Pancreatic Cancer Research and Education Act - Amends the Public Health Service Act to require the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to establish and implement a Pancreatic Cancer Initiative to assist in coordinating activities to address the high mortality rate associated with pancreatic cancer.
Requires the Secretary to establish the Interdisciplinary Pancreatic Cancer Coordinating Committee to: (1) provide advice on overall research objectives and benchmarks for pancreatic cancer research; (2) develop within six months of establishment of the committee and every five years thereafter a strategic plan for pancreatic cancer research awareness; and (3) conduct evaluations and make recommendations as needed to the Secretary, the Director of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and the Director of the National Cancer Institute (NCI) regarding the prioritization and award of NIH research grants relating to pancreatic cancer.
Requires the Secretary to develop a primary care provider education program on pancreatic cancer.
Requires the Director of NCI and the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to develop a communication tool kit for patients and their families that focuses on specific pancreatic cancer issues relating to patient choices and patient care.
Allows the Secretary to award grants to research institutions for use in developing innovative compounds or technologies for the prevention, early detection, or treatment of those cancers with five-year survival rates of less than 50%. Requires the Secretary to focus on pancreatic cancer during the initial five fiscal years of awarding such grants.
Allows the Secretary to designate two additional Specialized Programs of Research Excellence focusing solely on pancreatic cancer research.
[Congressional Bills 112th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 362 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
112th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 362
To amend the Public Health Service Act to provide for a Pancreatic
Cancer Initiative, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
February 16, 2011
Mr. Whitehouse (for himself, Mr. Kerry, Mr. Begich, Mr. Lugar, Ms.
Collins, Mr. Inouye, and Mr. Brown of Ohio) introduced the following
bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Health,
Education, Labor, and Pensions
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend the Public Health Service Act to provide for a Pancreatic
Cancer Initiative, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; FINDINGS.
(a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``Pancreatic Cancer
Research and Education Act''.
(b) Findings.--The Congress finds the following:
(1) More than 43,000 Americans were expected to be
diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in 2010 and 36,800 were
expected to die from the disease. The incidence among African-
Americans is 40 to 50 percent higher than other ethnic groups.
(2) Pancreatic cancer is one of the few cancers for which
survival has not improved substantially over the past 40 years.
As a result, in 2003, pancreatic cancer surpassed prostate
cancer as the 4th leading cause of cancer-related death in the
United States.
(3) Seventy-five percent of pancreatic cancer patients die
within the first 12 months of the diagnosis. The 5-year
survival rate is only 6 percent.
(4) Scientific understanding of pancreatic cancer--its
etiology, pathogenesis, detection, and treatment--lags far
behind that of most other forms of cancer. In fact, pancreatic
cancer is the only of the top 10 cancer killers in the United
States that still has a 5-year survival rate in the single
digits.
(5) In 2001, the National Cancer Institute developed
``Pancreatic Cancer: An Agenda for Action''. As of 2010, only
five of the report's 39 recommendations have been implemented
because of a lack of funding, focus, and commitment. In the
meantime, pancreatic cancer deaths have continued to increase.
Further, according to the ``Cancer Trends Progress Report-2009/
2010 Update'', death rates for pancreatic cancer are increasing
while death rates for all cancers combined, including the four
most common cancers (prostate, breast, lung, and colorectal),
continue to decline.
(6) Pancreatic cancer constitutes 2 percent of the National
Cancer Institute's Federal research funding, a figure far too
low given the severity of the disease, its mortality rate, and
how little is known about how to arrest the disease.
(7) Of the more than 6,200 research grants awarded in
fiscal year 2009 by the National Cancer Institute, only 272
(approximately 4 percent) were categorized by the Institute as
at least 50 percent relevant to pancreatic cancer research.
(8) The future supply of scientists entering this field of
study is in serious jeopardy. Training grant (F, K, and T
awards) funding in pancreatic cancer decreased by 15 percent
from 2008 to 2009, a decline larger than any of the other
leading cancers experienced. Pancreatic cancer trainees were
awarded between 2.4- and 6.5-fold less grant money in 2009 than
young researchers studying the other four top cancer killers.
(9) In 2007, the Scientific Advisory Board of the
Pancreatic Cancer Action Network reviewed the current state of
the science and the Federal Government's efforts on pancreatic
cancer research and prepared ``The National Plan to Advance
Pancreatic Cancer Research'' to identify the highest research
priorities, scientific infrastructure needs, and workforce
training requirements that are needed to provide the answers
that pancreatic cancer patients and their families and loved
ones so desperately need.
SEC. 2. PANCREATIC CANCER INITIATIVE.
Part B of title III of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 243
et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following:
``SEC. 320B. PANCREATIC CANCER INITIATIVE.
``(a) Pancreatic Cancer Initiative.--
``(1) Establishment.--The Secretary shall establish and
implement a Pancreatic Cancer Initiative to assist in
coordinating activities to address the high mortality rate
associated with pancreatic cancer. Such Initiative shall focus
on--
``(A) advancing research on the causes, diagnosis,
and treatment of pancreatic cancer with the goal of
increasing the 5-year survival rate;
``(B) promoting a cadre of new investigators in the
field of pancreatic cancer research; and
``(C) increasing physician and public awareness of
pancreatic cancer.
``(2) Consultation.--In carrying out this subsection, the
Secretary shall consult with the Director of the National
Institutes of Health, the Director of the National Cancer
Institute, the Director of the Centers of Disease Control and
Prevention, and the Interdisciplinary Pancreatic Cancer
Coordinating Committee established under subsection (b).
``(b) Interdisciplinary Pancreatic Cancer Coordinating Committee.--
``(1) Establishment.--Not later than 60 days after the date
of the enactment of this section, the Secretary, in
consultation with the Director of the National Institutes of
Health, shall establish a committee to be known as the
Interdisciplinary Pancreatic Cancer Coordinating Committee (in
this subsection referred to as the `Committee').
``(2) Membership.--
``(A) In general.--The members of the Committee
shall be appointed by the Secretary, in consultation
with the Director of the National Institutes of Health,
and shall consist of 13 individuals as follows:
``(i) Nine experts in pancreatic cancer
research, who are each a full professor at a
major academic research institution and who
have each received multiple grants from the
National Cancer Institute or other entities of
the National Institutes of Health with a
primary focus on pancreatic cancer research.
``(ii) Two new principal investigators in
pancreatic cancer, who are each an assistant-
level professor in a major academic research
institution and who have each received at least
one grant from the National Cancer Institute or
another entity of the National Institutes of
Health with a primary focus in pancreatic
cancer research.
``(iii) One pancreatic cancer advocate.
``(iv) The Director of the National Cancer
Institute (or the Director's designee).
``(B) Chair.--The Secretary shall designate the
Chair of the Committee from among its members.
``(C) Publication of names.--Not later than 30 days
after the establishment of the Committee, the Secretary
shall publish the names of the Chair and members of the
Committee on the Web site of the Department of Health
and Human Services.
``(D) Terms.--The members of the Committee shall
each be appointed for a 3-year term and, at the end of
each such term, may be reappointed.
``(E) Vacancies.--A vacancy on the Committee shall
be filled by the Secretary in the same manner in which
the original appointment was made.
``(3) Responsibilities.--The Committee shall--
``(A) provide advice on overall research objectives
and benchmarks for pancreatic cancer research;
``(B) not later than 6 months after the
establishment of the Committee, and every 5 years
thereafter, develop a strategic plan in accordance with
paragraph (4) for the conduct and support of pancreatic
cancer research and awareness during the upcoming 5-
year period; and
``(C) conduct evaluations and make recommendations
to the Secretary, the Director of the National
Institutes of Health, and the Director of the National
Cancer Institute in accordance with paragraph (5)
regarding the prioritization and award of National
Institutes of Health research grants relating to
pancreatic cancer.
``(4) Strategic plan.--
``(A) Development.--Not later than 6 months after
the establishment of the Committee, and every 5 years
thereafter, the Committee shall develop a strategic
plan for the conduct and support of pancreatic cancer
research and awareness during the upcoming 5-year
period.
``(B) Submission.--The Committee shall--
``(i) submit to the Secretary each
strategic plan developed under subparagraph (A)
for the upcoming 5-year period; and
``(ii) publish each such plan on the Web
site of the Department of Health and Human
Services within 30 days after the date of
submission of the plan to the Secretary under
clause (i).
``(C) Contents.--Each strategic plan developed
under subparagraph (A) shall include--
``(i) recommended budgetary requirements
for pancreatic cancer research, including
research grants awarded through the National
Cancer Institute, funding for Specialized
Programs of Research Excellence (SPORE) that
are focused on pancreatic cancer, and funding
for the portion of the cancer research
incubator pilot project established by section
409J(a) that is focused on pancreatic cancer;
``(ii) recommendations on the coordination
of extramural and intramural pancreatic cancer
research initiatives and possibilities for
partnerships among the national research
institutes, including the National Cancer
Institute, the National Institute of Diabetes
and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, the National
Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, the
National Center for Complementary and
Alternative Medicine, and the National Center
on Minority Health and Health Disparities;
``(iii) recommendations for improving
physician and public education about pancreatic
cancer;
``(iv) recommendations for increasing the
number of scientists with doctorate degrees and
clinician-scientists specializing in pancreatic
cancer research; and
``(v) guidelines for information gathered
by pancreatic cancer patient registries and
tissue banks to ensure uniformity and
accessibility to the research community.
``(5) Prioritization and award of nih research grants.--
``(A) In general.--The Committee shall conduct
evaluations and make recommendations as needed to the
Secretary, the Director of the National Institutes of
Health, and the Director of the National Cancer
Institute regarding the prioritization and award of
National Institutes of Health research grants relating
to pancreatic cancer.
``(B) Peer review committee.--In carrying out
subparagraph (A), the Committee may appoint a peer
review committee to assist in the evaluation of
pancreatic cancer grant applications to ensure that
such applications are reviewed by individuals with the
appropriate expertise.
``(C) Evaluation.--In evaluating pancreatic cancer
grant applications under subparagraph (A), the
Committee shall emphasize grants that achieve at least
one of the following goals:
``(i) The grant is determined to be
predominantly relevant to pancreatic cancer
research and has a primary focus on at least
one of the following areas:
``(I) Basic research to advance the
understanding of the biology of
pancreatic cancer, its natural history,
and the genetic and environmental
factors that contribute to its
development.
``(II) Research on more precise
diagnostic methods and screening to
detect pancreatic cancer in earlier
stages.
``(III) Advanced innovative
clinical trials testing targeted
therapeutics and novel agents that will
extend the survival of pancreatic
cancer patients and improve their
quality of life.
``(ii) The grant will increase the number
of new pancreatic cancer investigators.
``(iii) The grant will meet identified
needs, criteria, or specific research goals set
forth in the strategic plan developed under
paragraph (3)(B).
``(D) Recommendations.--The Committee shall make
recommendations for exception funding for grant
applications that--
``(i) are predominantly relevant to
pancreatic cancer; and
``(ii) score within 10 points of the
payline.
``(c) Physician Awareness.--
``(1) Program.--The Secretary, in consultation with the
Director of the National Institutes of Health, the Director of
the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and relevant
patient advocate and physician organizations, shall develop a
primary care provider education program on pancreatic cancer.
The Secretary may include in such program accredited continuing
medical education and such other activities as the Secretary
determines appropriate.
``(2) Definition.--The term `relevant patient advocate and
physician organization' means a nationwide organization that--
``(A) provides evidence-based disease information
to the public in a case management style;
``(B) directly funds research in an unbiased manner
by working collaboratively with health professionals at
a variety of institutions and using a peer-reviewed
process;
``(C) advocates public policy outcomes that reflect
the needs of patients; and
``(D) provides information to patients, families,
and health professionals at the community level.
``(d) Communication Tool Kit.--The Director of the National Cancer
Institute and the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention, working collaboratively with patient advocate
organizations, shall develop a communication tool kit for patients and
their families that focuses on specific pancreatic cancer issues
related to patient choices and patient care.
``(e) Report to Congress.--Not later than 1 year after the date of
the enactment of this section, and annually thereafter, the Secretary
shall submit a report to the Congress identifying the steps taken to
implement the Pancreatic Cancer Initiative under subsection (a). The
report shall include--
``(1) an assessment of the progress in improving outcomes
and reducing mortality rates for those diagnosed with
pancreatic cancer;
``(2) an explanation of how recommendations of the
Interdisciplinary Pancreatic Cancer Coordinating Committee in
the strategic plan developed under subsection (b)(3)(B) for the
preceding year have been implemented;
``(3) a summary of the recommendations that were made by
the Interdisciplinary Pancreatic Cancer Coordinating Committee
for grant funding, including exception funding, the number of
such recommendations that were met, and the reasons why any
recommendations were not met;
``(4) a breakdown of research grant award amounts by the
National Institutes of Health during the past year that are
deemed relevant to pancreatic cancer research along with a
quantifiable measure as to the relevancy of the grants to
pancreatic cancer;
``(5) the number of such grants awarded to new principal
investigators in pancreatic cancer described in subsection
(b)(2)(A)(ii); and
``(6) a summary of progress and deficiencies that were
noted in pancreatic cancer research during the preceding year.
``(f) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be
appropriated--
``(1) to carry out subsection (a), $140,000,000 for fiscal
year 2012 and such sums as may be necessary for fiscal years
2013 through 2016;
``(2) to carry out subsection (c), $2,000,000 for fiscal
year 2012 and such sums as may be necessary for fiscal years
2013 through 2016; and
``(3) to carry out subsection (d), $2,000,000 for fiscal
year 2012 and such sums as may be necessary for fiscal years
2013 through 2016.''.
SEC. 3. NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH RESEARCH.
Part B of title IV of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 284
et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following:
``SEC. 409J. CANCER RESEARCH.
``(a) Cancer Research Incubator Pilot Project.--
``(1) Grants.--
``(A) In general.--The Secretary may award grants
to research institutions for use in developing
innovative compounds or technologies for the
prevention, early detection, or treatment of those
cancers with 5-year survival rates of less than 50
percent.
``(B) Relation to other nih grants.--Subject to
subparagraph (A), the Secretary shall encourage each
recipient of a grant under this section to use the
grant for research activities that may serve as a
springboard for the receipt of other grants, including
Specialized Programs of Research Excellence (SPORE)
grants, from the National Institutes of Health and its
national research institutes.
``(2) Grant period.--The period of a grant under this
section shall be 5 years.
``(3) Focus.--During the initial 5 fiscal years of carrying
out this section, the Secretary shall focus on awarding grants
for use in developing innovative compounds or technologies for
the prevention, early detection, or treatment of pancreatic
cancer.
``(4) Report.--Not later than 5 years after the date of the
enactment of this section, the Secretary shall submit a report
to the Congress evaluating the program under this section and
making recommendations for expansion of the program to other
cancers.
``(5) Authorization of appropriations.--To carry out this
subsection, there are authorized to be appropriated $5,000,000
for fiscal year 2012 and such sums as may be necessary for
fiscal years 2013 through 2016.
``(b) Centers of Excellence.--
``(1) Designation.--The Secretary may designate two
additional Specialized Programs of Research Excellence (SPOREs)
focusing solely on pancreatic cancer research. In carrying out
this paragraph, the Secretary may choose to designate one or
more satellite centers that augment the work of a previously
designated Specialized Program of Research Excellence.
``(2) Authorization of appropriations.--To carry out this
subsection, there are authorized to be appropriated $20,000,000
for fiscal year 2012 and such sums as may be necessary for
fiscal years 2013 through 2016.''.
<all>
Introduced in Senate
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
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