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Maine (WABI) – Cancer is one of the leading causes of death in Maine, but rates have declined nearly 13% from an all-time high in 2000. Health leaders say that progress could stall without help from lawmakers
Oncologists and lawmakers are worried about potential cuts to the National Institutes of Health, the primary federal agency behind medical and public health research. The White House has proposed a fiscal year 2027 budget of $41.4 billion for the agency, a 12% reduction from the previous year
“The funding that happens today is leading directly to new treatments tomorrow,” said Dr. Christian Thomas, medical director of clinical research at New England Cancer Specialists
“This is not something that gets spent and then gets lost. This is something that gets spent and comes back directly in terms of jobs, in terms of, you want to call it return on investment,” Thomas said
Thomas said Congress needs to continue to maintain and improve NIH funding
Asked what the proposed cut to NIH funding means for cancer patients currently receiving treatment, Thomas said, “Best choice. Best choice means less opportunity to potentially have lifesaving treatment. It’s literally that direct. If the kind of research isn’t supported any longer, it’s going to dry up and go away.”
Thomas said critical research allows patients access to cancer trials. Immunotherapy and precision medicine research are most at risk if funding is cut
Health leaders note the funding also directly supports economic activity. In 2025, NIH awarded more than $120 million in grants and contracts to Maine. That funding supported over 1,300 jobs and generated more than $280 million in economic activity
“I don’t think we are quote unquote saving money. We’re redistributing money. That’s really what we need to talk about. Where do those federal dollars go to if they don’t go into cancer research? What part of the budget can you think of that is potentially more deserving than that?” Thomas said
A recent poll by the American Cancer Society Action Networkshows 85% of Maine voters believe all Americans, regardless of health insurance, should have access to affordable cancer screenings and treatments
Julia MacDonald, Maine director of government relations at ACS CAN, said, “Last year we really saw what Congress can do when both parties come together and make a commitment to cancer research funding. I think historically we’ve seen a bipartisan demonstration of that and that is why ACS CAN is asking Congress for the highest possible funding for the NIH.”
Congress has until Sept. 30 to finalize federal funding for fiscal year 2027
Sen. Susan Collins chairs the Appropriations Committee. At a May hearing on NIH’s 2027 budget request, she called the proposed cuts to biomedical research funding “inexplicable.”
The NIH director said the agency remains committed to making sure research institutions across the country have the support they need
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