[Congressional Bills 110th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 7045 Introduced in House (IH)]
110th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 7045
To amend the Public Health Service Act to provide for a Pancreatic
Cancer Initiative, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
September 24, 2008
Ms. Eshoo (for herself and Ms. Ginny Brown-Waite of Florida) introduced
the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and
Commerce
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend the Public Health Service Act to provide for a Pancreatic
Cancer Initiative, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; FINDINGS.
(a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``National Plan to
Advance Pancreatic Cancer Act of 2008''.
(b) Findings.--The Congress finds the following:
(1) Nearly 38,000 Americans will be diagnosed with
pancreatic cancer this year, and over 34,000 will die from the
disease. The incidence among African-Americans is 40 to 50
percent higher than other ethnic groups.
(2) Pancreatic cancer is one of the few cancers for which
survival has not improved substantially over the past 30 years.
As a result, in 2003, pancreatic cancer surpassed prostate
cancer as the 4th leading cause of cancer-related death in the
United States.
(3) Seventy-five percent of pancreatic cancer patients die
within the first 12 months of the diagnosis. The 5-year
survival rate is 5 percent.
(4) Scientific understanding of pancreatic cancer--its
etiology, pathogenesis, detection, and treatment--lags far
behind that of most other forms of cancer. In fact, pancreatic
cancer research is where breast cancer research was in the
1930s--little understanding of the causes, no early detection,
few effective treatments, and single-digit survival rates.
(5) In 2001, the National Cancer Institute developed
``Pancreatic Cancer: An Agenda for Action''. Seven years later,
only 5 of the report's 39 recommendations have been implemented
because of a lack of funding, focus, and commitment. In the
meantime, pancreatic cancer death rates have continued to
increase.
(6) Pancreatic cancer research constitutes less than 2
percent of the National Cancer Institute's Federal research
funding, a figure far too low given the severity of the
disease, its mortality rate, and how little is known about how
to arrest the disease.
(7) Of the more than 5,000 research grants awarded annually
by the Nations Cancer Institute in 2006, only 134
(approximately 3 percent) were categorized by the Institute as
at least 50 percent relevant to pancreatic cancer research.
(8) The future supply of scientists entering this field of
study is in serious jeopardy. There are currently fewer than 58
principal investigators who have multiple grants or a primary
career focus on pancreatic cancer. Further, in the last 3
years, the National Cancer Institute has awarded only 5 grants
for training and supporting young principal investigators in
pancreatic cancer.
(9) In 2007, the Scientific Advisory Board of the
Pancreatic Cancer Action Network reviewed the current state of
the science and the Federal Government's efforts on pancreatic
cancer research and prepared ``The National Plan to Advance
Pancreatic Cancer Research'' to identify the highest research
priorities, scientific infrastructure needs, and workforce
training requirements that are needed to provide the answers
that pancreatic cancer patients and their families and loved
ones so desperately need.
SEC. 2. PANCREATIC CANCER INITIATIVE.
Part B of title III of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 243
et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following:
``SEC. 320B. PANCREATIC CANCER INITIATIVE.
``(a) Pancreatic Cancer Initiative.--
``(1) Establishment.--The Secretary shall establish and
implement a Pancreatic Cancer Initiative to assist in
coordinating activities to address the high mortality rate
associated with pancreatic cancer. Such Initiative shall focus
on--
``(A) advancing research on the causes, diagnosis,
and treatment of pancreatic cancer with the goal of
increasing the 5-year survival rate;
``(B) promoting a cadre of new investigators in the
field of pancreatic cancer research; and
``(C) increasing physician and public awareness of
pancreatic cancer.
``(2) Consultation.--In carrying out this subsection, the
Secretary shall consult with the Director of the National
Institutes of Health, the Director of the National Cancer
Institute, the Director of the Centers of Disease Control and
Prevention, and the Interdisciplinary Pancreatic Cancer
Coordinating Committee established under subsection (b).
``(b) Interdisciplinary Pancreatic Cancer Coordinating Committee.--
``(1) Establishment.--Not later than 60 days after the date
of the enactment of this section, the Secretary, in
consultation with the Director of the National Institutes of
Health, shall establish a committee to be known as the
Interdisciplinary Pancreatic Cancer Coordinating Committee (in
this subsection referred to as the `Committee').
``(2) Membership.--
``(A) In general.--The members of the Committee
shall be appointed by the Secretary, in consultation
with the Director of the National Institutes of Health,
and shall consist of 13 individuals as follows:
``(i) 9 experts in pancreatic cancer
research, who are each a full professor at a
major academic research institution and who
have each received multiple grants from the
National Cancer Institute or other entities of
the National Institutes of Health with a
primary focus on pancreatic cancer research.
``(ii) 2 young principal investigators in
pancreatic cancer, who are each an assistant-
level professor in a major academic research
institution and who have each received at least
one grant from the National Cancer Institute or
another entity of the National Institutes of
Health with a primary focus in pancreatic
cancer research.
``(iii) 1 pancreatic cancer advocate.
``(iv) The Director of the National Cancer
Institute (or the Director's designee).
``(B) Chair.--The Secretary shall designate the
Chair of the Committee from among its members.
``(C) Publication of names.--Not later than 30 days
after the establishment of the Committee, the Secretary
shall publish the names of the Chair and members of the
Committee on the website of the Department of Health
and Human Services.
``(D) Terms.--The members of the Committee shall
each be appointed for a 3-year term and, at the end of
each such term, may be reappointed.
``(E) Vacancies.--A vacancy on the Committee shall
be filled by the Secretary in the same manner in which
the original appointment was made.
``(3) Responsibilities.--The Committee shall--
``(A) provide advice on overall research objectives
and benchmarks for pancreatic cancer research;
``(B) develop and annually update a strategic plan
in accordance with paragraph (4) for the conduct and
support of pancreatic cancer research awareness during
the upcoming year; and
``(C) conduct evaluations and make recommendations
to the Secretary, the Director of the National
Institutes of Health, and the Director of the National
Cancer Institute in accordance with paragraph (5)
regarding the prioritization and award of National
Institutes of Health research grants relating to
pancreatic cancer.
``(4) Strategic plan.--
``(A) Development.--The Committee shall develop and
annually update a strategic plan for the conduct and
support of pancreatic cancer research and awareness
during the upcoming fiscal year.
``(B) Submission.--The Committee shall--
``(i) submit to the Secretary each
strategic plan developed under subparagraph (A)
for the upcoming fiscal year; and
``(ii) publish each such plan on the
website of the Department of Health and Human
Services within 30 days after the earlier of--
``(I) the date of submission of the
plan to the Secretary under clause (i);
or
``(II) June 1.
``(C) Contents.--Each strategic plan developed
under subparagraph (A) shall include--
``(i) recommended budgetary requirements
for pancreatic cancer research, including
research grants awarded through the National
Cancer Institute, funding for Specialized
Programs of Research Excellence (SPORE) that
are focused on pancreatic cancer, and funding
for the portion of the cancer research
incubator pilot project established by section
409J(a) that is focused on pancreatic cancer;
``(ii) recommendations on the coordination
of extramural and intramural pancreatic cancer
research initiatives and possibilities for
partnerships among the national research
institutes, including the National Cancer
Institute, the National Institute of Diabetes
and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, the National
Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, the
National Center for Complementary and
Alternative Medicine, and the National Center
on Minority Health and Health Disparities;
``(iii) recommendations for improving
physician and public education about pancreatic
cancer;
``(iv) recommendations for increasing the
number of scientists with doctorate degrees and
clinician-scientists specializing in pancreatic
cancer research; and
``(v) guidelines for information gathered
by pancreatic cancer patient registries and
tissue banks to ensure uniformity and
accessibility to the research community.
``(5) Prioritization and award of nih research grants.--
``(A) In general.--The Committee shall conduct
evaluations and make recommendations to the Secretary,
the Director of the National Institutes of Health, and
the Director of the National Cancer Institute regarding
the prioritization and award of National Institutes of
Health research grants relating to pancreatic cancer.
``(B) Peer review committee.--In carrying out
subparagraph (A), the Committee may appoint a peer
review committee to assist in the evaluation of
pancreatic cancer grant applications to ensure that
such applications are reviewed by individuals with the
appropriate expertise.
``(C) Evaluation.--In evaluating pancreatic cancer
grant applications under subparagraph (A), the
Committee shall emphasize grants that achieve at least
one of the following goals:
``(i) The grant is determined to be at
least 75 percent relevant to pancreatic cancer
research and has a primary focus on at least
one of the following areas:
``(I) Basic research to advance the
understanding of the biology of
pancreatic cancer, its natural history,
and the genetic and environmental
factors that contribute to its
development.
``(II) Research on more precise
diagnostic methods and screening to
detect pancreatic cancer in earlier
stages.
``(III) Advanced innovative
clinical trials testing targeted
therapeutics and novel agents that will
extend the survival of pancreatic
cancer patients and improve their
quality of life.
``(ii) The grant will increase the number
of young pancreatic cancer investigators.
``(iii) The grant will meet identified
needs, criteria, or specific research goals set
forth in the strategic plan developed under
paragraph (3)(B).
``(D) Recommendations.--The Committee shall make
recommendations for exception funding for grant
applications that--
``(i) have 75 percent or greater relevance
to pancreatic cancer; and
``(ii) score within 10 points of the
payline.
``(c) Physician Awareness.--
``(1) Program.--The Secretary, in consultation with the
Director of the National Institutes of Health, the Director of
the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and relevant
patient advocate and physician organizations, shall develop a
primary care provider education program on pancreatic cancer.
The Secretary may include in such program accredited continuing
medical education and such other activities as the Secretary
determines appropriate.
``(2) Definition.--The term `relevant patient advocate and
physician organization' means a nationwide organization that--
``(A) provides evidence-based disease information
to the public in a case management style;
``(B) directly funds research in an unbiased manner
by working collaboratively with health professionals at
a variety of institutions and using a peer-reviewed
grant mechanism;
``(C) advocates public policy outcomes that reflect
the needs of patients; and
``(D) provides information to patients, families,
and health professionals at the community level.
``(d) Communication Tool Kit.--The Director of the National
Institutes of Health and the Director of the Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention, working collaboratively with patient advocate
organizations, shall develop a communication tool kit for patients and
their families that focuses on specific pancreatic cancer issues
related to patient choices and patient care.
``(e) Report to Congress.--Not later than 1 year after the date of
the enactment of this section, and annually thereafter, the Secretary
shall submit a report to the Congress identifying the steps taken to
implement the Pancreatic Cancer Initiative under subsection (a). The
report shall include--
``(1) an assessment of the progress in improving outcomes
and reducing mortality rates for those diagnosed with
pancreatic cancer;
``(2) an explanation of how recommendations of the
Interdisciplinary Pancreatic Cancer Coordinating Committee in
the strategic plan developed under subsection (b)(3)(B) for the
preceding year have been implemented;
``(3) a summary of the recommendations that were made by
the Interdisciplinary Pancreatic Cancer Coordinating Committee
for grant funding, including exception funding, the number of
such recommendations that were met, and the reasons why any
recommendations were not met;
``(4) a break-down of research grant award amounts by the
National Institutes of Health during the past year that are
deemed relevant to pancreatic cancer research along with a
quantifiable measure as to the relevancy of the grants to
pancreatic cancer;
``(5) the number of such grants awarded to young principal
investigators in pancreatic cancer described in subsection
(b)(2)(A)(ii); and
``(6) a summary of progress and deficiencies that were made
in pancreatic cancer research during the preceding year.
``(f) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be
appropriated--
``(1) to carry out subsection (a), $140,000,000 for fiscal
year 2009 and such sums as may be necessary for fiscal years
2010 through 2013;
``(2) to carry out subsection (c), $2,000,000 for fiscal
year 2009 and such sums as may be necessary for fiscal years
2010 through 2013; and
``(3) to carry out subsection (d), $2,000,000 for fiscal
year 2009 and such sums as may be necessary for fiscal years
2010 through 2013.''.
SEC. 3. NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH RESEARCH.
Part B of title IV of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 284
et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following:
``SEC. 409J. CANCER RESEARCH.
``(a) Cancer Research Incubator Pilot Project.--
``(1) Grants.--
``(A) In general.--The Secretary may award grants
to research institutions for use in developing
innovative compounds or technologies for the
prevention, early detection, or treatment of those
cancers with 5-year survival rates of less than 50
percent.
``(B) Relation to other nih grants.--Subject to
subparagraph (A), the Secretary shall encourage each
recipient of a grant under this section to use the
grant for research activities that may serve as a
springboard for the receipt of other grants, including
Specialized Programs of Research Excellence (SPORE)
grants, from the National Institutes of Health and its
national research institutes.
``(2) Grant period.--The period of a grant under this
section shall be 5 years.
``(3) Focus.--During the initial 5 fiscal years of carrying
out this section, the Secretary shall focus on awarding grants
for use in developing innovative compounds or technologies for
the prevention, early detection, or treatment of pancreatic
cancer.
``(4) Report.--Not later than 5 years after the date of the
enactment of this section, the Secretary shall submit a report
to the Congress evaluating the program under this section and
making recommendations for expansion of the program to other
cancers.
``(5) Authorization of appropriations.--To carry out this
subsection, there are authorized to be appropriated $5,000,000
for fiscal year 2009 and such sums as may be necessary for
fiscal years 2010 through 2013.
``(b) Centers of Excellence.--
``(1) Designation.--The Secretary may designate 2
additional Specialized Programs of Research Excellence (SPOREs)
focusing solely on pancreatic cancer research. In carrying out
this paragraph, the Secretary may choose to designate one or
more satellite centers that augment the work of a previously
designated Specialized Program of Research Excellence.
``(2) Authorization of appropriations.--To carry out this
subsection, there are authorized to be appropriated $20,000,000
for fiscal year 2009 and such sums as may be necessary for
fiscal years 2010 through 2013.''.
<all>