Cancer Moonshot at VA
About Cancer Moonshot
The Cancer Moonshot, initiated in 2016, outlined a mission to accelerate the rate of progress against cancer. In 2022, the Cancer Moonshot was reignited with two clear goals: to prevent more than 4 million cancer deaths by 2047 and to equitably improve the lives of those impacted by cancer and their families.
VA’s Role in the Cancer Moonshot
VA cares for over 480,000 Veterans somewhere on the cancer care continuum and diagnoses approximately 56,000 new cancer cases every year. VA’s Cancer Moonshot initiatives emphasize health equity through targeted outreach to historically underserved communities and programs that reduce barriers to our best-in-class cancer care. Ranging from Office of Research and Development (ORD) projects to patient-facing clinical initiatives, VA is uniquely positioned to advance the Cancer Moonshot mission as the largest integrated oncology provider in the United States.
As part of the Cancer Moonshot, VA launched the National Precision Oncology Program (NPOP) in 2016, from which many of VA's key Moonshot initiatives are run.
In response to the Cancer Moonshot initiative, VA has:
Increased Cancer Care Access
VA is bringing the full continuum of cancer care closer to where Veterans are. From at-home colorectal cancer screening and cancer genetics testing, to access to top cancer specialists via telehealth, to bringing cancer treatment and infusions closer to Veterans via our community-based clinics, we're increasing access to world class cancer care.
Partnerships for Cutting-Edge Research
VA runs a nationally-integrated clinical trials network, connecting Veterans to the latest cancer research by piloting dedicated ‘concierge’ style clinical trials matching. We also collaborate with the Department of Defense (DoD) on tumor sample testing and the National Cancer Institute (NCI) to address barriers to cancer clinical trial recruitment across VA through the NCI and VA Interagency Group to Accelerate Trial Enrollment (NAVIGATE).
Accelerated Data Sharing
In 2023 , VA announced a historic partnership with NCI to share cancer registry information, allowing VA to access critical data on Veterans’ cancer diagnoses and treatment outside of our health system. This will help VA study the impact of cancer on the Veteran community — including cancers linked to toxic exposures during military service.
The Latest on Cancer Moonshot at VA
APOLLO: VA Partners with Department of Defense (DoD) To Better Understand Toxic Exposures
VA has partnered with (DoD) to share tumor samples in order to better understand Veterans’ toxic environmental exposures. The program, called APOLLO, is a collaboration between VA, DoD, and the National Cancer Institute (NCI), concentrated on expanding collection of tumor tissue and pathology details, imaging studies, blood samples, treatment data, and demographic information. Veteran patient enrollment has exceeded expectations, with over 200 participants so far and a goal of enrolling 100 patients per site by end of CY2024.
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Expanding Access | Cancer Cabinet Community Conversation
Watch this conversation about how as part of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy’s Cancer Moonshot Initiative, VA is taking every opportunity to expand access to best-in-class cancer care for Veterans enrolled in our equal access health care system.
Of the 9 million Veterans receiving VA health care benefits, one third live in rural areas. Approximately 60% of rural communities do not have a doctor focused on cancer, or an oncologist. Even as this gap exists, VA is committed to providing access to the full continuum of cancer care, from screening, to treatment guided by Veterans’ unique genetic circumstances to post-treatment survivorship, no matter where a Veteran lives.
During the discussion, you will hear from VA leaders and oncologists who live and breathe the work of providing best-in-class cancer care to Veterans every day.
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VA extends presumptions of service connection for three new cancer types
WASHINGTON — Today, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs is including three new cancer types in the list of presumed service-connected disabilities due to military environmental exposure under the PACT Act. This announcement marks the continued commitment under the Biden-Harris administration’s Unity Agenda and the Biden Cancer Moonshot to support the nation’s Veterans.
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