Public Policy Resources

Although cancer clinical trials are often opened in multiple locations, they are not available everywhere. This resource illustrates the geographic distribution of cancer incidence and clinical trial availability across all 50 states, Washington D.C., and Puerto Rico.

ACS CAN was joined by 128 other organizations in responding to an HHS request for information (RFI) related to the creation of a new safe harbor from the Anti-Kickback Statute related to clinical trial participation.

The Clinical Trial Modernization Act (H.R. 3521 / S. 4440) increases access to clinical trials by allowing clinical trial sponsors to provide financial support to patients for costs associated with their trial participation, including medical cost-sharing like copays, and non-medical expenses such as travel, parking, food and lodging.

Our latest Survivor Views survey finds that 89% of cancer patients and survivors say they would be more likely to participate in a clinical trial outside their local area if trial sponsors helped them organize or pay for travel and lodging to offset the extra travel. The survey highlights how cost and geographic barriers impact clinical trial participation and suggests many cancer patients and survivors would be more likely to participate if those barriers were removed. 

ACS CAN led a support letter with 195 organizations supporting the passage of S.4440, the Clinical Trial Modernization Act, a bill that would help remove financial barriers to clinical trial participation. 

ACS and ACS CAN have submitted joint comments opposing a proposed rule from OMB that would dramatically change how federal grants are made and managed.  The proposal would require political review of grants, make grants easy to cancel, and would erect significant barriers to DEI-related research.

La Red de Acción Contra el Cáncer de la Sociedad Americana Contra el Cáncer (ACS CAN) insta al Congreso a financiar el Programa Nacional de Registros de Cáncer (NPCR) de los Centros para el Control y la Prevención de Enfermedades (CDC) con $63.4 millones de dólares en el año fiscal 2027.

NIH plays a critical role in the cancer research ecosystem, driving basic discoveries, supporting research infrastructure, and funding critical research that would not be funded by any other entity. ACS CAN has provided recommendations to NIH as it develops its next 5-year strategic plan. 

Increased investment at the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the National Cancer Institute (NCI), and level funding for Advanced Research Projects for Health (ARPA-H), in the fight against cancer year over year have been key to reducing the nation’s cancer mortality rate by 34% since 1991. To