Biden Administration Awards $21 Mn to UW for Cancer Moonshot Initiative

The funding is directed towards UW and two other universities, Tulane and Rice, to develop advanced techniques for visualizing cancer cells on the surface of tumors post-surgery.

The Biden administration has allocated up to $21.1 million to the University of Washington (UW) as part of the Cancer Moonshot Initiative, a bold effort aimed at halving the cancer mortality rate by 2047.

Launched by President Joe Biden during his tenure as Vice President in 2016, the initiative was reignited in February 2022 to expedite progress in cancer research and treatment, leveraging lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic.

This recent funding, part of a $150 million distribution announced on August 13, is directed towards UW and two other universities, Tulane and Rice, to develop advanced techniques for visualizing cancer cells on the surface of tumors post-surgery.

What is the Cancer Moonshot Initiative?

The goal of the Cancer Moonshot initiative is to reduce the cancer death rate by at least half by 2047 and enhance the experience for people affected by cancer.

It also aims to ensure the complete removal of cancerous tissues, thus improving patient outcomes.

The project, led by Mechanical Engineering Professor Jonathan Liu, focuses on creating a specialized microscope for operating rooms.

This device would allow real-time visualization of tumor cells immediately after removal, addressing the current delay caused by traditional pathology processes that can take days or even a week to analyze tissue samples.

Liu's open-top light-sheet (OTLS) microscopy technology has shown promise in enabling rapid imaging to guide more precise tumor resections.

"The cutting-edge work happening at UW will help doctors get a full, accurate picture of the tumors they are working to treat, so they can make sure patients get the most effective care possible," stated US Senator Patty Murray, D-Wash., in a recent news release.

The Cancer Moonshot Initiative's latest round of funding also includes awards to other prestigious institutions, including Dartmouth College, Johns Hopkins University, and the University of California, San Francisco.

Additionally, Prof Liu and his team at UW will collaborate with startup companies such as Alpenglow Biosciences, which Liu founded, to develop and install clinical systems for these innovative technologies.

The grant from ARPA-H, the federal agency overseeing this contract, requires the UW team to meet specific milestones, with monthly reviews to ensure continued funding.

Liu expressed optimism about the potential to reduce cancer deaths by 50% by 2047, emphasizing that while surgery is crucial, advancements in drug treatments and early detection will also play vital roles in achieving this ambitious goal.