Recalcitrant Cancer Research Act of 2012

Bill: 112-hr-733
Sponsor: Rep. Eshoo, Anna G. [D-CA-14]
Introduced: 2011-02-16 in the House
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Advisory bodies
Cancer
Congressional oversight
Department of Health and Human Services
Digestive and metabolic diseases
Drug therapy
Health information and medical records
Health programs administration and funding
Health promotion and preventive care
Health technology, devices, supplies
Medical education
Medical research
Medical tests and diagnostic methods
National Institutes of Health (NIH)
Research administration and funding
Research and development

Summary:
action_date: 2011-02-16
text: 
Pancreatic Cancer Research and Education Act - Amends the Public Health Service Act to require the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to establish and implement a Pancreatic Cancer Initiative to assist in coordinating activities to address the high mortality rate associated with pancreatic cancer.
 
Requires the Secretary to establish the Interdisciplinary Pancreatic Cancer Coordinating Committee to: (1) provide advice on overall research objectives and benchmarks for pancreatic cancer research; (2) develop and update not less than every five years a strategic plan for pancreatic cancer research awareness; and (3) conduct evaluations and make recommendations as needed to the Secretary, the Director of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and the Director of the National Cancer Institute (NCI) regarding the prioritization and award of NIH research grants relating to pancreatic cancer.
 
Requires the Secretary to develop a primary care provider education program on pancreatic cancer.
 
Requires the Director of NCI and the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to develop a communication tool kit for patients and their families that focuses on specific pancreatic cancer issues relating to patient choices and patient care.
 
Allows the Secretary to award grants to research institutions for use in developing innovative compounds or technologies for the prevention, early detection, or treatment of those cancers with five-year survival rates of less than 50%. Requires the Secretary to focus on pancreatic cancer during the initial five fiscal years of awarding such grants.

Allows the Secretary to designate two additional Specialized Programs of Research Excellence focusing solely on pancreatic cancer research.

action_date: 2012-09-19
text: 
Recalcitrant Cancer Research Act of 2012 - Amends the Public Health Service Act to require the Director of the National Cancer Institute (NCI) to develop a scientific framework for research on recalcitrant cancers (cancer with a 5-year relative survival rate below 50%), which includes: (1) a review of the status of research, such as a summary of findings, identification of promising scientific advances, a description of the availability of qualified scientific researchers, and the identification of resources available to facilitate research; (2) identification of research questions that have not been adequately addressed; and (3) recommendations for actions to advance research and for appropriate benchmarks to measure progress on achieving such actions. Requires the Director to develop the framework within 18 months and review and update it every 5 years.
 
Requires the Director to identify within 6 months 2 or more recalcitrant cancers that have a 5-year relative survival rate of less than 20%, and are estimated to cause the death of at least 30,000 individuals in the United States per year. Authorizes the Director to identify additional such cancers and to consider additional metrics of progress (such as incidence and mortality rates) against such cancer.
 
Requires the Director to convene a working group for each identified cancer to provide expertise on, and assist in developing, a scientific framework under this Act.
 
Requires the Director to consider each relevant scientific framework developed under this Act when making recommendations for exception funding for grant applications.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2012-09-20
text: Received in the Senate.
action_date: 2012-09-19
text: The title of the measure was amended. Agreed to without objection.
action_date: 2012-09-19
text: Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
action_date: 2012-09-19
text: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H6144-6145)
action_date: 2012-09-19
text: Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.(text: CR H6144-6145)
action_date: 2012-09-19
text: DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 733.
action_date: 2012-09-19
text: Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H6144-6147)
action_date: 2012-09-19
text: Mr. Pitts moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
action_date: 2012-09-11
text: Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee (Amended) .
action_date: 2012-09-11
text: Subcommittee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
action_date: 2011-02-28
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
action_date: 2011-02-16
text: Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
action_date: 2011-02-16
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2011-02-16
text: Introduced in House