Biden targets surgery with latest ‘Cancer Moonshot’ funds

President Joe Biden is set to announce on Tuesday a new allocation of $150 million in federal funding aimed at advancing technology to help surgeons more effectively remove cancerous tumors, according to the White House. The announcement, which will take place during Biden’s visit to New Orleans, is part of the ongoing “Cancer Moonshot” initiative, a program led by the president and First Lady with the ambitious goal of cutting the U.S. cancer death rate by at least half by 2047.

With nearly 2 million Americans receiving a diagnosis of solid tumors each year, surgical removal is often the crucial first step in treatment, underscoring the significance of this investment in improving cancer care. The White House emphasized that this funding could have a profound impact on the future of cancer treatment, building on recent advancements in prevention, early detection, and innovative therapies.

The White House highlighted that next-generation microscopes and imaging technology are at the forefront of this initiative, aiming to make cancer surgeries more effective by reducing the need for repeat procedures and minimizing damage to healthy tissue. These advancements are expected to save and extend countless lives.

In the first two years of the “Cancer Moonshot” initiative, the administration has invested over $400 million to accelerate breakthroughs in cancer prevention, detection, and treatment, demonstrating a strong commitment to combating the disease and improving patient outcomes.

The eight recipients of the funding include Dartmouth College, Johns Hopkins University, and the University of Washington, as announced by the White House.

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