Cancer Center hosts national ‘Cancer Moonshot’ summit for community
WHAT:
As part of the national Cancer Moonshot Summit hosted by Vice President Joe Biden in Washington, the University of Illinois Cancer Center joins dozens of centers around the nation and welcomes the community to UIC for the launch of an action plan to eliminate cancer.
Attendees at UIC will watch Biden’s remarks and join in discussions on topics such as Enhancing Care and Access, Disparities in Cancer Care, Unleashing the Power of Data, and Advancing Research Discoveries. Researchers, oncologists, patients, donors and community members are welcome.
WHEN:
Wednesday, June 29
noon – 4 p.m.
WHERE:
UIC Student Center West
2nd Floor, Thompson Room
828 S. Wolcott Ave.
DETAILS:
During his 2016 State of the Union Address, President Obama called on Biden to lead a new, national “moonshot” initiative to eliminate cancer as we know it. The American Cancer Society projects more than 1.6 million individuals—65,000 in Illinois—will be diagnosed with cancer this year.
“The Cancer Moonshot initiative will help accelerate the pace of cancer research and bring new therapies and technology to patients faster,” says Dr. Robert Winn, director of the UI Cancer Center. “The initiative very deliberately puts emphasis on ensuring that when we do cancer clinical trials and research, that the patient populations we look at are diverse. That’s important because African Americans and Latinos have cancer death rates up to twice the national average, but traditionally haven’t been part of major clinical trials. The University of Illinois Cancer Center is actively engaged in this kind of cancer research to support the president’s push to find new treatments and to bring the fruits of the Moonshot initiative to all communities.”
Biden said the Moonshot “cannot be achieved by one person, one organization, one discipline, or even one collective approach.”
“Solving the complexities of cancer will require the formation of new alliances to defy the bounds of innovation and accelerate the prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and — ultimately — a cure,” the vice president said. “It’s going to require millions of Americans speaking up and contributing what they’re able. That’s what the Cancer Moonshot Summit is all about.”
Dr. Robert Winn is available for media interviews.
