This afternoon, by a vote of 336-87, the House passed the Fiscal Year 2012 Department of Defense Appropriations bill (H.R. 2219). The bill includes funding for critical national security needs while also providing essential funding for health and quality of life programs for the men and women of the Armed Services and their families.

The final bill includes more than $223 million for cancer research, including $12.8 million for the Department of Defense’s Peer Reviewed Cancer Research Program (PRCRP) that funds colorectal cancer research.

The PRCRP is an opportunity to advance the best research to eradicate diseases and support the warfighter for the benefit of the American public. The research target diseases like colorectal cancer that directly impact the welfare of the American military, their families and the public. For example, a study published in the June 2009 edition of Cancer Epiemology Biomarkers & Prevention, researchers found that colorectal cancer was one of the most common forms of cancer among active-duty military personnel. Screening rates in the military for colorectal cancer, like in the general population, are much too low. In 2008, only about 58% of those in the military who should be screened for colorectal cancer had been screened.

The mission of the PRCRP is to foster ground-breaking research, team science, and partnerships for the development of better prevention, early detection, and more effective treatment of cancer. The funding supports high-quality medical research, concentrating its resources on research mechanisms which complement rather than duplicate the research approaches of the other major funders of medical research in the United States. The PRCRP strives to recognize and fund innovative research, which can ‘leap frog’ scientific advances towards achieving the goals of the programs. This focus can be high risk, yet can yield high gains. CDMRP funds research that may be considered too risky or preliminary for the NIH/NCI to support.

The research potentially helps to decrease the more than $1 billion that the Department of Defense (DoD) spends on cancer care each year.

“Fight Colorectal Cancer, on behalf of the thousands of war fighters at risk for or living with colorectal cancer, thanks the US House of Representatives for reaffirming its commitment to funding cancer research through the CDMRP. While we are grateful that cancer research will continue through this program, we remain determined to do more and do better for the men and women living with cancer while wearing a uniform.” — Carlea Bauman, President, Fight Colorectal Cancer

Although colorectal cancer research has only been funded through the PRCRP since Fiscal Year 2010, we are already seeing innovative research taking place. Dr. Carlos Alvarez at the Research Institute at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, Dr. C. Couto at Ohio State University, and Dr. Kun Huang at Ohio State University recently received funding for a research proposal identifying genetic pathways that are affected in cancer risk and disease progression by studying military working dogs.

Colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in America. As Congress moves forward with completing its work on the Fiscal Year 2012 appropriations bills we hope it will continue to fund proven research programs that have the potential to reduce the billions of tax-payer dollars we spend on cancer care.

The next step is for the Senate to consider the bill. Please take a minute to contact your Senators about the importance of Fiscal Year 2012 funding for colorectal cancer programs.

Walter Pincus’s latest article published by the Washington Post criticizes the health research funding in the defense appropriations bill as both earmarked funding and unneeded duplicative funding. He is wrong.

It Isn’t Earmarked Funding

The defense health programs don’t come close to meeting the Administration’s own definition of an earmark.

The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) defines earmarks as “funds provided by the Congress for projects or programs where the congressional direction (in bill or report language) circumvents the merit-based or competitive allocation process, or specifies the location or recipient, or otherwise curtails the ability of the Administration to control critical aspects of the funds allocation process.”

The fact that President Obama does not request funding for important health research programs does not make them “earmarks” if Congress chooses to fund them.

All funding through the Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs (CDMRP) is competitively awarded. Research proposals go through a two-tier review process of scientific peer review, followed by a programmatic review that includes basic researchers, clinicians, consumers, and military members.

To qualify, CDMRP research must have relevance to service members and their families. The research potentially helps to decrease the more than $1 billion that the Department of Defense (DoD) spends on cancer care each year.

The Research Isn’t Duplicative

Back in 2007, COL Harris, testified before the House Defense Appropriations Subcommittee about the Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs. In answering how the CDMRP research is different than that of research funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the National Cancer Institute (NCI), COL Harris explained that “[t]wo hallmarks of CDMRP are innovation and inclusion of survivors in decision-making processes. CDMRP strives to recognize and fund innovative research, which can ‘leap frog’ scientific advances towards achieving the goals of the programs. This focus can be high risk, yet can yield high gains. CDMRP funds research that may be considered too risky or preliminary for the NIH/NCI to support.”

The CDMRP supports high-quality medical research, concentrating its resources on research mechanisms which complement rather than duplicate the research approaches of the major funders of medical research in the United States. Although the diseases included in this program are diverse, the research on these disease types is often synergistic. For example, investigators increasingly look at the molecular profiles of cancer, often finding connections across cancers affecting different body sites. Advances or progress related to one cancer fuels the research on the other cancers in this program, and treatments initially approved for one cancer are routinely found to be effective in others. For example, treatments approved initially for kidney cancer have proven effective in other solid tumors outside the scope of this program. Monoclonal antibodies, designed to target specific molecules on the surface of cancer cells, were first used in the treatment of non-Hodgkin lymphoma. They are now the most widely used form of cancer immunotherapy, with clinical trials in progress for almost every type of cancer.

It’s A Good Investment

Advocacy groups and members of Congress have been strong champions of Pentagon-conducted research because Defense Department researchers get results with minimal tax-payer investment.

Funding for the CDMRP is an opportunity to advance the best research to eradicate diseases and support the warfighter for the benefit of the American public. These research programs target diseases that impact directly the welfare of the American military, their families and the public. The CDMRP supports medical research on several forms of cancer (breast, blood, colorectal, melanoma, pediatric, brain, lung, ovarian, and prostate) and other diseases (like neurofibromatosis, bone marrow failure, and tuberous sclerosis complex) that have led to breakthroughs on nerve regeneration and traumatic brain injury. The CDMRP also funds research on Gulf War Illness, psychological health, spinal cord injury, and hearing and vision loss (which comprise a significant portion of current battlefield injuries). Other activities target diseases and conditions such as Lupus, Multiple Sclerosis, Scleroderma, ALS, and Autism, conditions that can have a devastating effect on the families those in service leave behind.

Funding Successful and Innovative Research

Cancer research performed by the Pentagon is unique in that it funds high-risk, high-reward projects that may yield nothing or a spectacular breakthrough. Many of these projects have gathered enough data to receive funding from the National Cancer Institute, taking the research even further. The Pentagon’s annual budget for ovarian cancer research is only $12 million, but it has yielded multiple discoveries that benefit women with the disease. One example is the OVA1TM test, which helps physicians determine whether a pelvic mass is benign or malignant. Another breakthrough is a compound that slows ovarian cancer growth.

The DoD Prostate Cancer Research Program, through its sponsorship of Phase I/II trials through the Prostate Cancer Clinical Trials Consortium, has helped to bring to market 3 new medicines for men with advanced prostate cancer that were approved by the FDA in 2010-11: namely, PROVENGE® (sipuleucel-T) – Dendreon Corporation, XGEVA™ (denosumab) – Amgen Inc, and ZYTIGA™ (abiraterone acetate) – Johnson & Johnson were all made possible through DoD support of a comprehensive clinical trials network of 13 US centers of excellence for prostate cancer research. Also, more than 2,700 patients have had access to 83 clinical trials since 2005 through the DoD’s Prostate Cancer Clinical Trials Consortium.

Research funded by the Tuberous Sclerosis Complex Research Program (TSCRP) has led to the development of animal models of tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC) and clinical trials, resulting in the first drug specifically to treat TSC being approved by the FDA in 2010.  These same animal models are shedding light on the consequences and potential treatment for traumatic brain injury.

The ALS Research Program has led to the identification and development of new chemical compounds which are now being developed for potential treatments for ALS, a fatal disease for which there currently is no effective treatment. The program also has enabled the parallel development of many new approaches to therapies for ALS, increasing the chances of finding a meaningful treatment for all people with the disease, including our heroes serving in the military who are twice as likely to die from ALS as the general public.

Dr. Carlos Alvarez at the Research Institute at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, Dr. C. Couto at Ohio State University, and Dr. Kun Huang at Ohio State University recently received funding for an innovative research proposal identifying genetic pathways that are affected in cancer risk and disease progression by studying military working dogs.

Colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in America. As Congress moves forward with the fiscal year 2012 appropriations bills I hope it will continue to fund proven research programs that have the potential to reduce the billions of tax-payer dollars we spend on cancer care.

– Nancy Roach was a member of the FY10 PRCRP Integration Panel responsible for the programmatic review of grant applications submitted to the program for funding through the Department of Defense.  Ms. Roach is a founder of both Fight Colorectal Cancer (formerly the C3: Colorectal Cancer Coalition) and the Colon Cancer Alliance. She currently serves as the Chair of the Board of Directors for Fight Colorectal Cancer. Ms. Roach also serves on the Executive Committee of the FDA-Duke Clinical Trial Transformation Initiative. In her role as a patient advocate, Ms. Roach also serves on a number of advisory boards for the National Cancer Institute.

This week the House Appropriations Committee approved $223 million for cancer research, including $12.8 million for the Department of Defense’s Peer Reviewed Cancer Research Program (PRCRP) that funds colorectal cancer research. Next week, the full House will consider the bill.

During consideration of the bill by the full House, there may be amendments offered to eliminate or reduce this important funding. Keep reading for more information on why the PRCRP funding is important and what you can do to help ensure the funding stays in the fiscal year 2012 defense appropriations bill.

The PRCRP is an opportunity to advance the best research to eradicate diseases and support the warfighter for the benefit of the American public. These research target diseases like colorectal cancer that directly impact the welfare of the American military, their families and the public. For example, a study published in the June 2009 edition of Cancer Epiemology Biomarkers & Prevention, researchers found that colorectal cancer was one of the most common forms of cancer among active-duty military personnel. Screening rates in the military for colorectal cancer, like in the general population, are much too low. In 2008, only about 58% of those in the military who should be screened for colorectal cancer had been screened.

The mission of the PRCRP is to foster ground-breaking research, team science, and partnerships for the development of better prevention, early detection, and more effective treatment of cancer. The funding supports high-quality medical research, concentrating its resources on research mechanisms which complement rather than duplicate the research approaches of the other major funders of medical research in the United States.

The PRCRP is very important. Dr Carlos Alvarez at the Research Institute at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, Dr C Couto at Ohio State University, and Dr Kun Huang at Ohio State University recently received a PRCRP funding grant for the following innovative research proposal:

“Despite great progress in genetics, little is known about the majority of genetic and environmental causes of complex diseases. One limitation is the great genetic complexity of the human population, in which many variations of many genes can be associated with disease. Another limitation is that it has not yet been possible to study groups of individuals over time, collecting standardized clinical, environmental, and molecular or genetic data. In humans, this has not been possible largely due to cost and ethics. Here we propose that dogs are the ideal mammal in which to identify genetic and environmental contributions to disease. Military Working Dogs (MWD) offer an unparalleled advantage in understanding the genetic mechanisms that contribute to the development of naturally occurring complex diseases. Genetic complexity in dog breeds is very dramatically reduced compared to humans, and each breed is predisposed to a different limited group of disorders. Nearly 400 inherited diseases, including diverse cancers, are well characterized in dogs. Almost all are similar to human disorders and, where known, involve the same biochemical pathways. Other major strengths of dog models is that they share an environment with humans, the also receive a high level of health care, but age five times as fast. Studies on pets share the limitations of bias that occur in the human population. MWD however have extensive clinical, behavioral, and environmental records. By using these records in combination with molecular and genetic characterizations we hope to identify environmental effects that alter heritable traits. Specifically we will integrate different kinds of information and conduct statistical analysis to identify exactly which gene variations and environmental effects are associated with increased cancer incidence or worse outcomes. We propose this would be the most powerful study of its kind to date. The successful completion of this work will yield information about genetic and environmental contributions to cancer. This information will not only be relevant to human cancers, but is likely to reveal completely novel understanding of geneenvironment interactions. The ultimate applicability of this work will be the identification of genetic pathways that are affected in cancer risk and disease progression. Importantly, the development of new treatments based on our findings will be vastly accelerated in clinical studies of pet dogs with cancer. For example, if drugs targeting the biochemical pathways implicated are already in human use or in development, those could be used in dogs without requirements for clinical studies that typically take six or more years in humans. Thus our proposal has the potential to quickly identify novel genetic and environmental contributions to cancer, and to result in the rapid development of new treatments.”

Research proposals submitted for funding through the PRCRP program go through a two-tier review process.  The first level is a scientific peer review conducted by an external panel recruited specifically for each peer review session.  The second-tier review is a programmatic review conducted by an “Integration Panel.”  Members of the Integration Panel include basic researchers, clinicians, consumers, and military members.  Research proposals that receive a recommendation from the Integration Panel are awarded funding in the form of 1-5 year grants, contracts, or cooperative agreements.

The Peer Reviewed Cancer Research Program is just one of several innovative research programs within the Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs (CDMRP). We are very concerned that amendments may be offered during floor consideration of the fiscal year 2012 appropriations bill to reduce or eliminate this important research funding. We will be working hard to prevent this from happening, but we also need your help to ensure the funding stays in the bill….

Please take a minute to call your Representative and ask them to vote no on any amendments that would reduce or eliminate funding for the Peer Reviewed Cancer Research Program.

Dial 202-224-3121, and ask the operator to connect you to your Representative. When you are connected to the office, you can use the following talking points:

Introduce yourself: Give the staffer your name and address (they need to know you are in their district)

Tell them why you are an expert: Explain your personal connection to colorectal cancer (are you a survivor, family member of a patient, caregiver, physician, nurse, etc)

Explain what you want: “I urge you to vote NO on any amendments that would reduce funding for the Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs. The $12.8 million in fiscal year 2012 defense appropriations bill (H.R. 2219) for the Peer Reviewed Cancer Research Program is life-saving research funding needed to continue a highly successful peer-reviewed, competitive grant program.”

Today, the House Committee on Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense held a public witness hearing about funding needs for the fiscal year 2011 defense appropriations bill.  C3′s President, Carlea Bauman, testified at the hearing about the urgent need for more funding for colorectal cancer research.

Ms. Bauman thanked the Subcommittee members for including $15 million for the Department of Defense (DoD)’s Peer Reviewed Cancer Research Program (PRCRP) in the fiscal year 2010 bill and urged them to increase the level of funding for the PRCRP to $50 million in fiscal year 2011.

C3 is making the request for funding along with other advocacy groups representing the eight research areas in the PRCRP.  The program, funded through the DoD’s Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs (CDMRP) supports high-quality cancer research, concentrating its resources on mechanisms which complement rather than duplicate the research approaches of the major funders of medical research in the United States.

The PRCRP also represents a unique partnership among the public, Congress, and the military.  Congress has required the DoD to ensure that the research funded through the program has relevance to service members and their families.  The research can help service members exposed to toxins and decrease the more than $1 billion that the DoD spends on cancer care.

Although the cancers included in this program are diverse, the research on these disease types is often synergistic. Advances or progress related to one cancer fuels the research on the other cancers in this program, and treatments initially approved for one cancer are routinely found to be effective in others.

In her testimony, Ms. Bauman advised the Subcommittee that areas of focus for colorectal cancer research in the PRCRP could be:

• An inexpensive, non-invasive, accurate screening test;
• Predictive markers to identify who will benefit from which treatments; and
• Accurate diagnostics that can evaluate the markers.

Discoveries resulting from investment in PRCRP research have the potential to transform the investigation of cancer, through the development of new prevention strategies and therapies, and someday, cures.  A $50 million investment will greatly enhance and accelerate such breakthroughs.  It is an opportunity to advance the best research to eradicate diseases and support the warfighter for the benefit of the American public.

Ms. Bauman’s complete testimony is available online here.

A list of the other witnesses who testified at the hearing is available here.

Advocates from across the country participating in C3′s 2010 Call-on Congress had the opportunity to get tips on having effective meetings with Members and Congressional staff from two staffers whose bosses are champions for the colorectal cancer community.

Theresa Vawter, Legislative Assistant for Representative Kay Granger (R-TX) who is the sponsor of the Colorectal Cancer Prevention, Early Detection, and Treatment Act (H.R. 1189) which would put in place a national colorectal cancer screening and treatment program participated in a panel along with Tom Wharton, Health Care Legislative Assistant and Speechwriter for Representative Dan Boren (D-OK).  Representative Boren is the sponsor of the Colorectal Cancer Screening and Treatment Act (H.R. 1330) which will help to increase population-based screening rates for colorectal cancer by requiring all health insurance plans, both individual and group, to cover a colonoscopy for anyone age 50 or older.

Theresa and Tom spoke with the advocates about why each of their bosses is such a champion for colorectal cancer issues.  Like too many Americans, both Representative Granger and Representative Boren have lost family members to this disease.  Each is using their position as Member of Congress to push legislation that if enacted will lower the cost of colonoscopies and expand access to screening and treatment services.

The tips and advice they shared with the advocates helped to prepare them to head to Capitol Hill and meet with their Members of Congress.

On Wednesday, March 17 the advocates marched to Capitol Hill to ask their legislators to support:

• $50 million in funding for the Peer Reviewed Cancer Research Program (PRCRP) at the Department of Defense for Fiscal Year 2011.  This program at the Department of Defense funds research for a number of cancers including colorectal cancer.
• The Colorectal Cancer Prevention, Early Detection, and Treatment Act of 2009 (H.R. 1189) which would establish a national colorectal cancer screening and treatment program administered by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
• The Colorectal Cancer Screening and Detection Act (H.R. 1330) would require all health insurance plans, both individual and group, to cover a colonoscopy for anyone age 50 or older.

Their voices were heard on Capitol Hill, and will continue to make a difference in the fight against colorectal cancer!

As a result of C3’s advocacy efforts, $15 million for a new peer reviewed cancer research program is included in the final Fiscal Year 2010 Defense Appropriations Bill.

The program will research cancers, like colorectal cancer, that are not addressed in the breast, prostate, lung and ovarian cancer research programs run by the U.S. Army Medical Research and Material Command (USAMRMC).  In addition to colorectal cancer research, the funds will be used to conduct research in the following areas: melanoma and other skin cancers, pediatric brain tumors within the field of childhood cancer research, genetic cancer research and genomic medicine, kidney cancer, blood cancer, Listeria Vaccine for infectious disease and cancer, and radiation protection utilizing nanotechnology.

The $15 million in funding for this new cancer research program was included at the request of Representatives Kay Granger (R-TX) and Jim Moran (D-VA).

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

December 16, 2009

C3: Colorectal Cancer Coalition
1414 Prince Street, Suite 204
Alexandria, VA 22314
http://www.fightcolorectalcancer.org

Contact:  Catherine Knowles (202) 276-5682

House Creates New Cancer Research Program

WASHINGTON, D.C. — As a result of C3: Colorectal Cancer Coalition’s advocacy efforts, $15 million for a new peer reviewed cancer research program is included in the final Fiscal Year 2010 Defense Appropriations Bill.

This new cancer research program will research cancers, like colorectal cancer, that are not addressed in the breast, prostate, lung and ovarian cancer research programs run by the U.S. Army Medical Research and Material Command.

The $15 million in funding for this new cancer research program was included in the final bill at the request of Representatives Kay Granger (R-TX) and Jim Moran (D-VA).

Congresswoman Kay Granger (R-TX) released the following statement today following House passage of the defense bill:

“I was pleased to support funding for colorectal cancer research through the establishment of a new peer reviewed cancer research program.  Colorectal cancer is the third most commonly diagnosed cancer and the second leading cause of cancer death in both men and women in the US.  However, federal funding for colorectal cancer research has lagged behind funding for other diseases and I was pleased to support the creation of a peer reviewed cancer research program that will help to address this disparity.”

Congressman Jim Moran (D-VA) released the following statement today following House passage of the defense bill:

“The recognition of the need for peer-reviewed research of colorectal cancer in the Defense Appropriations Bill is a testament to the professionalism and commitment of C3. They are as well informed as they are nice, an absolute pleasure to work with.”

Dr. John L. Marshall, Division Chief, Associate Professor of Medicine, Chief, Division of Hematology/Oncology, Georgetown University Hospital, Associate Director, Clinical Research, Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, released the following statement today following House passage of the defense bill:

“As a researcher, I know first hand how difficult it is to secure funding for innovative cancer research. The $15 million in funding for a new peer reviewed cancer research program will not only help attract new researchers but it will play an important role in developing new treatments for colorectal cancer. I look forward to the implementation of this new program and the discoveries and innovations the funding will secure.”

Carlea Bauman, President of C3: Colorectal Cancer Coalition released the following statement today following House passage of the defense bill:

“The $15 million in funding for this new peer reviewed cancer research program will fund research efforts that investigate new methods of studying early detection, screening and treatment of colorectal cancer as well as attracting new researchers to the field. Today marks an important milestone in the fight against colorectal cancer with research on track to receive its fair share of federal resources. We thank the House Appropriations Committee, and especially Representatives Granger and Moran for recognizing the need to step up the fight against this disease.”

C3: Colorectal Cancer Coalition (C3) is a nonprofit, nonpartisan advocacy organization seeking to eliminate suffering and death due to colorectal cancer. C3 pushes for research to improve screening, diagnosis and treatment of colorectal cancer; advocates for policy decisions that make the most effective colorectal cancer prevention and treatment available to all; and works to increase awareness that colorectal cancer is preventable, treatable and beatable.

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Although the fiscal year ended on September 30, to-date Congress has only completed 5 of the 12 annual appropriations bills.  This week, Congress moved forward with a couple of important steps and it looks like they are now on track to complete the remaining 7 bills before the end of the year.

Yesterday evening, House and Senate appropriators met to consider a conference report.  The report is an omnibus package that includes six of the fiscal year 2010 appropriations bills.  It includes: (1) the Labor, Health and Human Services Appropriations bill (this is the bill that funds a number of cancer programs through NIH, CDC, and NCI); (2) the Commerce Justice Science Appropriations bill; (3) the Financial Services Appropriations bill; (4) the Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations bill; (5) the Department of State and Foreign Operations Appropriations bill; and (6) the Transportation and Housing Appropriations bill.  The bill text is available online along with the manager’s statement (this is the part of the bill that includes earmark funding).

The conference report includes nearly $450 billion in spending for fiscal year 2010, and could come to the floor for a vote in the House as early as tomorrow.

Although very large, this first conference report does not include the Department of Defense Appropriations bill.  A second package will be needed expected to complete consideration of the defense bill before the current continuing resolution expires on December 18.

House and Senate appropriators are scheduled to meet Thursday afternoon to consider this second conference report that will include fiscal year 2010 funding for the Department of Defense.  This second conference report is expected to include the funding C3 requested for a new peer reviewed cancer research program to focus on colorectal cancer research.  In addition to funding for the Department of Defense, this second conference report is expected to include a jobs package using TARP money, an estate tax fix, an extension of the highway trust fund, and an increase of the debt limit.

The second appropriations conference report will be considered on the floor in the House next week.

The Senate will take up both conference reports after the House passes them. This timetable will allow Congress to send the bills to the President and wrap up consideration of all the fiscal year appropriations bills before the end of the year.