Moffitt logo
    Search

    Choose a type to search within:

    All Doctors Clinical Trials Researchers
    search icon
    • Schedule
      New Patients
       
      Referring Physicians
    • Locations
      Magnolia
       
      McKinley
       
      Wesley Chapel
       
      International Plaza
       
      Moffitt at Memorial
       
      Fowler
       
      Telecomm/Intellicenter
    • Find a Doctor
    • MyMoffitt Portal
      Log In
       
      Enroll
    • Donate
    • 1-888-663-3488
    • image Search
    • Cancer Types & Treatments
        Cancers We Treat
      • Adrenal
      • Anal
      • Appendiceal (Appendix)
      • Astrocytoma
      • Basal Cell Carcinoma
      • Bladder
      • Brain
      • Brain Tumor
      • Breast
      • Cervical
      • Cholangiocarcinoma (Bile Duct )
      • Colon
      • Colorectal
      • Cutaneous T-Cell Lymphoma
      • Ductal Carcinoma In Situ
      • Endometrial (Uterine)
      • Esophageal
      • Gallbladder
      • Gastrointestinal Carcinoid Tumor
      • GIST (Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumor)
      • Glioblastoma
      • Head and Neck
      • HER2 Positive Breast
      • Hodgkin Lymphoma
      • Inflammatory Breast
      • Invasive Ductal Carcinoma
      • Kidney (Renal Cell)
      • Leukemia
      • Liver (Hepatocellular)
      • Lung
      • Lymphomas (Hodgkin and Non-Hodgkin)
      • Melanoma
      • Meningioma
      • Merkel Cell Carcinoma
      • Mesothelioma
      • Metastatic Breast
      • Multiple Myeloma-Plasma Cell Tumor
      • Myelodysplastic Syndromes (MDS)
      • Neuroendocrine Tumor
      • Neurofibromatosis
      • Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma
      • Oral Cavity (Mouth)
      • Oral Cavity or Throat
      • Osteosarcoma
      • Ovarian
      • Pancoast Tumor
      • Pancreatic
      • Penile
      • Pituitary Adenoma
      • Prostate
      • Rectal
      • Sarcoma
      • Skin (Nonmelanoma)
      • Skull Base Tumors
      • Small Intestine
      • Spinal Tumor
      • Squamous Cell Carcinoma
      • Stomach (Gastric)
      • Testicular
      • Throat
      • Thymoma
      • Thyroid
      • Tracheal
      • Triple Negative Breast
      • Vaginal
      • Vulvar
        Cancer Diagnostics and Treatments
      • Blood & Bone Marrow Transplant
      • Cardio-Oncology
      • Chemotherapy
      • Clinical Pathways
      • Clinical Trials
      • Endoscopic Procedures
      • Fertility Preservation
      • Gynecologic Oncology
      • Immunotherapy
      • Interventional Pain Management
      • Interventional Radiology
      • Personalized Medicine
      • Pharmacy
      • Radiation Therapy
      • Rehabilitation Services
      • Supportive Care Medicine
      • Surgical Care
      • Systemic Therapy
      • Targeted Therapy
      • Tumor Board
        Diagnostic Services
      • Radiology – Diagnostic Imaging and Interventional Radiology
      • Genetic Counseling and Genetic Testing
      • Pathology
      • Labwork and Bloodwork
      • Cancer Screenings
    • Patients & Families
        Patients and Families Resources Overview
      • International Referral Services
      • Moffitt Virtual Visits
      • Taking Care of Your Health
        Preparing For Your Appointment
      • Scheduling Your Appointment
      • MyMoffitt and Online Registration
      • Patient and Family Orientation
      • Patient Rights and Responsibilities
      • Medical Records
      • Traveling for Cancer Treatment
        Insurance & Financial Information
      • Insurance Coverage
      • Health Exchange
      • Medicare Coverage
      • Copay Assistance Program
      • Financial Assistance
      • Financial Information
      • Obtain a Cost Estimate
      • Understanding Your Bill
      • Frequently Asked Questions
        Programs & Support Services
        Patient and Family-Centered Care
        Cancer Survivorship
        Caregivers and Families
    • For Healthcare Professionals
        For Healthcare Professionals Overview
      • Clinical Perspectives
        Programs & Services
      • Adolescent & Young Adult (AYA)
      • Anesthesiology
      • BMT and Cellular Immunotherapy
      • Breast Oncology
      • Cardio-Oncology
      • Cutaneous Oncology
      • Diagnostic Imaging and Interventional Radiology
      • Endocrine Oncology
      • Gastrointestinal Oncology
      • Genetic Counseling
      • Genitourinary Oncology
      • Gynecologic Oncology
      • Head and Neck Oncology
      • Immunotherapy
      • Malignant Hematology
      • Moffitt Malignant Hematology & Cellular Therapy at Memorial Healthcare System
      • Neuro-Oncology
      • Pathology
      • Pharmacy
      • Radiation Oncology
      • Sarcoma
      • Screening & Prevention
      • Senior Adult Oncology
      • Supportive Care Medicine
      • Thoracic Oncology
        Physician Relations
        Continuing Education
      • Provider Conferences
      • Moffitt Grand Rounds
      • Multidisciplinary Programs
    • Research
        Research Overview
      • Research Faculty
        CCSG Programs
      • Cancer Biology and Evolution
      • Cancer Epidemiology
      • Health Outcomes & Behavior
      • Immuno-Oncology
      • Molecular Medicine
        Divisions and Departments
      • Biostatistics and Bioinformatics
      • Cancer Epidemiology
      • Cancer Physiology
      • Drug Discovery
      • Health Outcomes and Behavior
      • Immunology
      • Integrated Mathematical Oncology
      • Machine Learning
      • Molecular Oncology
      • Tumor Biology
        Centers and Institutes
      • Institutes
      • Centers of Excellence
        Shared Resources
      • Analytic Microscopy
      • Biostatistics and Bioinformatics
      • Cancer Pharmacokinetics and Pharmacodynamics
      • Cell Therapies
      • Chemical Biology
      • Collaborative Data Services
      • Flow Cytometry
      • Gene Targeting
      • Molecular Genomics
      • Participant Research, Interventions, and Measurement Core (PRISM)
      • Proteomics and Metabolomics
      • Quantitative Imaging Core
      • Small Animal Imaging Lab
      • Tissue
        Research Education and Training
      • Office of Postdoctoral Affairs
      • Office of Graduate Affairs
      • Office of Undergraduate and Visiting Scholar Affairs
      • What We Provide
        Community Outreach, Engagement, and Equity
      • About Us
      • Catchment Area Cancer Data
      • Moffitt Outreach in the Community
      • Research in the Community
      • Education and Outreach Resources
      • Get Involved
        Innovation and Industry Alliances
      • Available Technologies
      • Business of Biotech
      • Events
      • Internship Programs
      • Technology And Innovation Fund
      • Contact Us
    • Training & Education
        Training and Education Overview
        Medical Education
      • Program Staff/Contact Us
      • Our Training Programs
      • Salary and Benefits
        Research Education and Training
      • Office of Postdoctoral Affairs
      • Office of Graduate Affairs
      • Office of Undergraduate and Visiting Scholar Affairs
      • What We Provide
      • Where Are They Now
        Nursing Education
      • Oncology Nurse Residency Program
      • Ambulatory Care Oncology Nurse Residency Program
      • Registered Nurse
      • Nurse Anesthetist
      • Nurse Practitioner
        Health Professional Education
        Continuing Education
        Other Educational Programs
    • Give
        Give Overview
        Ways to Give
      • Cash, Stock or Other Assets
      • Planned Giving
      • Philanthropic Foundation Giving
      • Corporate Partnership
      • Employer Matching Gifts
      • Endowment Gifts
      • Other Ways to Donate
        Get Involved
      • Become a Member
      • Join a Community Partner Event
      • Volunteer Your Time
      • Miles for Moffitt
      • Magnolia
      • Mission Possible Sarasota Luncheon
      • Discovery Series Webinars
        Why Give?
      • About the Moffitt Foundation
      • FAQ
      • Financials and Stewardship
      • Contact the Foundation
        Your Impact
      • Your Impact: Research to Prevent and Cure Cancer
      • Your Impact: Education and Training
      • Your Impact: Outreach and Awareness Programs
      • Your Impact: Patient & Family Support Programs

    COVID-19 Update: See the latest on our visitor policy here. Learn More

    1. Home
    2. Newsroom
    3. Press Release Archive
    4. 2016
    5. Congressional Representatives and National Cancer Institute Acting Director Speak at Cancer Research Policy Forum Hosted by Moffitt Cancer Center and the American Association for Cancer Research
    • click to share
      Facebook
      Twitter
      Linkedin
      Pinterest
      Email
    • click to print

    Congressional Representatives and National Cancer Institute Acting Director Speak at Cancer Research Policy Forum Hosted by Moffitt Cancer Center and the American Association for Cancer Research

    March 08, 2016

    TAMPA, Fla. – Several of the nation’s top leaders and advocates for cancer research converged in Tampa, Fla. on Monday for a forum hosted byMoffitt Cancer Center and the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR). The 90-minute “Cancer Research Policy Forum: Progress, Promise, and Challenges in the Era of Precision Medicine” highlighted how federally funded research through the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the National Cancer Institute (NCI) is contributing to the cancer research advances happening at Moffitt and other institutions across the country. Douglas R. Lowy, M.D., acting director of the NCI was joined bymembers of the United States House of Representatives Gus Bilirakis and Kathy Castor on an expert panel of speakers who discussed the progress being made in cancer research and treatment and the importance of advocating at the federal and local levels. Panelists were united in their calls for robust, sustained, and predictable increases in funding for the NIH. 

    Reps. Bilirakis and Castor, both of whom serve on the House Energy & Commerce Committee, have been outspoken advocates in Congress for medical research funding. Both members worked to include a supplemental, mandatory funding stream for the NIH in the 21st Century Cures legislation that passed the House last summer, and which is currently being debated in the United States Senate. They also supported a $2 billion increase for the NIH in last year’s appropriations bill. In their remarks, both Bilirakis and Castor emphasized the need for Congress to continue to make medical research funding a national priority. 

    Dr. Lowy highlighted the progress that has been made both in terms of a decrease in cancer mortality rates and an increase in our ability to prevent cancer through screening and prevention. He provided an update on new programs, including Vice President Biden’s national cancer initiative and the Precision Medicine Initiative that, with continued federal investment, have significant potential to increase the pace of progress against cancer.   

    “There has always been a tremendous need for funding for cancer research, but now there are tremendous opportunities to make progress that could benefit patients more quickly,” said Dr. Lowy while speaking at the forum. 

    “It's an incredibly promising time for cancer research. There have been numerous advances in precision medicine, including immunotherapies for melanoma and lung cancers. We are also seeing signs of hope from our leaders in Washington, D.C., first with the Precision Medicine Initiative and now the ‘moonshot’ initiative to be led by Vice President Joe Biden,” said Moffitt Center Director Thomas A. Sellers, PhD, MPH. 

    Support for early career scientists, the importance of collecting and sharing molecular and clinical data and the need for increased investment in cancer prevention were additional topics of discussion that arose during the open forum with the audience, who filled the Moffitt Couch Auditorium to capacity. 

    William Dalton, Ph.D., M.D. added that the complexity of cancer requires a multidisciplinary, “all hands on deck” approach. Dr. Dalton, who is the chair of the AACR Science Policy and Government Affairs Committee, also highlighted the work that the AACR has done to advocate for medical research funding, saying that, “without funding for the NIH and NCI, there will be no ‘next generation’ of researchers.” 

    “This particular event at the Moffitt Cancer Center underscores the importance of organizing such events all across the country to advocate for robust, sustained, and predictable annual budget increases for the NIH and NCI, especially when considering that more than 80 percent of all funding allocated to the NIH and NCI each year is competitively awarded to thousands of laboratory researchers and physician scientists in all 50 states,” said Jon Retzlaff, MBA, MPA, managing director of the AACR Office of Science Policy & Government Affairs. “It was also a wonderful opportunity for the local Members of Congress to interact with their constituents at the Moffitt Cancer Center and hear firsthand about the exceptional opportunities that exist today to translate our scientific knowledge and understanding into new ways to improve the prognosis and extend the lives of cancer patients.”   

    Jacqueline Smith, a 15-year survivor of Stage III melanoma, shared her experience as a patient who had the opportunity to participate in a clinical trial at Moffitt. As someone who has turned her personal journey with cancer into a lifelong mission to advocate for patients and survivors, she encouraged audience members to speak up and urge elected officials to continue investing in medical research through the NIH. 

    About Moffitt Cancer Center
    Moffitt is dedicated to one lifesaving mission: to contribute to the prevention and cure of cancer. One of the three largest cancer centers in the United States based on patient volume, the Tampa-based facility is one of only 45 National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Centers, a distinction that recognizes Moffitt’s excellence in research, its contributions to clinical trials, prevention and cancer control. Moffitt is the top-ranked cancer hospital in Florida and has been listed in U.S. News & World Report as one of the “Best Hospitals” for cancer care since 1999. Moffitt devotes more than 2 million square feet to research and patient care. With more than 5,000 team members, Moffitt has an economic impact in the state of $1.9 billion. For more information, call 1-888-MOFFITT (1-888-663-3488), visit MOFFITT.org, and follow the Moffitt momentum on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.

    About the American Association for Cancer Research
    Founded in 1907, the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) is the world’s oldest and largest professional organization dedicated to advancing cancer research and its mission to prevent and cure cancer. AACR membership includes more than 35,000 laboratory, translational, and clinical researchers; population scientists; other health care professionals; and patient advocates residing in 101 countries. The AACR marshals the full spectrum of expertise of the cancer community to accelerate progress in the prevention, biology, diagnosis, and treatment of cancer by annually convening more than 30 conferences and educational workshops, the largest of which is the AACR Annual Meeting with nearly 19,300 attendees. In addition, the AACR publishes eight prestigious, peer-reviewed scientific journals and a magazine for cancer survivors, patients, and their caregivers. The AACR funds meritorious research directly as well as in cooperation with numerous cancer organizations. As the Scientific Partner of Stand Up To Cancer, the AACR provides expert peer review, grants administration, and scientific oversight of team science and individual investigator grants in cancer research that have the potential for near-term patient benefit. The AACR actively communicates with legislators and other policymakers about the value of cancer research and related biomedical science in saving lives from cancer. For more information about the AACR, visit www.AACR.org.

    ###

    Twitter

    Tweets by MoffittNews
    footer logo
    • BROWSE
      • Cancer Types & Treatments
      • Careers
      • Clinical Trials
      • Community of Courage
      • Diagnostic Services
      • Education & Training
      • Locations
      • Patients & Families
      • Research
    • ABOUT
      • About Moffitt
      • Available Technologies
      • Calendar of Events
      • Clinical Perspectives
      • Community Benefit
      • Diversity
      • Endeavor
      • Newsroom
      • Our Outcomes
      • Partnerships
      • Taking Care of Your Health
    • ACTION
      • Appointments
      • Find a Doctor
      • Patient Portal
      • Refer a Patient
      • Referring Provider Portal
      • Staff Login
      • Staff Access
      • Volunteer
      • Ways to Give
    Call Today 1-888-663-3488
    Link to FaceBook
    Facebook
    Link to Twitter
    Twitter
    Link to Instagram
    Instagram
    Link to YouTube
    YouTube
    us news best hospitals award
    magnet recognized award
    nci designated comprehensive cancer center award
    nccn award
    • Site Map
    • Privacy Policy
    • Terms & Conditions
    • Unsubscribe
    • State Nonprofit Disclosures
    • Donor Privacy
    • Notice of Privacy Practices
    • Visitor Policy
    ©Copyright 2018 Moffitt Cancer Center
    ✕

    Request an Appointment at Moffitt Cancer Center

    Please call 1-888-663-3488 for support from a Moffitt representative. New Patients and Healthcare Professionals can submit an online form by selecting the appropriate button below. Existing patients can call 1-888-663-3488. Click here for a current list of insurances accepted at Moffitt.

    NEW PATIENTS To request a new patient appointment, please fill out the online form or call 1-888-663-3488.

    REFERRING PHYSICIANS Providers and medical staff can refer patients by submitting our online referral form.

    Moffit now offers Virtual Visits for patients. If you are eligible for a virtual appointment, our scheduling team will discuss this option further with you.


    Moffitt Cancer Center is committed to the health and safety of our patients and their families. For more information on how we’re protecting our new and existing patients, visit our COVID-19 Info Hub

    ✕

    Access Your Portal

    For Patients

    A secure website for patients to access their medical care at Moffitt.

    PATIENT PORTAL LOGIN

    For Physicians

    An online resource for referring physicians and their staff.

    PROVIDER PORTAL LOGIN

    For Moffitt Staff

    For Moffitt faculty & staff members to access MoffittNet applications.

    STAFF PORTAL LOGIN

    ✕

    Call: 1-888-663-3488

    Call: 1-888-663-3488

    Our patient services specialists can assist you with scheduling an appointment, questions about medical records, insurance, billing and more.

    Patient Appointment Center Hours: 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday - Friday; 8 a.m. to noon Saturday