April 20th, 2020 The Honorable Nita Lowey The Honorable Kay Granger Committee Chairwoman Committee Ranking Member U.S. House of Representatives U.S. House of Representatives Appropriations, Committee Appropriations, Committee Washington, D.C. 20515 Washington, D.C. 20515 The Honorable Pete Visclosky The Honorable Ken Calvert Subcommittee Chairman Subcommittee Ranking Member U.S. House of Representatives U.S. House of Representatives Appropriations, Defense Subcommittee Appropriations, Defense Subcommittee Washington, D.C. 20515 Washington, D.C. 20515 Dear Chairwoman Lowey, Chairman Visclosky, Ranking Member Granger, and Ranking Member Calvert: According to the recent military census, 86% of our active military fall within the National Institutes of Health’s (NIH) definition of Adolescents and Young Adults (AYA)—persons between the ages of 15 and 39 years old. More than half of the U.S. active military personnel are 25 years of age or younger, and 90% are married and/or have children. Cancer is the #1 disease killer of the pediatric and AYA population in America. We are thankful for the inclusion of cancers in children, adolescents and young adults in the Department of Defense (DoD) Congressionally Directed Medical Research Program (CDMRP) Cancer Peer-Review Program over the past three years. But there is more that needs to be done. Also, on behalf of the millions of young Americans touched by cancer each year, we are writing to express our strong support for a Peer-Reviewed Cancers in Children, Adolescents and Young Adult Cancer Research program to target critical gaps and transform healthcare through groundbreaking biomedical research in response to its stakeholders – the American public, Congress, and our military. We are truly grateful for the inclusion of “cancers of children, adolescents, and young adults” in the CDMRP Peer-Reviewed Cancer Research Program in FY 2017, FY 2018 and FY2019. Your support resulted in awards for translational and innovative cancer research that will positively impact the lives of our military personnel, their family members, and the American public in the near-term. We respectfully request that the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense allocate $30 million for a Peer-Reviewed Cancers in Children, Adolescents and Young Adult Cancer Research program in FY 2020 under the Defense Health Program. The NIH reports that cancers that affect children, adolescents and young adults are significantly under-researched, leading to poor outcomes. According to NIH, early-onset cancers common to AYAs and children (e.g., carcinomas, brain tumors, melanomas, germ cell tumors, soft tissue sarcomas, leukemia, and lymphomas) differ in type and biological behavior from cancers commonly found in older adults (e.g., breast, prostate, ovarian, and lung). As a result of these age-related differences in both cancer and host biology, AYA and pediatric cancer patients experience significantly altered and varied outcomes and quality of life, facing unique obstacles Page 1 in adhering to therapy and obtaining adequate psychosocial care. Please join us by signing the attached letter to the Defense Appropriations Subcommittee. The letter requests that the Subcommittee provide a $30 million standalone program within the DoD CDMRP for cancers in children, adolescents and young adults in the FY 2020 Defense Appropriations Bill. Kidney and melanoma are the most recent CDMRP standalone programs, and each received $10 million for their program. We are asking for a $30 million program since there are three age groups represented in children, adolescents, and young adults with more than 25 different cancers between them. This age group represents 86% of the active military and their families and they currently do not have a standalone program for the #1 disease-killer of this population. The DoD CDMRP is in the unique position to make groundbreaking transformation in healthcare for 90 percent of our nation’s active military forces, their families and 53 percent of the American population, filling the critical gap by investing in research for cancers that specifically affect AYAs and their children. A Peer-Reviewed Cancer in Children, Adolescents and Young Adults Research Program at DoD would support high-impact innovative research, leading to significant breakthroughs in our country. And, while this new knowledge will impact screening, detection, and treatment of AYA and pediatric cancers, it will also serve to improve our knowledge and understanding of biomarkers, enabling us to develop safer, more effective therapies and implement precision medicine, and more. Clinicians would use the knowledge gained from this cancer research program to effectively treat our active military personnel and their families suffering from cancer, and scientists would harness these promising discoveries to accelerate innovation for the next wave of cancer therapies. This new program is integral and necessary to the lives of millions of America’s youth, including our military and their families. The development of less-toxic, effective therapies will reduce a lifetime of additional medical costs and suffering due to long-term effects from current cancer treatments. Cancers in Children, Adolescents, and Young Adults Research Funding As the DoD subcommittee members begin their consideration of the FY 2020 Department of Defense Appropriations bill, we respectfully request that the following report language be included in the FY 2020 Department of Defense Appropriations bill under Title VI: Other Department of Defense Programs : “$30 million for the ‘Peer-Reviewed Cancers in Children, Adolescents, and Young Adults Research Program under the Defense Health Program”. A Peer-Reviewed Cancers in Children, Adolescents, and Young Adults Research Program at the DoD would support high-impact innovative research, leading to significant breakthroughs in our country. While this new knowledge will impact screening, detection, and treatment of adolescents and young adults (AYA) and pediatric cancers, it will also serve to improve our knowledge and understanding of biomarkers, enabling us to develop safer, more effective therapies and implement precision medicine. Clinicians would use the knowledge gained from this cancer research program to effectively treat our active military personnel and their families suffering from cancer. Scientists would harness these promising discoveries to accelerate innovation for the next wave of cancer therapies. We are committed to working with subcommittee members and the DoD CDMRP to ensure that cancers in children, adolescents and young adults in our active military and the American population become a priority. Page 2 Our brave servicemen and women who put their lives at risk for our country along with their children have been left behind when it comes to a cancer research program dedicated to them within the DoD CDMRP. We respectfully request that research for cancers in children, adolescents and young adults become, at minimum, its own $30 million program to support our brave service members and their families to show that we have not forgotten them when it comes to the war on cancer. Thank you very much for your consideration. Sincerely, Dean Crowe - Founder & CEO Rally Foundation for Childhood Cancer Research ([email protected]) Cindi Bear Bonner – Director Rally Pensacola Rally Foundation for Childhood Cancer Research ([email protected]) Beth Anne Baber, PhD, MBA - Co-Founder & CEO The Nicholas Conor Institute ([email protected]) Supporting Organizations, Oncologists and Patient Advocates (listed below) Supporting Organizations: 1 Million 4 Anna Foundation Dallas, TX Caelynn Andrea Iten Foundation Imperial Valley, CA 1 Voice Foundation Tampa, FL Caitlyn's Crusaders Battle Creek, MI 3/32 Foundation Boonville, NC Caleb's Crusade Against Childhood Cancer Fort Myers, FL 4 Square Clobbers Cancer Virginia Beach, VA Camila Castillo's Leukemia Battle Report Gainesville, GA 4Another Virginia Beach, VA Camp out from Cancer Montgomery, IL A Key for a Cure Foundation Monterey, CA Camp Sunshine Casco, ME A Kids' Brain Tumor Cure Needham, MA CancerFree KIDS Loveland, OH Adam's Angels Ministry Brenham, TX CandlelightersNYC New York, NY Addison Bryan Foundation Raleigh, NC Cannonball Kids' Cancer Foundation Orlando, FL Addi’s Faith Foundation Kingwood, TX Care For Kids, Inc. Madison, IN Aiden's Army Eustis, FL Carson Leslie Foundation Dallas, TX Alex’s Army Childhood Cancer Foundation Casanova, VA All Chai Lifeline New York, NY in To Win Foundation Miami, FL Chase After a Cure Summerville, SC Along Comes Hope San Luis Obispo, CA CHEMOWARRIOR: The Eli Sidler Foundation Lebanon, PA Amanda Riley Foundation Snellville, GA Chi Town Golf Club Skokie, IL APIVEO Leadership, Inc. Tyrone, GA Childhood Cancer Awareness Arizona Cancer Foundation for Children Scottsdale, AZ Group of Coffee County Douglas, GA Arms Wide Open Childhood Childhood Cancer Notes New York, NY Cancer Foundation Marlboro, NJ Children's Oncology Group Philadelphia, PA aTeam Ministries Birmingham, AL Chris Lantos Foundation Arlington, VA AYA J Fund North Adams, MA Christopher Court Foundation Sellersville, PA Bald Brigade Indianapolis, IN Christopher's Fight Foundation Jacksonville, FL Band of Parents New York, NY Christopher's Haven Boston, MA Batcole Foundation Bedford, IN Connect4Cancer Encino, CA BCCNS Life Support Network Burton, OH Conner's Cause for Children Encinitas, CA Be The Change - Brandy Angel Foundation, Inc. Atlanta, GA Cookie's Crumblers Freehold,