What Next | Daily News and Analysis TBD | Trump Vs. Cancer Research
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Aug 24, 2025 In this discussion, Angus Chen, a cancer reporter for STAT News, uncovers the implications of proposed cuts to the National Cancer Institute under the Trump administration. He highlights alarming impacts on funding, with potential threats to jobs and clinical trials. Chen emphasizes advancements like Tigrisso for lung cancer, showcasing how collaborative funding drives success. He also addresses challenges in federal grant processes and the urgent need to retain medical talent amid funding declines. The conversation raises critical concerns about the future of cancer research.
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Personal Diagnosis And Drug Success
- Lizzie O'Leary recounts her early-stage lung cancer diagnosis discovered accidentally three days before Christmas 2023.
- She had surgery and now takes Osimertinib, a targeted drug that transformed outcomes for EGFR-positive patients.
Public Funding Powers Breakthroughs
- Angus Chen explains that decades of basic science funded by public dollars powered breakthroughs like Osimertinib.
- He frames public funding as the 'sun' of the scientific ecosystem that enables long-term progress.
Proposed Cuts Threaten Research Ecosystem
- The Trump administration proposed slashing NIH and National Cancer Institute funding, risking cuts to research, jobs, labs, and clinical trials.
- Angus and Lizzie warn that these cuts undermine hope and future treatment options for patients.