Planning for Prostate Cancer Research
Expanding the Scientific Framework & Professional Judgement Estimates
Harold E. Varmus, M.D., Director National Institutes of Health Submitted July 1999

Section 1 of 13

Table of Contents
Preface

This report has been prepared by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) of the Department of Health and Human Services in response to the following requests from Congress.

In its report on the Fiscal Year 1999 budget for the Department of Health and Human Services, the House Appropriations Committee stated:
The Committee requests the Director of NIH together with the Director of NCI to submit a report by January 1, 1999, outlining the activities the NIH is undertaking to enhance prostate cancer research. (HR 105-635 page 63)
In its report on the Fiscal Year 1999 budget for the Department of Health and Human Services, the Senate Appropriations Committee stated:
The Committee encourages NCI to explore the feasibility of developing a national model research, education, training, and treatment center focusing on early diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of prostate cancer.

The Committee also requests that the Director of the National Institutes of Health, together with the Director of NCI, submit a report to the Appropriations Committees, no later than April 1, 1999, outlining activities NIH is undertaking to enhance prostate cancer research programs. (SR 105-300 page 88)
In its report on the Fiscal Year 1999 budget for the Department of Health and Human Services, the Conference Appropriations Committee stated:
...NIH is strongly urged to make prostate cancer a top priority in allocating funding increases. The agency is expected to accelerate spending on prostate cancer, taking into account the recommendation contained in the Senate report and bill. It is further expected that NIH will consult closely with the research community, clinicians, patient advocacy groups, and the Congress to identify promising new avenues of basic and clinical research. The agency is directed to develop a report to be presented to the House and the Senate Committees on Appropriations within six months outlining the professional judgment for prostate cancer research for the next five years. The Secretary and the Director should also be prepared to discuss actions taken in planning, funding, and implementing the agency's prostate cancer research portfolio for fiscal years 1999 and 2000. (HR 105-805 page 1273)
The NIH has coordinated a single comprehensive report to address these Congressional issues. The first section of the report, "Planning for Prostate Cancer Research: Expanding the Scientific Framework," discusses scientific research supported at the NIH.

The second section of the report, "Planning for Prostate Cancer Research: Five Year Professional Judgment Estimates," highlights the research opportunities and their potential costs that NIH has identified in the area of prostate cancer.


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