Improved Cancer Imaging Advances Limited By Funding Problem
The American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) recently held this year's annual meeting and some unfortunate news was revealed at that time. Two different projects aimed at improving cancer imaging in order to be able to better detect cancer in its early treatable stages are going to have to be delayed or forgotten as a result of lack of funding. The National Cancer Institute (NCI) has seen budget cuts throughout the Bush administration era and is having to scale back on programs like these as a result.
The two programs that are being cut at this time are as follows:
- Imaging Response Assessment Teams programs which was designed to begin using imaging in assessing responses to therapy in order to better guide treatment and improve patient care.
- Contrast Imaging Agents Development. This program would have facilitated communication and information exchange between laboratory discoveries and investigational drug status.
The loss of both of these programs is unfortunate news for the imaging community in terms of cancer treatment. Learn more about these programs and the loss of them
here.
Question of the Day: Is preventive imaging for cancer an area that budget cuts should be taking place in?photo link
