Federal agencies would support brain tumor research with future funding

The National Cancer Institute would award competitive funding to teams studying brain tumor treatments. Awards would support teams testing brain tumor treatments, including treatments that use immune cells for adults and children. Congress would still need to provide the money. The glioblastoma research program would follow the existing network's policies and procedures. The funding authorizations would cover fiscal years 2026 through 2030, with money available until spent.

People and organizations holding covered brain tumor samples would report them to the National Institutes of Health, or NIH. Reporting would cover brain tumor tissue, spinal fluid, and other samples listed in the National Cancer Institute's sample database, obtained partly or fully with NIH funding. NIH could publish a searchable directory of the collections. NIH would withhold funding for repeated or serious reporting violations. Collections held at enactment would be reported within 180 days of enactment. Samples collected or acquired on or after enactment would be reported within 60 days of collection or acquisition.

Federal health officials would run a national cancer education campaign and award grants or contracts to public or nonprofit groups to test outreach methods. The campaign would reach patients, caregivers, and health professionals, including rural communities and groups at higher cancer risk. Campaign messages would fit the languages and cultures of the people they target. Congress would authorize $10 million total for these activities but would still need to provide the money. The funding authorization would cover fiscal years 2026 through 2030.

NIH could award funding to test ways to monitor and care for brain tumor survivors. Medical schools, children's hospitals, and other organizations with relevant expertise could study lifelong care for adult and childhood brain tumor survivors. Awards would undergo scientific peer review. Congress would authorize $5 million a year but would still need to provide the money. The funding authorization would cover fiscal years 2026 through 2030.

The Food and Drug Administration, or FDA, would issue guidance on reducing certain cancer patients' exclusion from trials testing treatments for other conditions. The guidance would cover people with brain tumors or rare and hard-to-treat cancers. The guidance would identify ways to reduce exclusion; it would not guarantee anyone a place in a trial. The FDA would issue the guidance within one year after enactment.