Past Events

September 2023

White House Cancer Moonshot Childhood cancer forum

Friday, September 22, 2023

Accelerating progress against cancer requires all of us, and President Biden and the First Lady have called on all parts of the oncology community to help end cancer as we know it. Building on the 2022 White House Childhood Cancer Forum, this event convened key advocates, patients, caregivers, oncologists, researchers, and administration officials to share updates on key policy, public and private sector initiatives, and generate solutions to advance progress that will deliver better outcomes for all patients and families.

June 2023

CANCER MOONSHOT SMOKING CESSATION FORUM

Thursday, June 1, 2023

On Thursday, June 1, the White House Cancer Moonshot hosted a forum to highlight the Biden-Harris Administration’s commitment to tackling the largest single driver of cancer deaths in the U.S.—smoking. The forum explored efforts underway across the public, private, nonprofit, and other sectors to equitably expand access to effective smoking cessation support.
 
Speakers highlighted updates on federal cessation programming, put forth a framework for upcoming action, and committed to further steps to put smoking cessation tools into the hands of Americans. The forum was grounded in health equity and featured the perspectives of patients and advocates who are committed to reducing the number of Americans smoking and increase education about tools that are available for those who want to quit.

FEATURED SPEAKERS:

• Arati Prabhakar, Assistant to the President and Director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy
• Danielle Carnival, Deputy Assistant to the President for the Cancer Moonshot, Deputy Director for Health Outcomes, White House Office of Science and Technology Policy
• Catherine Oakar, Special Assistant to the President for Public Health and Disparities
• Natasha Phelps, Director of Equity-Centered Policies, The Center for Black Health & Equity
• Tiffany R., participant in CDC’s Tips from Former Smokers® (Tips®) campaign
• Andrea Palm, Deputy Secretary, Department of Health and Human Services
• Rachel L. Levine, Assistant Secretary for Health, Department of Health and Human Services
• Robert M. Califf, Commissioner, Food and Drug Administration
• Nirav D. Shah, Principal Deputy Director, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
• Lester Martinez-Lopez, Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs, Department of Defense
• Shereef Elnahal, Under Secretary of Veterans Affairs for Health, Department of Veterans Affairs

MAY 2023

CANCER MOONSHOT Brain cancers FORUM

Thursday, May 25, 2023

On Thursday, May 25th, in recognition of Brain Cancer Awareness Month, the White House Cancer Moonshot convened leaders from the brain cancer community, including patients, caregivers, oncologists, researchers, advocacy organizations, philanthropy, and industry for a Brain Cancers Forum.

The forum focused on driving progress against Glioblastoma Multiforme (GBM) and Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma (DIPG), some of the most aggressive and deadly brain cancers. Brain cancers, like GBM, the most common brain tumor in adults, and DIPG, which affects children, are particularly difficult to treat.

The forum brought together all parts of the brain cancer community to develop plans for bold new efforts to take on these devastating diagnoses as part of the Cancer Moonshot goal to end cancer as we know it.

The forum opened with a public session, where patient advocates and survivors shared their perspectives to establish priorities. It also featured remarks from Assistant to the President and Director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) Arati Prabhakar, Deputy Assistant to the President for the Cancer Moonshot and OSTP Deputy Director for Health Outcomes Dr. Danielle Carnival, other Biden-Harris Administration officials, and leaders in the brain cancer community. Speakers highlighted their work on innovative care and treatment methods, explained the challenges ahead, and discussed opportunities for collaborative efforts to address these challenges.

The public session was followed by working sessions on GBM and DIPG that brought together different parts of the brain cancer community to spur new ideas, collaborations, and commitments—with a focus on actions that will improve innovative treatments and care, increase equitable access to clinical trials, and develop solutions around data sharing and measurable outcomes.

MARCH 2023

CANCER MOONSHOT COLORECTAL CANCER FORUM

Friday, March 10, 2023

On Friday, March 10, in recognition of Colorectal Cancer Awareness month, the White House Cancer Moonshot convened leaders from the colorectal cancer community, including patients, survivors, private sector companies, foundations, academic institutions, and health care providers focused on accelerating efforts to reduce the deadly impact of colorectal cancer.
 
Participants shared updates on the progress of several key initiatives around awareness, prevention, screening, and treatment – all to deliver on the President and First Lady’s re-ignited Cancer Moonshot goal of reducing cancer deaths by 50 percent over the next 25 years. Administration speakers highlighted the President’s FY 2024 Budget and the robust investments it includes for the Cancer Moonshot. The forum also featured the perspectives of patients and their caregivers as part of ongoing efforts to improve the experience of people and their families living with and surviving cancer.
 
FEATURED SPEAKERS:

• Andrea Palm, Deputy Secretary, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
• Danielle Carnival, Deputy Assistant to the President for the Cancer Moonshot and Deputy Director of Health Outcomes, White House Office of Science and Technology Policy
• Craig Melvin, Broadcast Journalist and Anchor, NBC and MSNBC
• Simone Ledward Boseman, Artist and Caregiver to Chadwick Boseman

MAY 2022

CANCER MOONSHOT GOALS FORUM

Wednesday, May 11, 2022

The White House will convene a Cancer Moonshot Goals Forum, including leadership from members of the Cancer Cabinet, bringing together federal departments, agencies, and other White House components to address cancer on multiple fronts. This forum will provide an opportunity for the private sector, foundations, academic institutions, healthcare providers, and Americans to discuss the very latest efforts to reduce the deadly impact of cancer and improve patient experiences in the diagnosis, treatment, and survival of cancer across the seven pillars of how we know cancer today. President Biden re-ignited the Cancer Moonshot in February, and identified it in his State of the Union address as part of a unity agenda for the nation.

WHAT: The White House will host a forum to drive action towards the President’s goal of ending cancer as we know it today. Danielle Carnival (White House Cancer Moonshot Coordinator) will welcome participants to the event, followed by opening remarks from Alondra Nelson (performing the duties of Director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy). Cancer Cabinet leadership will participate in fireside chats on driving innovation in prevention and therapies and preventing cancer. There will also be testimonials from people living with cancer, survivors, and caregivers focused on specific areas to prioritize progress.

WHO:

• Denis McDonough, U.S. Secretary of Veterans Affairs
• Alondra Nelson, Deputy Assistant to the President and head of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy
• Francis Collins, Acting Science Advisor to the President
• Cat Oakar, Special Assistant to the President for Community Public Health and Disparities
• Andrea Palm, Deputy Secretary for Health and Human Services
• Stephen Cha, Department of Health and Human Services Counselor to the Secretary
• Danielle Carnival, White House Cancer Moonshot Coordinator
• Chavonda Jacobs-Young, Administrator, U.S. Department of Agriculture-Agriculture Research Service

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PRESIDENT BIDEN’S CANCER CABINET HOSTED CANCER COMMUNITY CONVERSATIONS

The Cancer Cabinet is a central driver of President Biden’s vision for a whole-of-government approach to ending cancer as we know it. Federal agencies and departments that are part of the Cancer Cabinet hosted a series of virtual roundtable discussions to inform and advance Cancer Moonshot priorities.

Achieving the bold goals laid out by the President with his re-ignition of the Cancer Moonshot in February 2022 will take all of us. Progress will be informed by patients, caregivers, and families and made by all parts of the oncology community and beyond. These Cancer Moonshot Community Conversations will provide venues for the private sector, foundations, academic institutions, healthcare providers, and all Americans to join the mission of reducing the deadly impact of cancer and improving patient experiences in the diagnosis, treatment, and survival of cancer.

10:00 –11:00 AM	White House Gender Policy Council	The Intersection of Gender Equity and Cancer Care and Prevention
11:00 – 12:00 PM	Centers for Disease Control and Prevention	Perspectives on Cancer and the Environment
11:00 – 12:00 PM	Food and Drug Administration	Moving on Equity: OCE Expands Diversity Initiative
12:00 – 1:00 PM	National Cancer Institute/National Institutes of Health	Doubling Clinical Trials Accrual
1:00 – 2:00 PM	Department of Health and Human Services	Engaging Patients and Communities on Tobacco Cessation
1:00 – 2:00 PM	Department of Defense	Cancer Health Equity and Military-Relevant Environmental Exposures
2:00 – 3:00 PM	Health Resources and Services Administration	Advancing Equity in Cancer Prevention in Primary Care and Rural Health Settings
3:00 – 4:00 PM	Department of Agriculture	Preventing Cancer through Healthy Eating
3:00 – 4:00 PM	Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services	Patient Experience and Access in Cancer Care, with a focus on Inequities
4:00 – 5:00 PM	Department of Veterans Affairs	Aiming for the Moon(shot): Accelerating Lung Cancer Care & Research

CONTACT:  Information requests and press inquiries about specific events should be sent directly to the individual departments and agencies. To schedule interviews about the Cancer Moonshot and the Cancer Cabinet, please email press@ostp.eop.gov.