Medical Research Funding at Risk Without Defense Bill

Patient and provider groups are urging passage of the Fiscal Year 2026 Defense Spending bill to ensure full funding for the Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs (CDMRPs), which includes the Peer Reviewed Cancer Research Programs, which is an important source of funding for GI-related cancer research including, colorectal, stomach, esophageal, liver and pancreatic.

The FY2025 Full-Year Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act enacted in March cut CDMRP funding by 57 percent, which led to devastating consequences, including 23 of the 35 CDMRPs receiving no funding.

In a letter to congressional leaders, groups noted that failure to pass the Defense spending bill will compromise the ability of research institutions and laboratories to effectively plan, prepare, and execute the highest quality grant applications. The CDMRP annually receives more than 12,000 pre-applications and 7,000 full applications for grants.