January 15, 2016 — The American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) applauded President Obama and Vice President Biden for the “moonshot” effort in cancer research announced in the President’s State of the Union speech on Tuesday.
ASTRO pledged its support of the initiative to bolster resources and foster collaboration among the oncology research community, as well as Vice President Biden’s call in October 2015 to “end cancer as we know it today.”
Despite a two-decade span of decline in cancer death rates, the disease remains a leading source of morbidity and mortality for Americans. The American Cancer Society estimates that nearly 1.7 million Americans will receive cancer diagnoses in 2016, including one in three women and one in two men.
More than half of cancer patients undergo radiation therapy at some point in their treatment, either alone or in conjunction with other treatment options. Existing research demonstrates the effectiveness of radiation therapy as well as its potential in combination with other treatments. ASTRO supports the President’s request to bolster research initiatives that encompass the full range of multidisciplinary therapies in the quest to eradicate cancer.
ASTRO supports research, education and professional training to improve care and outcomes for cancer patients. In 2015 alone, the society provided scientists nearly $1 million through grants and awards supporting radiation oncology research. ASTRO also publishes three medical journals and hosts a variety of scientific meetings in an effort to advance cancer science and help the field avoid the “silos” cautioned in Vice President Biden’s statement, ultimately with the goal of improving patient lives.
For more information: www.astro.org
May 03, 2025 
