Act Includes Friends of Cancer Research Proposal to Create Oncology Center of Excellence at FDA

Washington, DC, March 17, 2016 – Friends of Cancer Research (Friends) would like to applaud Senator Alexander and Senator Murray for introducing the FDA and NIH Workforce Authorities Modernization Act. The Act takes several steps that will ultimately enhance cutting edge medical research.

At a Senate briefing just two weeks ago, Friends laid the groundwork for how the FDA could best reflect the current state of science and innovation by developing an Oncology Center of Excellence. The FDA and NIH Workforce Authorities Modernization Act includes this important initiative in the form of establishing FDA Intercenter Institutes. These Institutes will improve coordination within and between FDA medical product centers and allow the FDA to update its structure to better reflect 21st century science and patient treatment.

In addition to fostering cross-center coordination at FDA, the legislation contains several other key provisions to optimize processes at the FDA and NIH including:

• Enhanced mechanism to hire and retain our country’s brightest scientific minds
• Improved access to critical scientific meetings for federal employees
• Streamline processes for NIH research information collection

We are extremely grateful to see such a strong commitment from Senator Alexander and Senator Murray to the role that the FDA plays in translating scientific discovery into therapies for patients.

“Senator Alexander and Senator Murray have taken an important and crucial step forward by acknowledging the opportunity and need for innovation at the FDA,” said Dr. Ellen Sigal, Chair & Founder of Friends. “By investing in the agency and by incorporating our proposal for Centers of Excellence, this legislation will be able to enhance the FDA’s ability to execute their vital role in translating scientific discovery into new therapies for patients.”

We look forward to continued collaboration with Congress and the Senate to ensure that patients receive the safest and most effective treatments possible with 21st century science and cures.

Full text of the bill including the Friends proposal for Centers of Excellence at the FDA

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About Friends of Cancer Research

Friends of Cancer Research (Friends) is our country’s leading voice in advocating for policies and solutions that will get treatments to patients in the safest and quickest way possible. As a think tank and an advocacy organization based in Washington, DC, Friends develops groundbreaking partnerships and creates a more open dialogue among both public and private sectors and tears down the barriers that stand in the way of conquering cancer. Working with federal health agencies, congressional leadership, academic research centers, and private sector industry, Friends continues to create innovative educational, policy, and scientific approaches to improve health outcomes and cancer care. For more information please visit www.focr.org.