The National Cancer Institute (NCI) and the Blue Ribbon Panel (BRP) has invited Smita Bhatia, M.D., MPH, Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, to participate in the BRP Working Group on Pediatric Cancer. Through participation, Dr. Bhatia will be filling an essential role in advising the Institute and the National Cancer Moonshot. 
 
In late January 2016, President Barack Obama announced the establishment of the National Cancer Moonshot initiative, led by Vice President Joe Biden. The initiative aims to accelerate current cancer research efforts and break down barriers to progress, making more therapies available to more patients, while also improving the ability to prevent cancer and detect it at an early stage.
 
The National Cancer Institute has assembled a Blue Ribbon Panel, a working group of the National Cancer Advisory Board (NCAB) that is charged with providing expert advice on the vision, proposed scientific goals, and implementation of the National Cancer Moonshot. The BRP will consider how to best advance the themes proposed for the Moonshot, including an intensive examination of the opportunities and impediments in cancer research. For more information, please click here. The findings and recommendations of the BRP and its Working Groups will be reported to the NCAB later this summer. Ultimately, the NCAB will use the BRP’s findings and recommendations to provide final recommendations to the NCI Director. Congratulations to Dr. Bhatia on this great honor!