Norman Sharpless, MD
On June 12, ASCO President Bruce E. Johnson, MD, FASCO, released the following statement:
ASCO congratulates Norman “Ned” Sharpless, MD, on his appointment as Director of the National Cancer Institute (NCI). ASCO is encouraged that NCI will have at its helm an accomplished researcher with experience leading a wide range of clinical and translational research endeavors focused on bringing new insights into cancer prevention and treatment.
Under Dr. Sharpless’ leadership, NCI will be tasked with delivering on the promise of precision medicine and the recently funded Beau Biden Cancer Moonshot, for which the first of 7 years of scheduled funding has been provided. At the same time, the agency faces potential budget cuts that would disable cancer research progress. With recent research showing Americans have gained millions of years from federally funded cancer trials, NCI’s work needs to be nurtured and sustained.
ASCO looks forward to working with Dr. Sharpless and the dedicated professionals at NCI in ensuring the United States’ preeminence in biomedical research. We remain committed to NCI’s mission and will continue to advocate for continued support of our nation’s critical investment in its lifesaving work. ■
