The NY Times bemoans the reduction in support of cancer research, and they note:
Other countries are seeing opportunity in the chaos. Varmus is among a number of prominent U.S. scientists who have received solicitations from the governments of France and Spain to consider relocating there. America’s 80-year run as the world’s leader of biomedical research — and 50-year run as the global leader of cancer research — may very well be coming to a close, and for no apparent reason. Varmus seemed as puzzled as anyone by the development. “We are great in science,” he said. “Why would we want to destroy one of our greatest assets?”
Yes the US has dominated research ut frankly I see China galloping along at a fair pace. So should we revamp the NCI? One may want to look at the web site of NCI. It tells a story in a rather politically correct manner. I will let you determine how. But frankly perhaps cancer research needs some restructuring.
Cancer is a complex disease with often no common thread even amongst the same cancers. One need look no further than lymphomas to see such variety.
That complexity is what has been studied over the past 50+ years. Gene after gene, pathway after pathway. From masses of cells to now cell by cell.
We have two extremes in cancer research. At one end is the silo approach of gene after gene. PTEN, MYC, MTOR, and the list goes on. Then we have clinical trials with some success. For example we see in cancer like melanoma that immune system control, PD-1 blockage, works in say 30-40% of the cases. Why not all? In hematological cancers with CD19 surface markers we have some success with CAR-T cells, but again not all. Why?
We are missing the middle state. Namely systems analysis of cancers. Looking at "all" the elements from genes to environment such as the tumor micro environment, to epigenetics, and the impact of the patient's other genetic factors. It is very complex and just being addressed.
Perhaps a good look as to how cancer research should evolve would be worthwhile. But one must be careful not to throw the baby out with the bathwater.
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