On September 4, the National Cancer Institute (NCI) released its FY26 Annual Plan and Professional Judgment Budget Proposal. With $11.5 billion in recommended FY26 funding, the annual plan presents NCI’s assessment of the funding needed to support the National Cancer Program and improve the country’s overall health. Funding recommendations include increases for research grants, training opportunities for the cancer workforce, and modernization of clinical studies infrastructure. NCI stated that FY26 presents Congress with an opportunity to fully fund cancer research after being subject to statutory budget caps in both FY24 and FY25. 

The proposed $11.5 billion in funding represents a $2.179 billion increase over President Biden’s FY25 budget proposal. It includes $196 million for training and infrastructure and about $2 billion for research into cancer biology, prevention, detection and diagnosis, treatment and public health. Furthermore, the FY26 annual plan aims to support the goals of the National Cancer Plan like addressing cancer in young adults, understanding cancer’s effects on the body, identifying ways to alleviate the financial burden on cancer patients, and developing vaccines that could prevent cancer.