NBTS and its volunteer advocates helped influence the federal government to:
- Provide $130 million for the Peer-Reviewed Cancer Research Program of the Department of Defense for FY22, a $15 million increase over FY21, and ensured brain cancer, pediatric brain tumors, and pediatric, adolescent, and young adult cancers were once again included as eligible priority research topics for funding.
- Allocate $30 million to fully fund the Childhood Cancer STAR Act for a fourth consecutive year.
- Secure $50 million to fully fund the Childhood Cancer Data Initiative (CCDI) for a third consecutive year.
- Secure $45 billion in funding for the National Institutes of Health (NIH) for FY22, a $2.25 billion increase over FY21, and $6.9 billion to the National Cancer Institute (NCI), a $353 million increase.
In addition, in partnership with our 18,000 advocates across all 50 states, NBTS:
- Held our signature advocacy event, Head to the Hill, to mobilize members of the brain tumor community to share their stories and advocate for the federal government to make strategic investments in brain tumor research and address other critical issues affecting the brain tumor community. One of the issues addressed by participants was urging policymakers to reauthorize the Childhood Cancer STAR Act, which Congress ultimately passed in December 2022. More than 40 advocates from the pediatric brain tumor community participated in the 2023 Head to the Hill.
- Joined the Cancer Moonshot Brain Cancers Forum on glioblastoma (GBM) and diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (DIPG) at the White House in May 2023. The forum explored ways to accelerate efforts to develop innovative treatments and reduce disparities in access to care and clinical trials for these rare brain cancers.
- Took part in the effort to reignite the Cancer Moonshot, which renewed the Biden administration’s commitment to ensuring progress against cancers, including pediatric brain tumors, remains a national priority.
- Continued support for the Gabriella Miller Kids First Research Act 2.0, which provides funding for a pediatric disease research initiative within the NIH.
- Advocated with other groups for a resolution designating an official DIPG Awareness Day in the United States.
NBTS also ensures the pediatric brain tumor voice is represented at the highest levels and most critical junctures of our nation’s biomedical research funding system:
- NBTS’s CEO sits on the Childhood Cancer Data Initiative’s Steering Committee.
- NBTS has for years and continues to nominate pediatric brain tumor research advocates to serve on review committees for grants from the Peer Reviewed Cancer Research Program of the Department of Defense.