MD Anderson to host a national Cancer Moonshot Summit event June 29

Patients, survivors, health care providers and community members invited to participate

MD Anderson News Release June 21, 2016

The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center will join institutions across the country in the inaugural national Cancer Moonshot Summit, convened at the request of Vice President Joe Biden, on June 29.

MD Anderson will host a free breakfast event in conjunction with the national summit, which is designed to bring together patients and survivors, researchers, physicians, advocates, philanthropists and data and tech experts to brainstorm ways to double the rate of progress over the next five years.

“We welcome this opportunity to collaborate in such a broad, inclusive fashion to share ideas and perspectives about how to accelerate progress in cancer prevention, diagnosis, treatment and care,” said MD Anderson President Ronald A. DePinho, M.D.

The summit will be the first time stakeholders representing all types of cancers will convene under one national charge, with hundreds of events planned across the country.

“The Moonshot cannot be achieved by one person, one organization, one discipline, or even one collective approach,” Vice President Biden said. “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. 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.”

MD Anderson’s event will feature an introduction from DePinho, live-streamed remarks from Vice President Biden from the event at Howard University in Washington, D.C., and a panel discussion with local cancer experts, leaders and survivors. Participants also will be asked to share their ideas for enhancing collaboration, which will be submitted to the national Cancer Moonshot for consideration.

Doors open and breakfast will be served beginning at 7 a.m., with the summit continuing from 7:30 to 10 a.m. in MD Anderson’s Duncan Building, 1155 Pressler, 8^th floor. Parking will be available in the Mays Clinic Garage, 1220 Holcombe Blvd. Please RSVP by sending an email to MoonshotSummit@mdanderson.org.

In January, President Obama signed a Presidential Memorandum establishing a first-of-its-kind federal task force to end cancer as we know it. The Task Force, chaired by Vice President Biden, comprises leaders from every federal agency that has a part to play in addressing cancer.  The administration also announced a new $1 billion initiative to jumpstart the Cancer Moonshot.

Launched in 2012, MD Anderson’s Moon Shots Program aims to rapidly and dramatically reduce death and suffering caused by cancer. Researchers already have made paradigm-shifting advances and discoveries, and the program served as inspiration for the national movement. Two MD Anderson faculty members serve on the Blue Ribbon Advisory Panel advising the national effort.

“We are proud of the progress we’ve made during the past three years, and now we are pleased to support the national Cancer Moonshot with increased collaboration across the country,” said DePinho. “We look forward to gathering our community to discuss ways in which we all can work together to end cancer.”