CLC
Recommends the Appointment of a Permanent FDA Commissioner
(November 18, 2005)
November 18, 2005
The President
The White House
Washington, D.C. 20500
Dear Mr. President:
The undersigned organizations represent cancer patients, providers and researchers. We understandably place great value on the work of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and National Cancer Institute (NCI). The cancer community depends on NCI to provide leadership and substantial federal funding for basic, translational and clinical cancer research leading to discoveries of new cancer therapies, and on FDA as the efficient gatekeeper for approval and marketing of those products. The absence of permanent qualified leadership at the two agencies is a cause for concern to the more than 1 million patients who are diagnosed with cancer annually and the approximately 12 million people living with cancer in the United States.
We urge you, Mr. President, to make appointment of a permanent FDA Commissioner and permanent NCI Director a priority for your Administration. Every day that these important positions are left in doubt runs the risk that morale at both agencies will suffer and opportunities for advances against cancer will be missed. The governance of both NCI and FDA must be securely in the hands of highly qualified leaders who can devote full and undivided attention to the vital missions entrusted to them.
We hope and trust that you and your senior staff will turn your attention without
delay to the matter of appointing permanent leaders for these important custodians
of cancer research and treatment in the United States.
Sincerely,
Cancer Leadership Council
American Psychosocial Oncology Society
American Society of Clinical Oncology
American Society for Therapeutic
Radiology & Oncology
C3: Colorectal Cancer Coalition
Cancer Care
Cancer Research and Prevention Foundation
The Children's Cause for Cancer Advocacy
Coalition of Cancer Cooperative Groups
Fertile Hope
International Myeloma Foundation
Kidney Cancer Association
The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society
The Lung Cancer Alliance
Lymphoma Research Foundation
Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation
National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship
National Patient Advocate Foundation
North American Brain Tumor Coalition
Ovarian Cancer National Alliance
Pancreatic Cancer Action Network
The Wellness Community
Y-ME National Breast Cancer Organization