Current:Home > reviewsBiden touts his 'cancer moonshot' on the anniversary of JFK's 'man on the moon' speech -Elevate Capital Network
Biden touts his 'cancer moonshot' on the anniversary of JFK's 'man on the moon' speech
View
Date:2025-04-13 19:23:50
It's been 60 years since President Kennedy delivered his iconic moonshot speech, marking a goal for America to launch a man into space to step foot on the moon, and bring him back to Earth.
On Monday, President Biden gave a speech at the Kennedy Presidential Library in Boston, outlining the progress on his own self-described moonshot: ending cancer.
"This cancer moonshot is one of the reasons why I ran for president," Biden said. "Cancer does not discriminate red and blue. It doesn't care if you're a Republican or a Democrat. Beating cancer is something we can do together."
Biden said cancer is often diagnosed too late, and said "there are too few ways to prevent it in the first place." He also added that there are stark inequities in cancer diagnosis and treatment based on race, disability, zip code, sexual orientation and gender identity.
"We know too little about why treatments work for some patients, but a different patient with the same disease, it doesn't work for. We still lack strategies in developing treatments for some cancers," he said, adding "we don't do enough to help patients and families navigate the cancer care system."
While Biden announced many of his cancer moonshot goals in February, in his speech Monday he laid out some updates.
Ahead of the speech, the White House announced that Dr. Renee Wegrzyn would be appointed the head of a new agency, Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H), the first ever person in the role. The agency was established by Biden in February to improve the U.S. government's ability to drive health and biomedical research.
"ARPA-H will have the singular purpose to drive breakthroughs to prevent, detect and treat diseases, including cancer, Alzheimer's, diabetes and other diseases and enable us to live healthier lives," Biden said.
Biden also announced he is signing a new executive order that launches a National Biotechnology and Biomanufacturing Initiative, to help ensure that the technology that will help end cancer is made in America.
He said the creation of new technologies for cancer treatments and other things will create jobs and strengthen supply chains — and added that the U.S. then would not have to rely on anywhere else in the world for that advancement.
In February, Biden first announced his cancer moonshot goal of cutting cancer deaths in half in the next 25 years, and improving the experience of those living with and surviving cancer. At the time, he also announced the creation of a Cancer Cabinet that incorporated different corners of the government to work toward his goal.
Combatting cancer is an issue Biden has been tackling since his days as vice president and it's one that hits close to home for his own family, and Vice President Kamala Harris' as well. Biden's son, Beau Biden, died from brain cancer in 2015. And Harris' mother Shyamala Gopalan Harris, who was a breast cancer researcher, died from colon cancer in 2009.
veryGood! (3478)
Related
- Meta donates $1 million to Trump’s inauguration fund
- Japan records a trade deficit in August as exports to China, rest of Asia weaken
- Will UAW strike increase car prices? Experts weigh in.
- The video game industry is in uproar over a software pricing change. Here's why
- Newly elected West Virginia lawmaker arrested and accused of making terroristic threats
- 6-year-old Texas boy hospitalized after neighbor attacked him with baseball bat, authorities say
- California law restricting companies’ use of information from kids online is halted by federal judge
- NYC day care operator tried to cover up fentanyl operation before 1-year-old’s death, feds allege
- Buckingham Palace staff under investigation for 'bar brawl'
- Why the UAW is fighting so hard for these 4 key demands in the auto strike
Ranking
- Whoopi Goldberg is delightfully vile as Miss Hannigan in ‘Annie’ stage return
- Charlie Sheen and Denise Richards' Daughter Sami Vows to Quit Vaping Before Breast Surgery
- Lahaina's 150-year-old banyan tree that was charred by the wildfires is showing signs of new life
- Vietnam detains energy policy think-tank chief, human rights group says
- Jamie Foxx gets stitches after a glass is thrown at him during dinner in Beverly Hills
- Sacramento prosecutor sues California’s capital city over failure to clean up homeless encampments
- Lawsuit filed over department store worker who died in store bathroom, body not found for days
- Iran prisoner swap deal, Ukraine scandal, Indiana AG sues, Hunter Biden: 5 Things podcast
Recommendation
Taylor Swift makes surprise visit to Kansas City children’s hospital
ACM Honors 2023 broadcast celebrates Tim McGraw, Chris Stapleton, more country stars
West Point sued for using 'race-based admissions' by group behind Supreme Court lawsuit
New Mexico official orders insurance companies to expand timely access to behavioral health services
In ‘Nickel Boys,’ striving for a new way to see
This rare Bob Ross painting could be yours — for close to $10 million
Putin accepts invitation to visit China in October after meeting Chinese foreign minister in Moscow
Which NFL teams can survive 0-2 start to 2023 season? Ranking all nine by playoff viability