Rounds Introduces Legislation to Advance Brain Cancer Research and Development

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) and Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) introduced the Bolstering Research and Innovation Now (BRAIN) Act, legislation to advance research for brain tumors and improve brain tumor treatment and care.

"For me, the fight against cancer is personal. When my late wife Jean was courageously battling cancer a few years ago, we were already seeing encouraging progress in the development of new treatments for many cancers," said Rounds. "I firmly believe we are years, not decades, away from seeing cures to many of the most deadly cancers. The BRAIN Act will allow us to continue capitalizing on the progress we have made so far by implementing programs and funding that will advance research and treatments for brain tumors. I look forward to working with my colleagues to get this important legislation signed into law."

"After Brian was diagnosed with glioblastoma, the most common and deadly type of malignant brain tumor, his journey provided hope to a lot of folks in his community," said Lisa Fulton of South Dakota of her late husband, a well-respected rodeo champion and father of three sons at the time of his diagnosis in 2006. "He literally got back on the horse the day we came home from five weeks at in-patient rehab following his recurrence and never gave up. Senator Rounds' support of this landmark bill means the world to those of us affected by this life-altering disease. The BRAIN Act creates a framework to support research that could change the course of so many lives."

The BRAIN Act is cosponsored by Senators John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) and Jack Reed (D-R.I.). Companion legislation was introduced in the U.S. House by Representative Lori Trahan (D-Mass).

BACKGROUND:

Today, more than one million people in the United States are living with a primary brain tumor. Despite major improvements made in the treatment of other cancers in recent years, incidence and survival rates for malignant brain tumors have remained stagnant for 45 years, with a five-year relative survival rate of only 35.7 percent.

In order to reduce mortality rates and make meaningful progress against brain tumors, better funding and collaborative research is needed. The BRAIN Act takes a comprehensive, complementary approach to meet this need and further advance research for these aggressive, hard-to-treat tumors.

Specifically, the BRAIN Act:

• Increases transparency of federally-funded biobank collections so researchers are aware of others who possess samples that may be shared to enable important research.
• Sufficiently supports the National Cancer Institute's Glioblastoma Therapeutics Network so it can realize its promise of vetting treatments and completing innovative early-phase clinical trials.
• Enables team science to advance immunotherapy research (CAR-T) engineered to attack brain cancer cells.
• Directs the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to conduct a public education campaign around the importance of clinical trials and biomarker testing in cancer treatment.
• Augments and expands funding to develop innovative systems of care models for brain tumor survivors.
• Directs the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to issue guidance to guarantee brain tumor and other rare and recalcitrant cancer patient access to clinical trials evaluating treatments for other diseases.

Click HERE to read full bill text.

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