Yahoo TV

STORY:

::August 13, 2024

::Biden commits $150 million in 'ARPA-H'

health funding to tumor targeting technology

::New Orleans, Louisiana

"A year ago, ARPA-H set its sights on a big idea, calling on researchers and innovators to pioneer new techniques and technologies to make cancer removal more precise, accurate, successful. Imagine cancer surgery that removes all the tumor the first time without harming healthy cells. Compare that to today. As all of you know, cancer surgery, (is an) incredibly challenging procedure."

"Today, we're announcing $150 million ARPA-H funding, for some of the nation’s cutting edge cancer research institutions, that includes right here at Tulane University. We just met with one of your research teams and we saw 3D views of tumors. It's incredible. It's a road map doctors can follow during surgery unlike anything they've seen before."

The funding is the latest boost to Biden's "Cancer Moonshot," a program led by the President and First Lady, aimed at reducing the U.S. cancer death rate by at least half by 2047, with the money coming from the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health, or ARPA-H, funding agency, established with bipartisan congressional support under the Biden-Harris administration.

He made the announcement during a speech at Tulane University, during a visit to New Orleans, where he highlighted recent efforts of the "Cancer Moonshot" initiative, which since last year, have focused on developing next-generation microscopes and imaging technology. These advancements aim to make surgeries more effective, reduce the need for repeat procedures, minimize damage to healthy tissue, and ultimately save and extend lives.

In its first two years, the administration has invested over $400 million to accelerate progress in preventing, detecting, and treating cancer, according to the White House.