The Science Policy and Government Affairs Committee is AACR's principal means for devising and implementing strategies to influence important biomedical research-related public policy issues. The committee analyzes public issues of concern to cancer researchers and focuses on mechanisms for speeding up cancer research. Its members periodically visit legislators in Washington, D.C. to make the case for increased funding for all forms of biomedical research, periodically submit testimony to Congress, government agencies and advisory boards and help shape special sessions to educate members of Congress and their staff about important issues affecting cancer research.
FUNCTION
For more than 25 years, the Science Policy and Government Affairs Committee (and its precursor, the Public Education Committee) has served as AACR's principal means for devising and implementing strategies to influence important biomedical research-related public policy issues. The committee analyzes public issues of concern to cancer researchers, focuses on mechanisms for strengthening funding for cancer research, and recommends appropriate activities to the AACR Board of Directors. The members of the committee periodically visit legislators in Washington, D.C., to make the case for increased funding for all forms of biomedical research. In the fall of 2007, the AACR opened a Washington, D.C. office to further strengthen its ability to represent the interests of cancer researchers before Congress.
COMPOSITION
The president of the AACR appoints members to the Science Policy and Government Affairs Committee based upon their interest and expertise. Members serve on the committee for a three-year renewable term. The committee ordinarily meets once or twice a year, often in Washington, D.C. It is supported the AACR Office of Science Policy and Government Affairs in Washington, D.C.
2011-2012 MEMBERS
William S. Dalton, M.D., Ph.D., Chairperson
Roy S. Herbst, M.D., Ph.D., Vice Chairperson
George J. Weiner, M.D., Vice Chairperson
Amy P. Abernethy, M.D.
Francis Ali-Osman, D.Sc.
Kenneth C. Anderson, M.D.
Anna D. Barker, Ph.D.
Mary C. Beckerle, Ph.D.
Elizabeth H. Blackburn, Ph.D.
Michael A. Caligiuri, M.D.
Renzo M. Canetta, M.D.
Kenneth H. Cowan, M.D., Ph.D.
Robert S. DiPaola, M.D.
Ethan Dmitrovsky, M.D.
Raymond N. DuBois Jr., M.D., Ph.D.
H. Shelton Earp III, M.D.
Michael A. Friedman, M.D.
Leo T. Furcht, M.D.
Judy E. Garber, M.D., M.P.H.
Jennifer Rubin Grandis, M.D.
Ernest T. Hawk, Ph.D., M.P.H.
Elizabeth M. Jaffee, M.D.
Roy A. Jensen, M.D.
Judith S. Kaur, M.D.
Richard E. Kouri, Ph.D.
Michelle M. LeBeau, Ph.D.
Thomas J. Lynch Jr., M.D.
William G. Nelson V., M.D., Ph.D.
Perry D. Nisen, M.D., Ph.D.
Gilbert S. Omenn, M.D., Ph.D.
Sudip S. Parikh, Ph.D.
David R. Parkinson, M.D.
Steven R. Patierno, Ph.D.
David M. Reese, M.D.
Mark E. Robson, M.D.
Jason A. Sager, M.D.
Laura K. Shawver, Ph.D.
Peter G. Shields, M.D.
Ellen V. Sigal, Ph.D.
Steven H. Stein, M.D.
Donald L. Trump, M.D., F.A.C.P.
Laura J. van ‘t Veer, Ph.D.
Geoffrey M. Wahl, Ph.D.
Cheryl L. Willman, M.D.
Robert C. Young, M.D.
Aime T. Franco, Ph.D., ex officio (Chair, AACR Associate Member Council)
Frank P. McCormick, Ph.D., F.R.S., D.Sc., ex officio (AACR President)
Charles L. Sawyers, M.D., ex officio (AACR President-Elect)
SCIENCE POLICY SUBCOMMITTEES
The Science Policy and Government Affairs Committee oversees two subcommittees engaged in specific science policy matters.
The Regulatory Science and Policy Subcommittee was established in March 2011 with the goal of supporting the efforts of FDA to modernize the regulatory process and accommodate the fast pace of innovation in science and technology.
The AACR Tobacco and Cancer Subcommittee was convened in 2009 to foster scientific and policy initiatives to reduce the incidence of disease and mortality due to tobacco use.
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Dr. Michelle M. LeBeau