For the fourth straight year, the National Brain Tumor Society (NBTS) is championing a bipartisan, bicameral resolution designating a national Glioblastoma (GBM) Awareness Day in July. This year’s resolution seeks to commemorate GBM Awareness Day on July 20 to raise public awareness for this highly aggressive and deadly form of brain cancer.
In the Senate, the resolution is sponsored by Lindsey Graham (R-SC), with the support of Senators Ed Markey (D-MA), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Kyrsten Sinema (D-AZ), Mark Kelly (D-AZ), Marco Rubio (R-FL), Chris Coons (D-DE), Sen. Tim Scott (R-SC) and Raphael Warnock (D-GA). Brian Mast (R-FL-18), Jan Schakowsky (D-IL-9), Jim Langevin (D-RI-2), Mike Gallagher (R-WI-08), and David Trone (D-MD-6) are spearheading the effort in the House of Representatives.
The following is a statement from David F. Arons, JD, chief executive officer of the National Brain Tumor Society:
“Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most common, complex, treatment-resistant, and deadliest type of brain cancer. Since the first introduction of the bipartisan Glioblastoma Awareness Day resolution in the U.S. Senate in 2019, this now-annual commemoration has helped raise much-needed awareness of this highly aggressive cancer. Beginning with just five Senate sponsors, the 2022 resolution now includes a House companion and 14 co-sponsors. More importantly, initial steps have been taken to advance research that can one day improve the status quo for patients. Following our call to action, in 2020, the National Cancer Institute (NCI) formed the Glioblastoma Therapeutics Network to enhance and support the development of GBM therapies through pre-clinical studies and early-phase clinical trials and launched new funding to better unravel the complexity of glioblastoma through advanced RNA sequencing. We continue to call upon Congress and the Administration to increase support for these and other glioblastoma-focused efforts that are absolutely needed to achieve scientific and medical breakthroughs. Efforts to launch ARPA-H and reignite the Cancer Moonshot are important steps forward that can and should be built upon.
“Now in its fourth year, this bicameral effort has continued to grow and we are now able to offer greater support to survivors and their loved ones, remember those who are no longer with us, and honor luminaries working toward a cure and better quality of life for GBM patients. We thank all the dedicated champions in Congress who continue to sponsor and support our efforts to shine a light on this devastating disease, and we encourage all Americans to join us in our efforts to conquer and cure GBM— once and for all.”
National Brain Tumor Society spearheaded this annual event in 2019. We will continue to shine a light on this devastating disease and encourage all Americans to join us in our efforts and conquer and cure GBM— once and for all. Join us at braintumor.org and GBMawarenessDay.org.