Vice President Joe Biden’s time in office is drawing to a close, but even after he departs the executive branch, Biden’s signature cancer research “moonshot” isn’t going anywhere.
While Biden ruled out serving under a potential Hillary Clinton administration in an interview with STAT, he expressed a desire to continue work on cancer research. “I’m going to stay involved in this effort as long as I’m alive,” he told the publication. “So I’m going to stay engaged. Exactly how, I don’t know yet.”
Even in the event that Donald Trump wins the presidential election, Biden said, the initiative has bipartisan support in Congress, potentially giving him an opening to push for continued support. Biden said he’s similarly optimistic the program will secure the extra $755 million in funding it’s requested for the year, despite the Republican control of Congress Its overarching goal: making 10 years’ worth of research gains over a five-year period. Earlier this month, the initiative’s “Blue Ribbon” panel announced its recommendations.
Biden also addressed concerns that the moonshot at first neglected the importance of preventive care in fighting cancer. He clarified that the program’s focus is on factors that may genetically predispose people to cancer regardless of whether their lifestyles or environments increase the risk.