Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA) has introduced two bills to improve research on prostate cancer and ovarian cancer. S. 756, the "Prostate Research, Imaging, and Men's Education Act (PRIME)" provides for prostate cancer imaging research and education. The reintroduced, S.755 Ovarian Cancer Biomarker Research Act is legislation to develop new technologies to detect and fight ovarian cancer. Congressman Howard Berman (D-CA) reintroduced the Act in the House.

According to a press release on the Senator's website, the Act would authorize $30 million each year for four years to fund research and development of reliable screening techniques for ovarian cancer. Clinical trials would be authorized to verify research techniques and a panel of experts gathered to evaluate and direct the progress of the work.

Sen. Boxer said, "Early detection is key to helping more women beat this dangerous disease. When ovarian cancer is diagnosed in its early stages, more than 93 percent of women go on to live longer than five years. I am proud to sponsor this bill that makes a commitment to fight ovarian cancer with every possible tool."
Advanced Imaging of Prostate

The prostate research bill would carry out a program to expand and intensify research to develop innovative advanced imaging technologies for prostate cancer detection, diagnosis, and treatment comparable to state-of-the-art mammography technologies. One million dollars would be authorized for each of fiscal years 2010 through 2014. The bill also provides for a national campaign for prostate screening with educational materials that also address the racial disparities in the incidences of prostate cancer and mortality rates with respect to such disease. Grants are authorized under the bill to enable nonprofit private entities to test alternative outreach and education strategies. Finally, there is a provision for research to develop an improved prostate cancer screening blood test using in-vitro detection.

Both bills have been referred to Senate committees.

Based on text of legislation and press release from Senator Boxer.

Link: http://boxer.senate.gov/news/releases/record.cfm?id=310977

More Industry Headlines