Cancer Groups Look for Common Ground As Competition for Research Funds Heats Up

This is a touchy subject as you don’t want to diminish any funds that are coming in, yet some type of umbrella where perhaps all are connected may not be a bad idea. As mentioned too, the groups are able to help gain research funds to innovators that may not otherwise be able to get a traditional grant for cancer research and thank goodness we have both the R and D and the advocacy groups to help support as well as the all important private donations. BD

We are worried that too many groups dilute funds" and can work against their cause, said Dan Smith, vice president of the American Cancer Society, the oldest and largest of the cancer advocacy groups. Few donors want to be solicited by multiple advocacy groups, he said, and "no politician wants to get caught in an intramural fight." This is a busy season for cancer advocates -- October is Breast Cancer Awareness month, September was prostate cancer's month. The Cancer Society flooded the Capitol last month with hundreds of volunteer lobbyists who trooped into congressional offices armed with identical talking points about stagnating cancer-research budgets and scorecards on each member's votes on cancer issues.

The economic slump is energizing competition among more than 1,000 groups fighting to influence federal cancer-research spending -- and raising concerns among some in Washington's cancer establishment about the competing demands of advocacy groups.

The Cancer Society is also directing more funding to young, innovative researchers who wouldn't likely qualify for traditional National Cancer Institute grants, Dr. Brawley said.