception last January. Read our stories and updates to see how it has progressed over the past year.