Colorectal Cancer Alliance Applauds President Biden’s Choice for NIH Director

Statement from Michael Sapienza, CEO of the Colorectal Cancer Alliance, on the nomination of Dr. Monica Bertagnolli for Director of the National Institutes of Health:

"The Colorectal Cancer Alliance supports President Biden's nomination of Dr. Monica Bertagnolli for Director of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Dr. Bertagnolli's transformative work as the Director of the National Cancer Institute (NCI) and her unwavering commitment to advancing cancer research align with the Colorectal Cancer Alliance's mission to end colorectal cancer in our lifetime.

Dr. Bertagnolli has demonstrated a firm commitment to the vision of President Biden's Cancer Moonshot, an initiative we support for its immense life-saving potential. Her innovative efforts in cancer prevention, early detection, and creating a national navigation program for childhood cancers are significant strides toward eradicating this disease. Her dedication is demonstrated further by initiatives to enhance data infrastructure and clinical research to benefit patients. 

We applaud her many achievements, including her historic role as the first woman to serve as the Director of the NCI, and her influential positions at institutions such as Harvard Medical School, Brigham and Women's Hospital, and Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. Her impact extends even further, as seen in her service on the boards of the American Society of Clinical Oncology, the American Cancer Society, and the Prevent Cancer Foundation. 

Dr. Bertagnolli's nomination is a testament to her vision, leadership, and devotion to advancing health research and care. We are confident the patients and caregivers served by the Colorectal Cancer Alliance would benefit from her service in this role, and we stand behind this well-deserved nomination."