111^th Congress

Pancreatic Cancer Research and Education Act

H.R. 745

Background

According to the National Cancer Institute (NCI), pancreatic cancer is the fourth deadliest cancer, with only 4 percent of patients living more than 5 years after diagnosis.  Recognizing the need to further research in this area, NCI formed the Pancreatic Cancer Progress Review Group, which released a report in February 2001 entitled “Pancreatic Cancer:  An Agenda for Action.”  This report contains recommendations for NCI-supported research in six major areas.  In December 2007, NCI released a status report assessing progress during the previous 6 years in these areas.  The Pancreatic Cancer Action Network (PanCAN) developed its own research plan in January 2008, entitled “Raise the Cure:  The National Plan to Advance Pancreatic Cancer Research.”  The legislation described below is modeled after PanCAN’s plan.

Provisions of the Legislation/Impact on NIH

H.R. 745, the Pancreatic Cancer Research and Education Act, contains provisions regarding the following:

• Pancreatic Cancer Initiative: The bill would amend the Public Health Service Act to require the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to establish a Pancreatic Cancer Initiative to focus on advancing research, increasing the number of investigators dedicated to the disease, and increasing physician and public awareness. In carrying out this directive, the Secretary would be required to consult with the Director of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the Director of NCI, the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and the Interdisciplinary Pancreatic Cancer Coordinating Committee established by the bill. The bill would also require an annual report to Congress on implementing the initiative, the first of which would be due within 1 year of enactment. H.R. 745 would authorize $140 million for fiscal year (FY) 2010 and such sums as may be necessary for FYs 2011–2014 to carry out this initiative.
• Interdisciplinary Pancreatic Cancer Coordinating Committee: Within 60 days of enactment, the Secretary of HHS, in consultation with the Director of NIH, would be required to establish an Interdisciplinary Pancreatic Cancer Coordinating Committee, comprising experts in pancreatic cancer research, young principal investigators, a pancreatic cancer advocate, and the Director of NCI or a designee. The Committee would be responsible for 1) providing advice on overall research objectives and benchmarks, 2) developing a strategic plan, and 3) evaluating and making recommendations for the prioritization and award of NIH pancreatic cancer research grants. The Committee would have discretion to appoint a peer-review committee to ensure that applications are reviewed by individuals with appropriate expertise. In conducting its evaluation, the Committee would be required to give preference to grants determined to be 75-percent relevant to pancreatic cancer research and having a primary focus in at least one of the following areas: 1) basic research, 2) research on more precise diagnostic methods and screening, or 3) advanced innovative clinical trials testing targeted therapies and novel agents. The Committee would also be required to emphasize grants that increase the number of young pancreatic cancer investigators and conform to the strategic plan required by this legislation.
• Strategic Plan: The Committee would be required to develop, annually update, and post on the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Web site a strategic plan for the conduct and support of pancreatic cancer research and awareness. The plan must include 1) a recommended budget for pancreatic cancer research, including NCI funding for pancreatic cancer Specialized Programs of Research Excellence (SPOREs); 2) recommendations for the coordination of extramural and intramural pancreatic research initiatives and possibilities for partnerships among NIH’s Institutes and Centers, including NCI, the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, the National Institute of Environmental and Health Sciences, the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, and the National Center on Minority Health and Health Disparities; 3) recommendations for improving physician and public education about pancreatic cancer; 4) recommendations for increasing the number of scientists and clinician-scientists specializing in pancreatic cancer research; and 5) guidelines for information gathered by pancreatic cancer patient registries and tissue banks to ensure uniformity and accessibility to the research community.
• Physician Awareness: The Secretary of HHS, in consultation with NIH, CDC, and relevant patient and physician organizations, would be required to develop a primary care provider education program on pancreatic cancer. The Secretary would be authorized to include accredited continuing medical education and other relevant activities. To carry out this program, the bill would authorize $2 million for FY 2010 and such sums as may be necessary for FYs 2011–2014.
• Communication Tool Kit: The Directors of NIH and CDC, working with patient advocate organizations, would be required to develop a communication tool kit for patients and their families that focuses on specific pancreatic cancer issues related to patient choices and care. To carry out this program, the bill would authorize $2 million for FY 2010 and such sums as may be necessary for FYs 2011–2014.
• Cancer Research Incubator Pilot Project: Title IV of the Public Health Service Act would be amended to authorize the Secretary of HHS to award grants to research institutions for use in developing innovative compounds or technologies for the prevention, early detection, or treatment of cancers with 5-year survival rates of less than 50 percent. Awardees would be encouraged to use their research activities to further the research of other NIH grantees, including SPORE grantees. A report to Congress evaluating the program would be due within 5 years of enactment. The bill would authorize $5 million for FY 2010 and such sums as may be necessary for FYs 2011–2014 for this project.
• SPOREs: The Secretary of HHS would be authorized to designate two additional SPOREs focused exclusively on pancreatic cancer research. The bill would authorize $20 million for FY 2010 and such sums as may be necessary for FYs 2011–2014 for these SPOREs.

Status and Outlook

H.R. 745 was introduced by Representative Anna Eshoo (D-CA) on January 28, 2009, and was referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce. No further action has occurred on this legislation.

May 2009