We have some good news, the United States Congress has passed the Omnibus spending package.  The package will fund the U.S. Government through fiscal 2016.  We should take note that this bill includes a $2 billion increase for the National Institute of Health (NIH), a 5% increase for the National Cancer Institute (NCI) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).  The bill also includes funding for the Department of Defense Medical Research Program with an allocation of $80 million for the Prostate Cancer Research Program.

My only disappointment is that the DOD PCRP (Prostate Cancer Research Program) didn’t receive additional funding over the $80 million.

Despite all the political fighting that has plagued the Congress there seems to be strong bipartisan support for medical research in Congress.  We need remain careful not to just ride this wave, but remain both vigilant in protecting this funding as well as continue our push to expand it.

We have every reason to believe that the package will proceed successfully through the remaining halls of government and be passed.