President Biden to visit New Orleans as part of goal to "end cancer"

President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden are scheduled to visit New Orleans on Tuesday as part of the administration's ongoing commitment to the "Cancer Moonshot" initiative, which aims to "end cancer as we know it." This visit marks a crucial moment for President Biden, who has about four months remaining in his term to solidify his health care legacy after announcing he would not seek a second term.
Key Points of the Visit: President Biden is set to speak at an event at Tulane University on Tuesday afternoon, where he will meet with local dignitaries, including Representative Troy Carter. During his visit, Biden will announce a significant federal investment of approximately $150 million, aimed at advancing technologies to aid surgeons in tumor-removal surgeries, a crucial aspect of cancer treatment. The White House has indicated that these funds will support researchers at Tulane University, as well as seven other research teams across the United States.
Tulane University will receive a substantial $22.9 million share of the funding to develop new imaging systems and techniques. These advancements will enable surgeons to see in real-time whether all cancer cells have been successfully removed during surgery. This real-time visualization technology is expected to be a game-changer in improving surgical outcomes for cancer patients.
Historical Context and Previous Visits: This upcoming visit will be the third time the Bidens have traveled to New Orleans for events related to cancer. In the previous year, First Lady Jill Biden visited the Louisiana Cancer Research Center on Tulane Avenue, a facility that represents a partnership between LSU Health, Tulane University, Xavier University, and Ochsner Health, involving over 200 researchers dedicated to cancer research. Additionally, in 2016, the Bidens toured University Medical Center in New Orleans and engaged with cancer doctors, caregivers, and patients.
Cancer in Louisiana: Louisiana faces a particularly challenging battle against cancer. According to the Louisiana Cancer Research Center, more than 25,000 Louisianans receive a new cancer diagnosis each year. A particularly alarming statistic comes from "Cancer Alley," a stretch of communities between New Orleans and Baton Rouge where residents have a 95% higher chance of developing cancer compared to the average American. This figure was highlighted by a Johns Hopkins University study and reported by Grist.
Biden’s Health Care Agenda: President Biden’s visit to New Orleans aligns with his broader health care agenda, which was a central theme of his presidential campaign. His administration has made significant strides in lowering prescription drug costs for seniors and expanding health care coverage to a record number of Americans. These accomplishments have been highlighted as some of the key successes of his presidency.
In 2022, Biden revived the Cancer Moonshot initiative, which he originally spearheaded as vice president. The current goal of the initiative, according to the White House, is to cut the cancer death rate in half by 2047 and to improve the experience of individuals affected by cancer. This ambitious goal underscores the administration’s commitment to tackling cancer on multiple fronts, including prevention, research, and treatment.
Funding Challenges: Despite the significant progress made by the Cancer Moonshot initiative, there are ongoing concerns regarding funding. Some of the program’s funding expired last year and has not yet been renewed, creating uncertainty about the initiative's future. Although an additional $216 million was added to a U.S. Senate spending bill before the August recess, the ultimate fate of this funding remains unclear.
What’s Next: The President is expected to arrive at Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport around 1:30 p.m. local time. Details regarding the schedule and potential road closures have been provided in advance of the visit.
As the Biden administration continues its efforts to advance the Cancer Moonshot initiative, the visit to Tulane University and the announcement of new funding represent significant steps toward achieving the goal of ending cancer as we know it. The focus on innovative technologies and real-time imaging systems has the potential to revolutionize cancer treatment and significantly improve outcomes for patients across the country.