When cancer survivors and their loved ones ask me what NCI is doing to cure or prevent cancer, I tell them that we are finding many of the pieces of the cancer puzzle, and that are learning what additional pieces to look for and where they probably fit. Cancer research has entered a whole new phase in how we identify and assemble the pieces — Andrew C. von Eschenbach, M.D.
Email this pageAdvancing Discovery and Its Application
On this page:- What it takes to make progress
- Our opportunities to accelerate the pace
- FY 2004 Increase Request for Advancing Discovery
- Contents of this section
What it takes to make progress
Part of the story is about how we are probing and discovering events at the molecular level and in the behavior of particular proteins. But molecules don't smoke and proteins don't neglect to wear sun protection, and genes don't make the decision to join clinical trials of new treatments. So the story also includes research into lifestyle and behavioral factors and environmental exposures that profoundly affect the burden of cancer. Once we more fully understand cancer-related molecular, cellular, microenvironment, behavioral, psychological, and social influences, we can develop more effective and less harmful approaches to cancer prevention, detection and diagnosis, treatment, and control.
Our opportunities to accelerate the pace
Increased investment in these areas is at the core of our ability to:- Understand the causes, risks, detection, diagnosis, and treatment of cancer and how to communicate this information effectively to all populations.
- Develop interventions based on these scientific insights.
- Ensure dissemination of interventions to all who need care.
For Fiscal Year 2004, NCI's scientific priority areas to accelerate the pace of research and its application include Extraordinary Opportunities for Investment in Genes and the Environment, Signatures of the Cancer Cell and Its Microenvironment, Molecular Targets of Prevention and Treatment, Cancer Imaging and Molecular Sensing, and Cancer Communications.
FY 2004 Increase Request for Advancing Discovery
(dollars in thousands)
| Genes and the Environment | $51,800 | 19% |
| Signatures & Microenvironment | $41,200 | 15% |
| Molecular Targets | $54,800 | 21% |
| Imaging & Molecular Sensing | $78,700 | 30% |
| Cancer Communications | $39,750 | 15% |
| Total | $266,250 |
Contents of this Section
Genes and the EnvironmentDiscover genetic, environmental, and lifestyle factors and their interactions that define cancer risk and inform strategies for cancer control.
Signatures of the Cancer Cell and Its MicroenvironmentAccelerate our progress in understanding the dynamic interaction between cancer cells and their microenvironment and our application of this knowledge to the detection, diagnosis, prevention, treatment, and control of all cancers.
Molecular Targets of Prevention and TreatmentFacilitate the expanded exploration of the causes of cancer, and the discovery and development of agents that specifically "target" these causes to treat and prevent cancer.
Cancer Imaging and Molecular SensingAccelerate discovery and development of imaging methods, biosensors, and minimally invasive image-guided therapies to predict clinical course and guide and predict response to interventions.
Cancer CommunicationsUnderstand and apply the most effective communications approaches to maximize access to and use of cancer information by all who need it.